After winning the natty, Ryan Day lost his DC to Penn State, and his OC went to the pros. While he hired Matt Patricia to continue their defensive dominance, the head coach didn’t have to look outside for an offensive coordinator. He promoted Brian Hartline to the position. Now, the Ohio State HC is losing him as well to South Florida. However, it’s not the Jim Knowles situation.

Instead of a bitter feeling, Ryan Day wishes Hartline the best for his future endeavors.

“I think he’s gonna do great. I think it’s a great opportunity for him. And looking forward to seeing how he does. That’s exciting for him. The timing isn’t great, but that’s not Brian’s fault; that’s other peoples’ fault. Hopefully, we can get some of this stuff addressed, but it’s like that for everybody in the country, so instead of being upset about it, we’re gonna embrace it,” Day told the media today.

Although he has reportedly accepted the USF job, Brian Hartline is expected to coach the Buckeyes through the playoffs.

“I’ll let the team know today. They’ll obviously read it today, but it’s good to hear from me. The plan is for him to continue to be with the team, which is a challenge for him, but it speaks to his character that he wants to make sure he finishes this thing out the right way. … He wants to be with us all the way through, all the way to the end and see this thing out during the season. It will be a busy month for him, but it’s been done before, and we’ll help him along the way,” Day added.

Hartline’s first-year stint as an offensive coordinator did not fail to impress. When Chip Kelly left for the NFL. Coach Day promoted his then-wide receivers coach to be OSU’s play-caller. Over the course of the season, he helped Ohio State become one of the top 25 offenses across the nation. Under his playcalling, Ohio State’s scoring offense ranked No. 13 across college football, averaging 438.5 yards per game.

His recruiting expertise, which helped him stack the OSU WR locker room with elite talent, made him a prized asset in Columbus. Along with developing Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate so far, the 38-year-old coach is known to produce NFL talent. Pro stars such as Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, and others credit their development to Hartline. To sum it up, Hartline’s OSU journey couldn’t have been more wholesome.

As a standout wide receiver at Ohio State during the mid-2000s, he transitioned to the pro league, playing for the Miami Dolphins and the Cleveland Browns. After spending years at the league, he returned to his alma mater, molding the next generation of NFL stars. Starting off as an offensive analyst, he quickly climbed the ranks. From the wide receiver coach to offensive coordinator and finally starting his new chapter as a head coach, Brian Hartline made his journey. And Coach Day couldn’t be prouder.

“That’s part of the profession,” Coach Day added. “As a head coach, it’s great to see one of your assistants get one of these opportunities. I think he’s going to do great.”

“Dream Come True”: Brian Hartline on the USF job

Hartline is proud of the blood and sweat he poured into developing his WR room. But the desire to lead a program as he head coach lingered. In an interview with Eleven Warriors, he opened up about his ambitions.

“I’d love to be a head coach and try to do that on a team, not just in one position,” he said.

Then his dream job presented itself, right at his doorstep. On Dec 1, Insider Liam Blutman reported that Hartline is trending as a candidate for the USF job. It was a quick development. As Coach Day shared, the opportunity emerged within 24 hours, prompting swift communication.

“Becoming a first-time head coach at a place like USF is a dream come true for me and my family,” he said after accepting a six-year deal with the South Florida Bulls.

Hartline’s OSU legacy has undoubtedly left a mark in Columbus. Now, he moves to the next chapter in his coaching journey.