Ryan Day digs into preparing Brian Hartline for promotion to offensive coordinator

This offseason, Ohio State wide receiver coach Brian Hartline was promoted to offensive coordinator. That move not only comes with an increase in pay but also an increase in responsibility, such as playcalling. But what will be the most challenging thing the Buckeyes new offensive coordinator will have to prepare for? According to head coach Ryan Day, play calling is not the most significant thing on Hartline’s plate.

“I think the hardest thing about being a coordinator is the organization on a daily basis of organizing the offense,” said Day at the Big Ten Football Media Days. “You know, running the meetings, putting the install together, making sure individuals right, making sure everybody’s tied in together, make sure when you watch the film the corrections are being made; everybody’s on the same page as one voice in the run game (and) in the pasd game. I think those are all the really important things as a coordinator.”

Being an offensive coordinator at the collegiate level is more than just play calling. And although play calling is important, it’s not the most important thing Hartline will need to learn in the eyes of the Buckeyes headman. And to make his point, Day used his previous experience as a coordinator to drive home his point.

“The play calling is part of it, but to me, that’s the most important area. We’ll figure the play calling out. But ultimately, that’s the area where you have to grow as a coordinator. That’s probably the thing that I had to learn much more than anything as being a play caller was that it’s all about the work you put in during the week, making sure everybody is on the same page. So the next progression for Brian is just that, like we’re talking about — being a coordinator, learning those types of things. He’s got a great staff and a great environment to learn from, though.

Hartline has proven himself to be an elite-level wide receiver coach, developing three first-round picks at the position in the last two drafts. Now, he will get an opportunity to have that kind of impact on the entire offense. It will not be an easy task, especially at Ohio State. But it’s a good thing he has people like Day around to help him become the best offensive coordinator he can be.