Buckeyes announce Brian Hartline as new offensive coordinator

COLUMBUS — Ohio State knows how talented Brian Hartline is — and the Buckeyes certainly know what he is worth.

Now they’re giving him yet another title to add to his growing list: offensive coordinator. A source confirmed the hire to Lettermen Row on Friday afternoon.

Hartline was named the Ohio State offensive coordinator on Friday afternoon. The former Buckeyes wide receiver, NFL playmaker and highly-respected wide receivers coach under Urban Meyer and Ryan Day is now in charge of one of the country’s top offenses, replacing Kevin Wilson. Wilson was named the head coach at Tulsa back in December, ending his six-year run as Ohio State offensive coordinator.

“I am ready and I am really looking forward to this opportunity,” Hartline said in a statement. “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.”

Hartline is well-respected in the coaching community as he continues to climb the ladder. He was listed as a candidate for the Kentucky offensive coordinator job, and he interviewed for the head coaching position at Cincinnati last month.

But he turned all of those opportunities down to stay with the Buckeyes.

“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.” 

Now he’s being rewarded for his ability to coach — and his loyalty.

Hartline was previously the Buckeyes wide receivers coach and passing-game coordinator. He has earned a reputation as one of the country’s premier recruiters of wide receivers. He has hauled in at least one five-star receiver in every recruiting class since 2019. But he also can develop that talent, sending both Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave to the NFL as first-round picks.

Last season, Hartline had opportunities to leave Ohio State, but he stayed with the program with a boost in pay and a new title: passing-game coordinator. The Buckeyes made sure to lock Hartline in despite the outside interest, particularly from Notre Dame.

“I love it here,” Hartline said last year. “It’s a passion here. All I care about is this [wide receivers] room. That’s my main focus and my forever focus. … But I’m also not a person to sit here and tell you, ‘no, I’m never leaving Ohio State.’ I’m not saying I ever will. Go up the ladder? Go where? This is the pinnacle of the ladder. I don’t need the satisfaction of calling plays or whatever. I don’t know what that ladder is. But to me, I’m at the pinnacle of the ladder. That’s a big question, hard to answer.

“All I know is that I love Ohio State. My wife is from here. We live here. I love my house. That would be really hard to leave.”

Ohio State is showing it loves Brian Hartline in return. The Buckeyes now have a new offensive coordinator. They didn’t have to look far to find him, either.