Brian Hartline is your new offensive coordinator at The Ohio State University.
Kirk Herbstreit made it known that Ryan Day was planning to give up the play-calling duties shortly after the heartbreaking loss to Georgia in the Chick-fil-a Peach Bowl. Since then, there has been much speculation about who the next OC would be. Hartline’s name was mentioned more often than not. The move was made official on Friday afternoon.
Hartline has had a meteoric rise up the coaching ladder. He began his coaching career at OSU as a quality control coach under Urban Myer. From there he moved to wide receivers coach and has become known as one of the best recruiters in the nation. He has been pulling in the top receiving talent for several years.
Other programs have taken notice of Hartline, trying to entice him to leave Columbus. The most notable effort was from former Ohio State linebacker turned Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman, who tried to lure Hartline to South Bend after being hired to lead the Fighting Irish.
Hartline was promoted to passing game coordinator last season. Now, in less than a year’s time, he’s the top offensive assistant in the program after the departure of former offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson. Wilson, who had been the offensive coordinator for the past six seasons, accepted the position of head football coach at Tulsa.
Your New Offensive Coordinator @brianhartline pic.twitter.com/0jIPrPDhWO
— Barstool Ohio State (@BarstoolOSU) January 13, 2023
Harline will continue to coach the receivers in his new position. However, his new title will give him even more sway with his recruiting prowess. Hartline seems ready and excited about the new opportunity before him.
“I am ready and I am really looking forward to this opportunity,” Hartline said. “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 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.”
Ryan Day also had some glowing remarks about his new hire.
“Brian has been successful in every football capacity for which he has been engaged,” Day said. “He has progressed incredibly well from college to NFL receiver, and then from quality control coach to wide receivers coach to passing game coordinator. He figures things out quickly, and he is more than ready to now transition to offensive coordinator. Brian has also developed his receivers at an unprecedented level and he has recruited as well or better than anyone in the country. Now he’ll be recruiting for our entire offense, and I think that is something that will be really positive for our program.”
Ohio State did not say in its announcement whether Day would give up the play-calling duties, but it does seem to be trending in that direction.
Along with Hartline’s promotion, several other moves were made as a result of Kevin Wilson’s departure. Keenan Bailey, on staff for the past seven years and most recently in the position of special assistant to the head coach, officially becomes the team’s new tight ends coach. Offensive line coach Justin Frye will now be the run game coordinator.
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