Ohio State football promotes Brian Hartline to offensive coordinator
Ohio State has promoted wide receivers coach Brian Hartline to offensive coordinator, the school said Friday.
Hartline, 36, is considered a rising star in the coaching ranks as both a recruiter and talent developer. The former Ohio State and NFL receiver joined the Buckeyes' staff in a quality control role and then was named interim OSU receivers coach in 2018 when Zach Smith was fired.
“I am ready and I am really looking forward to this opportunity,” Hartline said in a statement. “Ohio State has established a premier threshold with regard to offensive output and that is something that we’ll strive to meet every day. I want to thank coach (Ryan) Day for his belief in me and for the positions he has put me in these last several years that have allowed me to succeed and grow.”
Kevin Wilson had been Ohio State's offensive coordinator before leaving to take the head coaching job at Tulsa. Head coach Ryan Day is the primary play-caller, and it's unclear whether he will relinquish those duties to Hartline. Day told ESPN before the Buckeyes' College Football Playoff semifinal that he was considering handing those duties to another assistant. Hartline has not been a play-caller.
"It's the right progression for him and the next step," Day told The Dispatch about Hartline's promotion. "We're all excited about that. He deserves it."
Asked what makes Hartline special as a coach, Day said, "His ability to solve problems and connect with people. He's been at all levels of football and he solves problems. You look at what he's done with the receivers. He's developed them, and he's recruited at a high level, so the next logical progression is coordinator. Now he'll be recruiting for our entire offense, which will be really positive."
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Under Hartline, Ohio State has had a string of star receivers. Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave were first-round NFL picks in 2022. Marvin Harrison Jr. established himself as arguably college football’s top receiver this past season. Hartline was promoted to passing-game coordinator before last season.
As a recruiter, Hartline signed Ohio State's top-ranked players, Brandon Inniss and Noah Rogers, in December, as well as Carnell Tate, who was ranked fourth in OSU's class. Emeka Egbuka was a five-star receiver in the 2021 class, and Julian Fleming and Jaxon Smith-Njigba were five-star recruits in 2020.
Hartline was reportedly a candidate for the head coaching job at Cincinnati before he announced that he intended to stay at Ohio State.
Hartline, a North Canton, Ohio, native, played for Ohio State from 2005-2008. He played seven years in the NFL, six for Miami and one for Cleveland. Hartline had 344 career receptions and 14 touchdowns as a pro.
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Hartline's promotion was part of a few changes in job title on the offensive coaching staff. Offensive line coach Justin Frye will add run-game coordinator to his responsibilities. Keenan Bailey's hiring as tight ends coach also is official.
Day hired Frye after the 2021 season. He had been the offensive line coach and offensive coordinator at UCLA. He had coached with Day at Temple in 2012.
Bailey had been serving in a behind-the-scenes role as senior advisor to the coach in 2022. He has been on the OSU staff for seven years. Wilson had served as the tight ends coach as well as offensive coordinator.
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State football promotes Brian Hartline to offensive coordinator
