USF hires Ohio State assistant Brian Hartline as head football coach

The next leader of the University of South Florida’s football program comes with championship pedigree, straight from the staff of No. 1-ranked Ohio State, the defending national champion.

Brian Hartline, the Buckeyes' offensive coordinator, was named USF's seventh head coach on Wednesday, three days after his predecessor, Alex Golesh, bolted for Auburn.

"Brian Hartline was our clear-cut first choice to lead our football program into the most exciting era in program history, and I am so fired up to have him leading the Bulls,” USF Athletics CEO Rob Higgins said in a news release.

According to Pat Forde of Sports Illustrated, Hartline signed a six-year deal with USF.

“A relentless recruiter, outstanding developer of talent and a gritty competitor, he comes from a championship background and is obsessed with instilling championship excellence in his players and team," Higgins said. "He is ready to lead our program to the next level."

Hartline, 39, will coach the Buckeyes in Saturday’s Big Ten Championship game against Indiana before being introduced in Tampa, Higgins said. Details of the event will be announced soon.

Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day told reporters in Columbus, Ohio, that Hartline will stay with the team through the College Football Playoff.

“I’m honored and excited to join the University of South Florida as its new head football coach,” Hartline said in a statement. “Becoming a first-time head coach at a place like USF is a dream come true for me and my family. I look forward to leading the team to new heights, both on and off the field.

"Bulls Nation, we’re going to need your support and commitment to help us get to where we all want to be: never-ending championship excellence, building something that lasts, and serving our university, our community, and our fan base with integrity and passion. I can’t wait to get to work with our team and the entire USF community. Go Bulls!”

Hartline's hiring comes on the start of early signing period, an important recruitment time for college programs.

While he was not involved in USF's recruiting class, Hartline has been significant in wrapping up Ohio State's, which has been rated fifth in the nation by 247 Sports. Ohio State has ranked among the top five recruiting classes in the nation each of the past seven seasons.

"As a head coach, it’s gratifying to see one of your assistants get one of these opportunities," Day said, "I think he’s going to do great. I think it's a great opportunity for him. I'm looking forward to seeing how he does."

Day, who added the USF offer emerged within the past 24 hours, said Hartline will have a busy month double-dipping, "but it's been done before and we'll help him along the way."

"It's a challenge for him, but that's speaks to his character," Day said. "He wants to make sure he finishes this thing out the right way. He wants to be with us all the way until the end."

Quick rise through coaching ranks

Hartline, an Ohio State graduate, began coaching at his alma mater in 2017 after retiring from the NFL, where he played wide receiver for the Miami Dolphins and Cleveland Browns. In a short time, he worked his way up from a quality control position to leader of Day’s offense.

Hartline was promoted to interim receivers coach in 2018, then took over the roll fulltime in 2019. He added passing game coordinator to his duties in 2022, then became OC in 2023.

This year's Buckeyes offense ranks 13th in scoring (37.0 ppg), 24th in total offense (438.5 ypg) and 24th in passing (267.0 ypg), with Heisman Trophy candidate Julian Sayin posting 3,065 passing yards and 30 touchdowns and Biletnikoff Trophy finalist Jeremiah Smith recording 55 catches for 725 yards and nine touchdowns.

ALSO READ: Golesh jumps from USF to Auburn. Bulls begin search for a new football coach

Last season, en route to the CFP title, the Hartline-led offense finished No. 14 nationally in scoring (35.7 ppg) and No. 3 in pass efficiency (171.55) with Smith, a graduate of Broward County's Chaminade Madonna Prep School, fourth in receiving yards (1,315) and second in receiving touchdowns (15).

"He is ready to lead our program to the next level," Higgins said. "He knows the state of Florida, having spent six seasons of his professional playing career in Miami, and has successfully recruited the state and the Bay area for a long time."

Hartline had tutored some of the best receivers in country, including Marvin Harrison Jr., Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson, Jaxon Smith‑Njigba and Emeka Egbuka, now a Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie.

Olave, Wilson and Jameson Williams, who spent two seasons with Ohio State before transferring to Alabama, were all first-round NFL picks in the 2022 draft. Smith-Njigba was a first-rounder in 2023 and Egbuka was this year with the Bucs.

Also, K.J. Hill, who broke the school record for career receptions with 201, and teammates Parris Campbell and Terry McLaurin were coached by Hartline and then selected in the draft.

USF program on the rise

Golesh left the Bulls in far better shape than when he arrived in 2023. Prior to his arrival in Tampa, the Bulls had won just four games over the prior three seasons. Over his tenure, USF went 23-15, with two bowl victories. The Bulls just finished the regular season 9-3 (6-2 in the American Conference) with a third bowl bid coming.

Kevin Patrick, the Bulls' defensive line coach, was named interim coach for the bowl game.

Under Hartline and the recently hired Higgins, the USF football program appears to be in an upward trajectory. The team is two years away from moving into a $407 million on-campus stadium and football operations center.

In addition, the administration has made an aggressive financial commitment to football, backing name, image and likeness (NIL) initiatives and positioning the Bulls among the most competitive programs in the Group of 6.

“Coach Brian Hartline is a proven winner who has experienced success at the highest levels of college football,” said USF Board of Trustees Chair Will Weatherford in the press release. “He shares our vision for winning championships, developing student-athletes and providing them with a world-class experience and positioning our university on the national stage."

Outgoing USF president Rhea Law also offered her congratulations to Hartline.

“We are thrilled to welcome Coach Brian Hartline and his family to the University of South Florida,” Law said. “His championship-level experience aligns perfectly with our commitment to excellence with our football program. We look forward to building on our momentum and reaching even greater success under Coach Hartline’s leadership.”