Brian Hartline is finally getting his own program. USF is set to hire the longtime Ohio State assistant as its next head coach, according to Ross Dellenger of Yahoo Sports.
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The move gives Hartline his first shot at running a team after nearly a decade of rising through the coaching ranks in Columbus.
Hartline, an Ohio native and former Buckeyes wideout, played at OSU from 2005 to 2008 before becoming a fourth-round pick of the Dolphins. He carved out a steady seven-year NFL career with Miami and Cleveland, appearing in 104 games and catching 344 passes for 4,766 yards.
Once he transitioned to coaching, Hartline quickly became one of the most respected position coaches in college football. He joined Ohio State's staff as a quality control coach in 2017 and took over the receivers room the following year.
From there, the Buckeyes became a factory. Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Marvin Harrison Jr., Emeka Egbuka and Jeremiah Smith all came through under Hartline's watch.
Ohio State rewarded him by making him co-offensive coordinator in 2024, sharing duties with Chip Kelly. And as Hartline's profile grew, so did the job offers.
He interviewed for the West Virginia job last year and was projected as a fast riser with a clear path to eventually leading a major program.
Now he gets that runway at USF. Hartline, 39, is expected to stay with the Buckeyes through their playoff push as they chase back-to-back national titles.
After that, he'll take on a Bulls program looking for stability, talent development and a fresh identity — three things Hartline already brings with him.
