Ohio State promotes Brian Hartline to offensive coordinator: WR coach, ace recruiter given keys to offense

Ohio State has promoted vast receivers coach Brian Hartline to offensive coordinator after he spent the previous six seasons on this system’s employees and developed a popularity as top-of-the-line place coaches and recruiters in faculty soccer, the college introduced Friday. Hartline has been the Buckeyes’ receivers coach since 2018 and took on the position of passing recreation coordinator in 2022. 

Offensive line coach Justin Frye has additionally been promoted to run recreation coordinator as a part of the crew’s employees adjustments. 

“Brian has been successful in every football capacity for which he has been engaged,” stated Buckeyes coach Ryan Day in an announcement. “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 additionally developed his receivers at an unprecedented stage and he has recruited as effectively or higher than anybody within the nation,” Day continued. “Now he’ll be recruiting for our total offense and I believe that’s one thing that will probably be actually constructive for our program.”

Hartline replaces Kevin Wilson, who left for the Tulsa job after 5 seasons as Ohio State’s offensive coordinator. At simply 36, Hartline is a rising star in faculty soccer finest recognized for recruiting and creating an elite group of pass-catchers who’ve helped the Buckeyes area a number of the nation’s high offenses in recent times below Day.

Hartline is an Ohio native who performed for the Buckeyes below former coach Jim Tressel to 2005 to 2008. He caught 90 passes throughout his faculty profession earlier than taking part in seven seasons within the NFL, the place he made 344 grabs whereas taking part in for the Miami Dolphins and Cleveland Browns. He first joined the Buckeyes’ employees as an analyst in 2017 throughout Urban Meyer’s remaining season as coach.

He stepped into the receivers coach position the next season below Day and has emerged as a pressure within the sport since then. Ohio State had two receivers — Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave — chosen within the first spherical of the 2022 NFL Draft and will have one other first-rounder on the place within the 2023 draft with Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

Smooth transition for Day

Day made a splash final offseason by luring defensive coordinator Jim Knowles away from Oklahoma State, however there was no have to go exterior this system to switch Wilson. Despite the truth that Hartline has no earlier expertise as an offensive coordinator, he should not have any downside persevering with this system’s current report of offensive excellence.

Hartline labored carefully with Wilson over the previous 5 seasons and took on further game-planning duties with the added title of passing recreation coordinator in 2022. He additionally has a confirmed offensive thoughts in Day, who labored as a coordinator for Temple, Boston College and Ohio State earlier than changing into the Buckeyes’ head coach.

Offense stacked with expertise

Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud has not declared for the NFL Draft but. But even when he does, the Buckeyes may have no scarcity of expertise for Hartline to work with in his new position. All-American receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. and fellow star receivers Emeka Egbuka and Julian Fleming are among the many proficient talent gamers anticipated to return for Ohio State. Leading rusher Miyan Williams additionally introduced that he’s returning for a fourth season of faculty soccer.

Should Stroud declare for the draft, Kyle McCord seems prone to turn into the beginning quarterback. The former four-star prospect accomplished 16 of 20 passes for 190 yards and a landing as a backup to Stroud throughout his second season with this system in 2022. Former four-star quarterback Devin Brown can be on the roster after redshirting in 2022. Four-star freshman quarterback Lincoln Kienholz additionally signed with the Buckeyes as a part of their 2023 recruiting class.