UCLA coach Chip Kelly is expected to become the next offensive coordinator at Ohio State, sources told ESPN on Friday. UCLA announced that Kelly is departing the program and that a national search for a new head coach has begun.

Kelly is expected to replace Bill O'Brien, who was named the head coach at Boston College on Friday. Ohio State had hired O'Brien in mid-January as part of head coach Ryan Day's move to no longer call plays and to run the program more holistically.

Ohio State will have to pay a $1.5 million buyout for Kelly, sources said. Kelly is expected to take a pay cut of more than $4 million dollars with the move, as he made nearly $6 million at UCLA.

The reasoning behind his departure comes down to an affinity to coach again, spurred in part by coaching UCLA's quarterbacks in the lead-up to the Bruins' bowl game this year. It's the first time in more than a decade Kelly coached a position. Kelly leaves with no ill-will toward UCLA and a deep appreciation for his players and staff from there.

Kelly went 35-34 during six seasons at UCLA, concluding his tenure with three consecutive winning campaigns. He becomes the fourth college head coach in this cycle to leave a head-coaching job for an assistant spot, joining Jeff Hafley (Packers), Mo Linguist (Alabama) and Kane Wommack (Alabama).

UCLA athletic director Martin Jarmond said he told the team the plan was to have a new coach in place within four days.

"Timing is a challenge," Jarmond said.

"We're looking for a leader, permanently for our program. I told the team to give us 96 hours. Could be earlier, could be later. But we're going to move fast. That's the priority."

Kelly has interviewed for multiple NFL coordinator jobs in the cycle, including most recently the Seattle Seahawks' OC position. He instead turns to college, where he'll reunite with Buckeyes coach Ryan Day, his longtime friend and former assistant coach. Kelly has a decades-long relationship with Day, as both are from New Hampshire. Kelly coached Day in college at New Hampshire, and Day worked for Kelly in the NFL with the Eagles and 49ers.

Kelly has long been regarded as a gifted playcaller, having served as a longtime offensive coordinator and innovator at New Hampshire and Oregon. As Kelly moved on to become the head coach at Oregon and then in the NFL, he remained the playcaller, and along the way his offenses shifted from breakneck tempo to a more deliberate NFL style.

He will call the offense for a strong roster that includes transfer quarterback Will Howard, tailbacks TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins, and receiver Emeka Egbuka.

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.