Ohio State coach Kevin McGuff responds to drunk driving charge
Kevin McGuff, Ohio State women’s basketball coach, addressed his drunk driving charge for the first time since his arrest.
Ohio State women’s basketball coach Kevin McGuff publicly addressed his May DUI arrest for the first time.McGuff served a two-week suspension and underwent treatment at the Wexner Medical Center.McGuff said he personally informed his players about the incident and expressed remorse for his actions.
Ohio State women’s basketball coach Kevin McGuff addressed the media for the first time since his arrest on a drunk-driving charge in May.
“I made a horrible mistake,” McGuff said. “And because of that, I was suspended for two weeks after a conversation with Ross Bjork, our athletic director.
“Also, Ross wanted to ensure that I was in a really good place to continue to move forward and be the leader of this program. So, I talked to some people at the Wexner Medical Center over the summer, and that went great. I feel really good about where I am.”
On May 6, Dublin police responded to a reckless driving call, and when they arrived, they found McGuff sitting in his Toyota Sequoia, which was partially parked in his front yard, according to the police report.
After McGuff failed multiple field sobriety tests, he was arrested for operating a vehicle impaired. He was originally scheduled for a pretrial hearing on Aug. 12, but that hearing was pushed back to Oct. 7.
“These things take time,” McGuff said. “I’ve got an excellent lawyer, who’s kind of guided me through the process. … So, we’re still kind of ongoing in this process, and he’s on it though, in communication with the officials in Dublin to make sure we get to the end of this, hopefully sooner rather than later.”
Ohio State women’s basketball coach Kevin McGuff waives court appearance
Ohio State women’s basketball coach Kevin McGuff waives court appearance in Dublin Mayor’s Court May 23, 2025. He is charged with a single count of OVI.
The incident took place after spring semester, and a majority of the women’s basketball team had already left campus for summer break, meaning McGuff had to inform the players of his arrest over the phone.
McGuff called each player individually, which he considered “the hardest part” of the situation, but he felt it was necessary to move forward as their coach at Ohio State.
“They want somebody who can invest and pour into them,” McGuff said. “And I think they’ve seen that this summer, coming out of that situation, and that’s what they’re here for. That’s what they want. They want to be coached, and I don’t want to speak for them, but I think they have confidence in my ability to lead them.”
Entering his 13th season with Ohio State, McGuff said he sees evidence that he’s still capable of leading the Buckeyes in how the team’s 11 players, four of whom are new to the program, started to prepare for the upcoming season.
“Everyone’s allowed to have their opinion,” McGuff said. “And I understand that, but I can tell you that I’ve had a great summer, and our team has had a great summer. And I think, collectively, we’re all in a good place.”