Nina Day, wife of Ohio State University football coach Ryan Day, has found a way to balance her role as “First Lady” with being an advocate for mental health awareness. The couple, who have been married since 2005, have welcomed three children together and have navigated the ups and downs of coaching through it all.
Growing up in New Hampshire, Nina met Ryan on their T-ball team in 1985 and the two have been inseparable ever since. They attended college at the University of New Hampshire, where Ryan played football and Nina studied. After college, they rekindled their romance and got married in June 2005.
As a supportive partner to Ryan’s coaching career, Nina has been by his side every step of the way. She is proud of her children, including high school sophomore R.J., who follows in his father’s footsteps as a quarterback. Nina also credits her father, who was a college basketball coach for 33 seasons, with providing valuable insight and guidance.
The Day family moved over 10 times during Ryan’s coaching career, but they settled in Ohio eight years ago. Despite the challenges, Nina has become an integral part of the Columbus community, known as the “First Lady” of Ohio State Football. She is a vocal advocate for mental health awareness, having lost her father to suicide at the age of 8.
Nina and Ryan recently made a $1 million gift to Ohio State University to establish The Nina and Ryan Day Resilience Fund, which supports mental health research and services. “We understand how important it is to have someone you can turn to for help and strength in times of difficulty,” Ryan said in a press release.
As the Buckeyes face off against Texas Longhorns in the College Football Playoffs semifinals on January 10th, Nina will be cheering from the stands, proud of her husband’s achievements and commitment to mental health awareness.
Source: https://people.com/who-is-nina-day-ryan-day-wife-8772442