Remember When: Woody Hayes Wanted to Lose Weight So He Made His Staff Go on a Diet with Him

COLUMBUS, Ohio — When it came to discipline, Ohio State coaching legend Woody Hayes didn’t believe in going it alone.

In one of the most bizarre, hilarious, and perfectly “Woody” anecdotes in the program’s storied history, the fiery head coach once decided he wanted to lose weight. But in true Hayes fashion — known for his demand for unity, loyalty, and control — he didn’t just alter his own eating habits.

He put his entire coaching staff on a diet.

Yes, you read that right.

In the middle of a grinding Big Ten season in the early 1970s, Woody Hayes marched into the football offices and made an announcement that caught everyone off guard: “We’re all getting fat — and we’re all fixing it. Starting today.”

To Hayes, football was war, and so was nutrition.

According to former players and staff, Hayes — never one to do anything halfway — approached the diet like a military campaign. There were rules. There were goals. There were weigh-ins. And, most importantly, there was no escape clause.

“You couldn’t sneak a donut or a Coke without Woody knowing about it,” said one former assistant. “If you did, he’d call you out in front of the whole room.”

The rules were strict:

• No fried foods
• No soda
• No second helpings at team meals
• Weekly staff weigh-ins
• Penalties (running laps, push-ups, or public shaming) for gaining weight

Hayes even hired a team nutritionist — decades before it was common in college football — to oversee the plan. She was reportedly as feared as the defensive coordinator when it came to snacking violations.

While some staffers privately complained about the sudden dietary crackdown, none dared cross Woody. His presence and passion were overwhelming, and his motto — “You win with people” — applied to everything, even carb intake.

“It wasn’t just about losing weight,” said a former grad assistant. “It was about solidarity. If Woody was suffering, so were you. If he had to eat cottage cheese, you’d better believe you were too.”

Team meals became a spectacle. Coaches would try to sneak meatloaf under their salad, only for Hayes to bark from across the room, “What’s that on your plate, coach?”

Woody’s obsession with discipline and team identity extended beyond the playbook. He believed that if his coaching staff couldn’t control their own bodies, how could they expect their players to?

He turned his diet into a metaphor — a microcosm of the same grit he demanded on the field.

“You think Bear Bryant lets his assistants eat like that?” he’d ask.
“You think Bo Schembechler is going soft?”

The result? Hayes reportedly lost 20 pounds. His staff… well, results varied. But all of them gained a deeper understanding of the culture Hayes was building — one where toughness started in the mind and extended to every part of life.

Of course, some assistants would sneak a burger now and then. One story claims a young coach once got caught eating a candy bar in the locker room — and Hayes made him do push-ups in his dress shirt and tie during staff meetings for a week.

Another assistant allegedly gained weight during the diet period, and Woody responded by posting his weigh-in on the locker room door for players to see.

“Shame is a motivator,” he said.

Today, the story is told with laughter and awe among Ohio State insiders. It perfectly captures who Woody Hayes was:

• Intense
• Passionate
• A little unhinged
• Completely, unquestionably committed to the team

In an era where staff wellness is now monitored by sports science departments and health apps, Woody Hayes was ahead of the curve — just with more yelling and public weigh-ins.

This quirky episode in Buckeye history isn’t just a funny story — it’s a reminder of the complete control Woody Hayes had over his program, and the kind of loyalty and unity he demanded.

If Hayes was sprinting through campus at 6 a.m., you were right there with him.
If Hayes was cutting calories, you were eating celery sticks too.
And if Hayes was chasing greatness — you’d better be lean enough to keep up.

Remember when Woody Hayes made his entire staff go on a diet? That’s not just dedication. That’s Buckeye football.