Offensive Line | Run Game Coordinator Justin Frye

Justin Frye joined the UCLA football staff in February of 2018 as offensive line coach. He arrived in Westwood after serving as the run game coordinator/offensive line coach at Boston College the previous five seasons. In December of 2018, he was promoted to UCLA's offensive coordinator / offensive line coach.

In 2021, UCLA rushed for at least 200 yards in all eight wins and its average of 215.1 yards per game ranked 17th nationally. Zach Charbonnet led all Pac-12 running backs with seven 100-yard games during the season. Brittain Brown topped the conference rushers with a 6.03 yards per carry mark. UCLA led the Pac-12 in scoring (36.5 ppg) and was second in total offense (441.2). Charbonnet rated second in the league in rushing yards (1,137) and rushing yards per game (94.8). He became Coach Frye's seventh Top-30 NCAA rusher. Dorian Thompson-Robinson ranked No. 1 in the league in passing efficiency (153.9). Kyle Philips led all Pac-12 receivers with 10 scoring receptions. Tight end Greg Dulcich was a semifinalist for the John Mackey Award as the nation's top performer at his position.

Frye embarked on his coaching career at his alma mater, Indiana University, as an offensive graduate assistant in 2007-08 where he worked with the offensive line and the tight ends. Indiana played in the 2007 Insight Bowl against Oklahoma State. As a player, he lined up along the offensive line for Indiana in the 2002-06 seasons.

Frye is a native of Elwood, Ind. and graduated from IU in 2006 with a degree in Sports Communications. He and his wife, Lauren, have four children - Kevin, Zoe, Max, Welles.

 

According to multiple sources, Ohio State is set to hire UCLA's Justin Frye as its new offensive line coach as soon as Friday, with additional responsibilities such as run game coordinator expected to be attached to his official title: https://t.co/QocLrhpQyE

— Andrew Lind (@AndrewMLind) January 7, 2022

 

From the Vault: Andre Williams led the nation in rushing in 2013. Over 2,100 yards on over 6 yards a carry with 18TDs

Ryan Day: Offensive Coordinator
Justin Frye: Offensive line Coach 😄 pic.twitter.com/cYxFbhY53H

— Menace 2 Sports (@Menace2Sports) January 7, 2022

 

A former Indiana offensive tackle, Justin Frye has led successful offensive lines at UCLA, Boston College and Temple and also brings coordinator experience at just 38 years old. https://t.co/nMranHH2Xe

— Eleven Warriors (@11W) January 11, 2022

 

Buckeyes Announce Justin Frye As New Offensive Line Coach https://t.co/qUFoSGRpDf

— BuckeyeScoop (@BuckeyeScoop) January 11, 2022

 

Ohio State football announces hiring of offensive line coach Justin Frye https://t.co/C8sgeBWB9e

— BuckeyeXtra.com (@BuckeyeXtra) January 11, 2022

 

Mic’d up ➡️ @CoachJFrye 🎙#GoBruins pic.twitter.com/D9mUVMOLhK

— UCLA Football (@UCLAFootball) September 2, 2021

 

A look a Justin Frye, the recruiter
On Tuesday, Head Coach Ryan Day and the Buckeyes announced the hiring of former UCLA assistant Justin Frye as offensive line coach and associate head coach.

As a recruiter at stop with Temple, Boston College, and UCLA, Frye has been a primary recruiter for 23 prospects from 11 different states to eventual sign with the respective program he was with. He also pitched in as a secondary recruiter for a few others.

His two biggest wins as a recruiter, according to 247Sports, came at UCLA and Boston College. In the 2019 class, Frye played a pivotal role in the Bruins landing four-star offensive guard Sean Ryhan of San Juan Hills (CA) who was a Top 75 prospect and the No. 2 player at his position. The year prior, his final class at Boston College, Frye was able to secure four-star offensive guard Finn Dirstine of Lawrence Academy (MA) for the Eagles.

Perhaps the most impressive work for Frye was back in the 2015 class when he helped Boston College land three-star offensive guard Chris Lindstrom of Shepard Hill (MA). After an impressive showing with the Eagles, Lindstrom would go on to be drafted with the 14th pick of the NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2019 draft.

 

Frye wasting no time on the trail in his new role
It wasn’t the single factor, but a large reason as to why Ohio State parted ways with Greg Studrawa had to be due to some of the recruiting issues along the offensive line. It was never a terrible situation under coach Stud, but when it’s up against some of the other offensive position recruiting hauls, especially from a national perspective, the offensive line lacked in comparison.

Ryan Day bringing in a familiar face in Frye to lead the way for that unit is a move that brings the question as to whether or not he will be able to compete with the other national powers when it comes to landing the elite national targets. Not having a ton of opportunity to prove that at UCLA, Ohio State is another level as anyone knows, and he’ll have to not only be up to the task, but also get the job done.

Not wasting any time, Frye has already hit the ground running when it comes to recruiting. First off, he has now been in contact with Ohio State’s latest offensive line addition, Carson Hinzman, and Hinzman made it clear he’s excited to meet him officially. A major win already for the Buckeyes to keep all three of their offensive line signees/commits in the fold even with the coaching change, clearly there’s faith by the guys that Frye will transition into the role successfully.

In addition, it was reported on Wednesday by Kurelic again that Frye was also in contact with the nation’s third-ranked offensive tackle in the 2023 class, Samson Okunlola. A 6-foot-5, 295 pound target out of Massachusetts, Samson fits the description as he also grades out as the 36th best player nationally. More importantly though, the conversation between he and coach Frye apparently went well, and he even went as far as to say Frye, “seems like my type of guy.”

Coach Frye will be welcomed in Columbus with open arms if he can get the offensive line even further along in their on-field production, but if he’s also able to hang with the best on the recruiting trail, he’ll be revered for a long time. He’s already begun his work, so time will tell.

 

In this week’s “Film Study,” @ChrisRenneCFB is taking a look at the run game concepts that new Ohio State offensive line coach Justin Frye is bringing to the Buckeye offense. https://t.co/CCb7vlye19

— Land-Grant Holy Land (@Landgrant33) January 15, 2022

 

New Ohio State offensive line coach/associate head coach for offense Justin Frye will be paid a base salary of $800,000 in 2022.

Greg Studrawa was paid $700,000 as Ohio State’s offensive line coach in 2021.

— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) January 18, 2022

 

Frye said he wants the offensive line to be felt. He wants everybody in the stadium to know where the ball is going on third and 2 and not have it matter.

— Tony Gerdeman (@TonyGerdeman) January 31, 2022

 

New Ohio State offensive line coach Justin Frye knows he doesn't have to “reinvent the wheel” up front this season, but wants his unit to be “felt” in 2022. https://t.co/PqPqDHV2Ka

— Eleven Warriors (@11W) February 2, 2022

 

JUSTIN FRYE
ON HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH RYAN DAY

• "There's a transition every time you take a new job – a learning curve."
• Frye notes that the growing pains are easier because of the relationship.
• Frye also notes that Day knows him and knows what to expect about him, and that helps too.

ON COMING BACK TO THE MIDWEST

• Frye notes that the transition is easier since he's from here.
• "We love the west coast," Frye said. "But now being around family and being around people here that just the excitement."
• "Everything about this place is palpable."

ON HAVING KNOWN PLAYERS

• Frye notes it's great to have a room full of many guys who've seen game action.
• "Having experience – you want to have that every year."
• "We've got a lot of snaps with some really good players, so that's exciting."

ON PRACTICING AGAINST LARRY JOHNSON

• "It's awesome."
• Frye notes that it helps in recruiting: "You're going to practice against players that are better than the players you face during the game most of the time."
• "I'm excited about that."

ON CARSON HINZMAN

• Frye notes that he said "He's from where?" noting that it's hard to take a guy out of Wisconsin from the Badgers.
• "He's a competitive kid, he's from the middle of nowhere," Frye said. "There's some built-in adversity."
• "Just what a great kid," Frye said. "It's really exciting."

 

New #OhioState OL coach @CoachJFrye was big here: "I wasn’t thinking I’d make a decision for a couple months, but after speaking with him I knew I wasn’t going to miss the opportunity have him as my O-line coach and I wanted to jump on that opportunity and become a Buckeye.”

 

pic.twitter.com/dq9XCXlptg

— Justin Frye (@CoachJFrye) February 17, 2022

 

UCLA offensive lineman Sean Rhyan on his former offensive line coach Justin Frye, who's now the offensive line coach at Ohio State: “I love Coach Frye. He’s a fantastic coach. He coaches you hard ... he’s gonna coach you hard and you’re gonna learn to love him.” pic.twitter.com/ZmLWHRknd8

— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) March 3, 2022