Manchester, New Hampshire, Ryan Day’s wife, Christine Spirou, isn’t just another stay-at-home parent but worked as an adjunct faculty member at Southern New Hampshire University.
She has thanked her parents, Patricia and Stan Spirou, for guiding her life.
Highlights
- Ryan Day and Christine Spirou married in June 2005, and they have three children: Ryan Jr., Grace, and Ourania.
- Christine’s father, Stan, was the 11th longest-tenured active head coach in NCAA Division II, and her mother, Patricia, was a marketing professor at SNHU’s School of Business.
- The First Lady of Ohio State Football left her career to focus on motherhood once her husband’s coaching took off.
Ryan Patrick Day has been the head football coach at Ohio State University since 2019. He was also the acting head coach for the Buckeyes’ first three games of the 2018 season.
He began playing football as a quarterback and defensive back at Manchester Central High School, and during his senior season, he was named the state’s Gatorade Player of the Year.
Later, he played for the University of New Hampshire before starting his coaching career as a tight end for the New Hampshire in 2002.
He served as a graduate assistant coach at Boston College from 2003 to 2004 and returned as an offensive coordinator in 2013.
Moreover, the Philadelphia Eagles hired him as their quarterback coach on January 22, 2015, and the San Francisco 49ers hired him the following year.
Conference media named him the Dave McClain Coach of the Year in December 2019, and he won his first-ever College Football Playoff National Championship as a head coach in 2025.
Christina Spirou’s Parents Shaped Her Into An Accomplished Person
Christina Spirou, the daughter of Patricia and Stanley Spirou, was born on April 8, 1978, in Manchester, New Hampshire. Her parents raised her alongside her sister, Kelly, and brother, Chuck.
She graduated from Manchester Central High School in 1996 and received a communication degree from the University of New Hampshire in 2000.
Christina’s friends and family called her Nina since her childhood.
She was immersed in basketball through her father, who served as a coach at Southern New Hampshire University for over 33 years.
Moreover, she was an adjunct faculty member at Southern New Hampshire University for 5 years. She is also regarded as the “First Lady of Ohio State Football.”
Her father, Stanley, has inspired thousands of athletes across Southern New Hampshire. On May 4, 2018, they came to SNHU to honor his legacy.
His career included 640 victories, five Elite Eight berths, eight conference championships, and a pair of Final Four appearances.
Stanley was the 11th longest-tenured active head coach in NCAA Division II, but sadly, he announced his retirement on February 28, 2018.
On the other hand, Christina’s mother, Patricia Spirou, was a marketing professor at SNHU’s School of Business.
The first lady of Ohio State Football grew up in a family deeply involved in sports and education. Thus, her upbringing shaped her into the supportive and accomplished person she is today.
Ryan Day And Christina Spirou Became Friends While Playing Tee-ball
The 24th head coach of Ohio State University, Ryan Day, met his wife, Christina Spirou, at 6 and became best friends playing tee-ball.
The high school lovebirds married in June 2005, and the supportive wife often appears to cheer her husband on in the stands.
Christina’s top priority is family, and she devotes herself to supporting Ryan and their growing children.
Previously, she worked as a nurse before leaving her career to focus on motherhood once her husband’s coaching took off.
The married couple has three children: a son, Ryan Jr., born in 2009, and two daughters, Grace, born in 2013, and Ourania, born in 2017.
Similarly, they adopted Ryan’s former player, Nolan, in 2017. Since then, their whole family has resided near Powell, Ohio, after relocating from Philadelphia in 2017.
There was a comfort level with him. We’re still best friends. I think that’s the best way a marriage can be.
Christina Spirou
Christina prefers privacy outside the sports world, but her support has been instrumental to the coach’s success at Ohio State. She plays golf and stays active through fitness and sports.
Nonetheless, the married couple advocates for mental health awareness as Ryan’s father committed suicide in 1988. They hope to prevent similar tragedies for other families through the Nina and Ryan Day Resilience Fund.
Moreover, in August 2022, they donated $1 million to Ohio State to fund mental health research focusing on college-aged individuals.
Additional Information
- Ryan Day, the son of Lisa Day and Raymond Day, was born on March 12, 1979, in Manchester, New Hampshire.
- He was a wide receiver coach at Temple University in 2006 and returned as the offensive coach in 2012.
- On December 4, 2018, Ohio State announced that Ryan will replace head coach Urban Meyer full-time after the 2019 Rose Bowl.
- As of 2025, his net worth is estimated at $20 million, and he earns $10 million annually.
