Earlier than discovering themselves on the epicenter of the faculty soccer world, Ryan Day and his spouse, Nina, had been simply two children taking part in tee-ball in Manchester, New Hampshire.
Day, 45, is now the top coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes, and Nina, whom he married in June 2005, lately mirrored on their time coming of age collectively within the Northeast.
In an August 2024 interview with Columbus' WBNS 10TV, Nina stated she and Ryan grew up in Manchester “a couple of mile-and-a-half away from one another.” They went to the identical elementary college, center college and highschool and faculty, with each Ryan and Nina attending the College of New Hampshire, the place Ryan was the quarterback on the soccer crew.
“There was a be aware we saved — I feel I used to be in seventh grade — that I wrote and I stated I used to be going to marry Ryan,” Nina stated. “We've at all times been greatest buddies.”
Nina even pulled out a photograph from 1985 after they had been on the identical youth tee-ball crew. “That is Ryan, that is my twin sister, Kelly, and that's me,” she stated whereas stating the threesome.
Earlier than Ryan was named head coach at Ohio State in 2018, his teaching profession took him and his rising household — he and Nina are dad and mom to son RJ and daughters Grace and Nia — all throughout the nation, from collegiate stops at faculties like Boston Faculty and Temple, to NFL teaching jobs with the Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers.
“Inside a 15 yr span, we moved 11 instances,” Nina informed WBNS. “In that point, we had 3 youngsters. So, it was loads. From the yr we bought married to in all probability once we bought to Ohio State, yearly or each two years we had been shifting. It was very unstable for a very long time.”
For a full timeline of Ryan and Nina's relationship, maintain studying.
2005
Ryan and Nina bought married whereas he was working as a graduate assistant on the College of Florida.
“We dated off-and-on after which as soon as we graduated faculty, we simply bought again collectively and the remainder is historical past,” Nina informed WBNS.
She added, “There was at all times a consolation degree with him. We're nonetheless greatest buddies. I feel that's the easiest way a wedding might be. You're together with your greatest good friend day by day.”
2009
The couple welcomed their first child, son Ryan Jr. (RJ, for brief), throughout Ryan's time as vast receivers coach at Boston Faculty.
Nina admitted that being a coach's son wasn't at all times simple for her son rising up.
“From 1st to fifth grade, he began a faculty in a single state and resulted in one other college in one other state,” she informed WBNS. “He was in seven totally different elementary faculties.”
She added, “Nevertheless it's made him a lot extra resilient.”
RJ is busy following in father's footsteps as a quarterback at DeSales Excessive Faculty in Columbus, Ohio.
2011
Ryan and Nina welcomed their first daughter, Grace, whereas Day was nonetheless working at Boston Faculty.
2014
The couple welcomed their third youngster, daughter Nia, after Day had returned to Boston Faculty as the varsity's offensive coordinator following one season because the offensive coordinator at Temple College.
2020
Ryan lived individually from Nina and his three children for 3 months in the course of the COVID-impacted faculty soccer season to attenuate the specter of contagion.
“It hasn't been simple,” Nina informed The Columbus Dispatch in January 2021. “Most of my life I might plan issues and sit up for the subsequent week or the subsequent three or 4 video games. This yr we've simply actually lived hour by hour. I imply, each hour one thing comes up, and I maintain my breath each time I see my husband's identify on my telephone as a result of I feel, ‘Oh, goodness. Now what?'”
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Nina candidly admitted it was much more tough to have her husband in the home after the Large Ten suspended the beginning of its season within the wake of the pandemic.
“These had been very tough weeks,” Nina stated. “Though he was residence for the primary day of faculty for the primary time ever, and though he might make the youngsters' soccer and soccer video games on the weekends and choose them up from college, it was an enormous void. And it was extraordinarily tough to be round Ryan these weeks.”
2023
Earlier than the beginning of his fifth full season as the top coach at Ohio State, Ryan shared a photograph via Instagram of his household coming residence from trip side-by-side with an image from the identical location, 4 years prior.
“Time flies,” Ryan wrote. “1st Pic: Winter of 2019 earlier than first season as HC. 2nd Pic: At the moment on our manner again to Columbus. fifth season proper across the nook! Stronger than ever. Go Bucks!!”
2025
Nina and Grace had been photographed celebrating with Ryan on the sphere after Ohio State defeated the Oregon Geese within the Rose Bowl.
2025
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – JANUARY 20: Head coach Ryan Day of the Ohio State Buckeyes celebrates on the trophy presentation after defeating the Notre Dame Combating Irish within the 2025 CFP Nationwide Championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 20, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. ( Todd Kirkland/Getty Pictures
Three months after Ryan and Ohio State defeated Notre Dame within the Faculty Soccer Playoff Nationwide Championship, Nina got here to her husband's protection over a viral rumor unfold on social media about his facial hair.
Conservative sports activities pundit Clay Travis alleged that Ryan dyed his beard and subsequently couldn't be trusted.
“I've recognized Ryan my total life and he has by no means as soon as died [sic] his beard,” Nina wrote via X. “Transfer on to the subsequent narrative.”
