Brian Hartline’s time at Ohio State is synonymous with the University’s prominence as the ‘WR-U’ of college football. It also saw a national championship, with Hartline as the Co-OC alongside Chip Kelly. Interestingly, his tenure could have been even longer, but as the coach now admits, he rejected Urban Meyer’s first offer.

During his appearance on the Triple Option Podcast with Urban Meyer, Rob Stone, and Mark Ingram, the former Ohio State head coach asked the current USF HC if he turned him down in 2016.

“Yeah, that shows you how silly I was then. I was just getting done playing, coach,” said Hartline to Meyer. “Remember, there was a fad where guys would come back and practice with you for the bowl game, and my brother talked me into coming back to practice, so I did. And then there’s Terry McLaurin and there’s Parris Campbell and Austin Mack, I was coaching them up as second-year players. My heart wasn’t there yet. I was like, ‘Hell no.’ I knew the obligation of being a coach, and I was still working through that, so I turned it down.”

In 2016, after finishing a seven-year NFL career with the Miami Dolphins and Cleveland Browns, Brian Hartline was “burnt out” from the sport. Probably that’s why when OSU head coach Meyer (2012–18) first noticed Hartline giving pointers to Buckeye WRs and offered him a job during bowl prep, Hartline simply rejected it. Fortunately for him, Meyer didn’t completely shut the door on Hartline. He eventually joined the coaching staff.

“Then I remember we got in contact. I forget how, Coach. It got closer to February before spring ball and the conversation was like, ‘Listen. I’d love for you to be around.’ “Hey, just come in and come and go; whatever makes you used to the schedule and the schedule’s crazy,” added Hartline. “And I remember looking at you, and I was like, “Coach, if I’m going to do it. I want them to trust me. I’m gonna be there every freaking day. So I’m gonna be there for spring. Let’s see how it goes.’ A week in, Coach, I was hooked.”

When Meyer called again in February 2017, Hartline felt he was “giving God a chance to right a wrong” by reconsidering. That’s why he agreed to join as a quality control assistant for spring. Thereafter, in 2018, he was promoted to interim WR coach following the firing of Zach Smith and then named permanent WR coach in December.

His rapid ascent continued with a promotion to OC in 2023, replacing Kevin Wilson. During Ohio State’s natty-winning season in 2024, Hartline served as the Co-OC with Chip Kelly. Following the latter’s departure to the NFL, he got the sole OC role and, more importantly, a chance to be the play-caller at his alma mater.

But it was Hartline’s recruiting approach that got Ohio State their future stars at the wide receiver position. He was quite direct, often focusing on a player’s long-term NFL prospects rather than immediate college gains. He leveraged his 104-game NFL career to provide recruits with a “recipe” for professional success. He famously told recruits: “We know the path, we know the recipe… if we tell you that you can be one of those guys, you can be one of those guys”.

His primary pitch was about how iron sharpens iron, which was the level of daily competition. Hartline argued that no other program could offer better practice reps than going against Ohio State’s elite cornerbacks and fellow 5-star receivers every single day. He emphasized versatility, moving receivers between the slot and outside to create mismatches and ensure they were prepared for any future NFL system. Players like Chris Olave credited him for teaching the nuances of route running and maintaining a level of trust that allowed these young players to develop their own styles.

The truth behind Brian Hartline’s exit from OSU

For most of his football life, Brian Hartline and OSU were almost inseparable. But last December, the longtime Buckeye made a bold career pivot, accepting the head coaching job at South Florida. Speaking on the Triple Option Podcast with Meyer, Hartline offered a candid look at what ultimately pulled him away from OSU.

“I kind of went through the process, between the resources, the people, the vision, acquisition of players, and being in the hotbed of Florida for recruiting,” said Hartline.

So, Florida’s reputation as one of the richest recruiting territories in the country was a major draw. But the Bulls’ long-term commitment to football also played a major role in his decision. USF is constructing a 35,000-seat on-campus stadium, and Hartline said seeing that commitment firsthand during the hiring process sealed his belief in the project.

“Everything they said that they wanted to happen, they were putting their money where their mouth was, and they kept checking boxes,” he said.

USF secured Hartline with the largest contract in program history to ensure he didn’t leave for a larger program prematurely. A six-year, $21.15 million deal, averaging roughly $3.5 million annually. The deal includes a significant $6.2 million staff salary pool, which increases to $6.7 million by the final year of the contract.

Yet family played the final and perhaps most important role in the move. The ex-OSU assistant revealed that his wife, Kara, gave the decisive push when the opportunity arrived. “Ultimately, in the end, Kara looked at me and said, ‘Brian, it’s time,'” he shared.

Now leading the Bulls into a new era, Hartline is eyeing a conference title run.