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ATHENS, Ohio – Eight Ohio football program assistant coaches will remain on the 2026 staff, as announced by Head Coach John Hauser on Thursday (Jan. 22). 
 
Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks Coach Scott Isphording will continue calling plays for the Bobcats, while Tight Ends Coach Kyle Obly will assume passing game coordinator responsibilities for the 2026 season. Additionally, Blair Cavanaugh is remaining on staff as the special teams coordinator.
 
On the defensive side of the ball, all position coaches are remaining on Hauser's staff. Running Game Coordinator and Defensive Line Coach Tremayne Scott, Defensive Passing Game Coordinator, Cornerbacks Coach and Director of Player Development De'Angelo Smith, Pass Rush Specialist and Defensive Ends Coach Jeff Phelps, Linebackers Coach Chris Woods, as well as Defensive Assistant Coach and Director of High School Relations Joe Tresey, will continue their current roles for the 2026 season.
 
"Carrying over so many coaches who contributed to the program's success over the last four years in particular was very important to me," Hauser said. "As we look to continue to build the program, I know this staff cares as deeply about Ohio University and our student-athletes as I do. I can't wait to get to work."
 
Hauser led the Bobcats to their seventh-straight bowl win with a 17-10 victory over the UNLV Rebels in the 2025 Scooter's Coffee Frisco Bowl (Dec. 23). This victory marked Ohio's 40^th win in four seasons; previously, Ohio's best four-year span was 2009-12, with the Bobcats winning 36 games. The 2025 regular season was highlighted by a 6-0 finish at home, extending the home game winning streak to 13 games. In the home opener against West Virginia (Sept. 6), Ohio's defense held the Mountaineers to just 10 points. 
 
On the offensive side of the ball, the Bobcats were anchored by the best rushing attack in the MAC for the 2025 season. Ohio's 27.8 points and 411 total yards per game each ranked second in the MAC. The team also amassed 2,956 rushing yards and 2,394 passing yards on the year as a whole. 
 
Running back Sieh Bangura and offensive lineman Davion Weatherspoon were both recognized on the All-MAC First Team after leading the dominant Ohio offense. Quarterback Parker Navarro, offensive linemen Jordon Jones and Nick Marinaro, tight end Mason Williams and wide receiver Chase Hendricks were also recognized with All-MAC honors following the season. 
 
As a whole, Ohio's defense is on a three-year run of dominance that Hauser and his returning staff will look to continue. The Bobcats have ranked among the top five defenses in the MAC in terms of points allowed per game each of the last three seasons. In 2023 and 2024, Ohio had the best defense in the conference in terms of scoring, with the 2023 team leading the conference in yardage allowed.  
 
In 2025, the Ohio defense tallied 22 sacks, 12 interceptions, and six forced fumbles. Both Tank Pearson and Jay Crable were recognized at the end of the season with All-MAC honors due to their contributions to the impressive defense. 
 
Isphording has held multiple roles with the Bobcats in his 10-plus years with the program. He began his second tour of duty in Athens and his first as the Bobcats' quarterbacks coach in 2014.  
 
Isphording is responsible for developing multiple of Ohio's most prolific quarterbacks, including Parker Navarro, Kurtis Rourke and two-time Cornish Award recipient Nathan Rourke. Navarro etched his name in the record book in 2024 when he became the first quarterback in program history to record over 2,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards in the same season. Navarro's performance across the 2024 and 2025 seasons earned him numerous accolades, including two All-MAC Second Team nods, 2024 MAC Championship Game Offensive Player of the Game and 2024 StaffDNA Cure Bowl MVP. Additionally, he was a 2025 William V. Campbell Trophy finalist, making him Ohio's first National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete. Notably, Navarro and Rourke are two of the three Mid-American Conference quarterbacks to win three bowl games. 
 
During the Bobcats' final regular season game in 2023, Kurtis Rourke passed Nathan as the second leading passer in program history. In total, he threw for 7,650 yards during his time as a Bobcat. Following the 2022 season, Kurtis Rourke was named MAC Offensive Player of the Year, Vern Smith Leadership Award and First-Team All-MAC after playing in just 11 games.  
 
Cavanaugh joined the Bobcats prior to the 2025 season and will be back for his second season as special teams coordinator in 2026.
 
In 2025, Cavanaugh also held the title of running backs coach, where he would coach All-MAC First Team selectee Sieh Bangura. In his senior season, Bangura rushed for 1,243 yards, the sixth-best mark in Ohio program history.  Under Cavanaugh, Ohio had the best rushing offense in the MAC with 2,956 total yards. 
 
As a special teams unit, Ohio led the MAC in average yards per punt return with 13.3 and ranked second in total kickoff yards with 4,162. 
 
Prior to Ohio, Cavanaugh served as the special teams coordinator at the University of Incarnate Word and Syracuse. In 2024 at UIW, his special team's unit was ranked number two among all FCS programs. During his time with Syracuse, he coached two All-American specialists, three all-conference specialists, one Lou Groza Award winner and two all-conference returners. 
 
Obly was named Ohio football's tight ends coach in Jan. 2025 but has been a member of the Ohio football staff since 2019. In his first year at the helm of the tight ends room, Obly mentored All-MAC Third Team honoree Mason Williams. Williams finished the regular season fourth among MAC tight ends with 264 receiving yards and tied for third among MAC tight ends with two receiving touchdowns.
 
Notably, Obly was the assistant quarterbacks coach and offensive skill graduate assistant for the 2024 season, where he was responsible for on-field coaching for quarterbacks on game day, including five-time Mid-American Conference Player of the Week and All-MAC Second Team Parker Navarro. He supported the receivers' room as the assistant wide receivers coach and offensive skill graduate assistant for the 2022 and 2023 seasons.
 
Obly served as a student assistant from Aug. 2019 until May 2022, assisting the offensive, special teams and recruiting staff. A two-time Bobcat, Obly earned his Bachelor of Business Administration in Dec. 2022 and his Master of Science in Recreation and Sport Sciences in Dec. 2024.  
 
Phelps joined the Ohio football program in Jan. 2025. Under his guidance, Crable tied the program record for sacks in a single game (3 vs. BGSU), marking the first time a Bobcat hit that milestone since 2011. 
 
Phelps came by way of Wyoming, where he was the defensive tackles coach for the 2024 season. He spent the season prior overseeing North Dakota State's defensive tackles as well as their field block team. Under his guidance, a blocked field goal earned the Bison a spot in the FCS semifinals. Notably, Phelps helped mentor Eli Mostaert to All-Missouri Valley Football Conference honors last season. 
 
An All-MAC outside linebacker, Phelps graduated from Ball State in 1998 with a bachelor's degree in marketing. He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Ball State in 1999 before moving on to DePauw as a linebackers and running backs coach (2000-2002) and Hillsdale as a defensive line coach (2003-2005).
 
Scott, a staple on Ohio's defensive line from 2009-12, joined the Bobcats' coaching staff in 2018 as the defensive tackles Coach. He was promoted to defensive line coach and assumed the responsibilities of the running game coordinator in spring 2024. 
 
In 2025, Scott coached a handful of the conference's best defensive linemen, including Anas Luqman, who tallied 34 tackles, including nine for a loss. Luqman led the Bobcats in quarterback hits with six while also registering four sacks. 
 
Scott played a large role in the 2024 defense, which finished at the top of the conference with multiple show-stopping performances. Ohio's defense held the Miami (Ohio) RedHawks to just three points in the 2024 MAC Championship, marking both the first time a team has not scored a touchdown and the largest win margin in the championship's history.  They closed out the 2024 season on a high note, holding Jax State to 40 total rushing yards in the 2024 StaffDNA Cure Bowl. The 2023 season marked highs for the defense as well, with Ohio's defense hitting No. 1 in the Mid-American Conference and No. 4 in FBS football. 
 
Scott played in 35 games on the defensive line for the Bobcats from 2009-12, registering 71.5 tackles, 7.5 sacks, six forced fumbles and one interception. Scott was named the 2012 Advocare V100 Independence Bowl Defensive Player of the Game as the Bobcats rolled to 45-14 victory over ULM in his final game at Ohio. 
 
Smith joined Ohio's coaching staff in 2017 as the cornerbacks coach. Since then, Smith has added director of player development to his title and in 2024, he assumed the responsibility of defensive passing game coordinator.  
 
Smith has mentored and developed a multitude of successful cornerbacks at Ohio. Most recently, graduate student Tank Pearson earned Third Team All-MAC accolades following the 2025 regular season. Following his performance in the 2022 season, redshirt freshman cornerback Torrie Cox, Jr. earned College Football News Freshman All-American Team Third Team accolades. On the season, Cox recorded 50 total tackles and was second in interceptions (2), both of which he snagged in the Bobcats' 33-14 victory over Western Michigan (Oct. 15, 2022). 
 
Smith was a three-year letterwinner as both a cornerback and safety at Cincinnati (2006-08). As a senior in 2008, Smith was named the recipient of UC's Brig Owens Award (outstanding back) after tallying 53 tackles, 10 pass break-ups and a pair of interceptions in helping the Bearcats win the Big East Championship and land a berth in the Orange Bowl against Virginia Tech. As a junior in 2007, Smith earned second-team All-BIG EAST honors and set a Bearcat single-season record with eight interceptions, which also tied for most in the NCAA FBS.  
 
Smith was selected in the fifth round of the 2009 NFL Draft (No. 143 overall) by the Dallas Cowboys. He played in seven games during the 2009 NFL season for the Detroit Lions, recording 16 tackles.  
 
A native of Columbus, Ohio, Smith earned first-team all-state honors as a senior while playing for Independence High School. He graduated from Cincinnati in 2008 with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and earned a master's degree in education at Michigan State.  
 
Tresey became a member of the Ohio football program in August 2024, bringing with him over three decades of coaching experience, highlighted by multiple stops at Mid-American Conference schools. 
 
Throughout his career, Tresey has coached more than 25 current and former players who have moved on to play in the NFL. Since 1995, Tresey has served as a defensive coordinator at the college level for upwards of 15 seasons, most recently at Norfolk State (2019) and Youngstown State (2012-13). He also called the defensive shots for FBS programs at UCLA (2011), South Florida (2009), Cincinnati (2007-08), Central Michigan (2006), and Akron (2002-03, 2018).
 
A native of Warren, Ohio, Tresey graduated from JFK High School.  He earned a bachelor's degree in education from Ohio State in 1982 and master's degree in sport science from Ashland in 1997. Tresey was inducted into the JFK Athletics Hall of Fame in 2012 and the Fredericktown High School Athletics Hall of Fame in 1999.
 
Woods joined the Ohio football staff in March 2025, bringing with him over 30 years of coaching experience at both the collegiate and professional levels. He has experienced success as a coordinator, head coach and analyst. 
 
In 2025, Woods coached a successful linebacker unit that included standout true freshman Charlie Christopher. In his first collegiate season, Christopher registered 63 total tackles, placing him third among all Ohio players in 2025. He was also responsible for three tackles for a loss, a fumble and a fumble recovery. 
 
Woods came to Ohio by way of Temple, where he served as the linebackers coach and interim defensive coordinator in 2025. There, he mentored three all-conference athletes, one All-American and two NFL Draft signees. The 2024 inside linebackers finished top of the American Athletic Conference in tackles. 
 
Prior to Temple, Woods was a senior defensive analyst at Kansas (2020-22), where he assisted the defensive staff in scouting, practice preparation and evaluation. Additionally, Woods filled in as linebackers coach in the 2020 season finale. He was the defensive coordinator (2019-20) for the Dallas Renegades under head coach Bob Stoops in the XFL.
 
A native of Milton, Massachusetts, Woods attended college at Davidson before getting into coaching. He has head coaching experience at the Division II level for Stonehill College (2004-06) and Mansfield (2000-03).  Woods was named the AFCA Region II Coach of the Year and Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 2003 after leading the Mountaineers to their first winning season since 1975. 
 
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