Sources confirm South Florida's hiring of Ohio State offensive coordinator Brian Hartline as head coach.

South Florida is preparing to bring in another high-profile offensive coordinator from a power conference to lead its football program. Sources have revealed that Brian Hartline, currently Ohio States offensive coordinator, will become the Bulls head coach under a six-year contract. He will replace Alex Golesh, who recently accepted the head coaching position at Auburn. Hartline is expected to remain with Ohio State through the College Football Playoff before transitioning to USF.

At 39, Hartline is a former wide receiver for Ohio State and has served in multiple coaching roles with the Buckeyes. Following his NFL career, he joined Ohio State in 2017 as a quality control coach and steadily advanced through the offensive staff ranks. He became the wide receivers coach in 2018 and held that position for five seasons before being promoted to offensive coordinator in 2023. During Chip Kellys tenure in 2024, Hartline served as co-offensive coordinator as Ohio State captured the College Football Playoff title. After Kellys departure to the NFL, Hartline resumed full offensive coordinator duties in 2025.

This season, Hartline took over as the primary play-caller for Ohio State, a shift from previous years when head coach Ryan Day had called most plays. The Buckeyes are averaging 37 points per game through 12 contests, and quarterback Julian Sayin is on pace to break the single-season FBS record for completion percentage.

Although Hartlines coaching career has been entirely in Ohio, he has ties to Florida from his professional playing days. Selected by the Miami Dolphins in the fourth round of the 2009 NFL Draft, he spent six seasons with Miami and concluded his NFL career with the Cleveland Browns. Over seven NFL seasons, Hartline accumulated 344 receptions for 4,766 yards and 14 touchdowns, including back-to-back 1,000-yard campaigns in 2012 and 2013 with the Dolphins.

Golesh led the Bulls for three seasons after serving as Tennessees offensive coordinator, compiling a 7-6 record in his first two years and finishing 9-3 in 2025. Under Golesh, USFs offense averaged 43 points per game and over seven yards per play this season.

Author: Benjamin Carter