Ohio State Football: Does Brian Hartline need to be an OC before being an HC?

The Ohio State football program has the best wide receiver coach in the country in Brian Hartline. He develops wide receivers better than anyone else and gets them to where they can succeed in the NFL. He has countless examples of players doing that and just sent two more in the first round.

Hartline’s recruiting is also arguably better than any other assistant coach in the entire country. Last week may have been the best recruiting he’s ever done. There’s no question that Hartline will eventually get a head coaching job. The question is, does he need to be an offensive coordinator first?

Hartline’s first head coaching opportunity would likely come at a lower-level school. Perhaps somewhere in the MAC or Sun Belt where he can use his recruiting connections easier. Would a program in a conference like that care if he was an offensive coordinator first?

In all honesty, I would have to say no. Hartline’s ability to develop players and recruit elite talent might override that experience. I would not be shocked if a program like Akron or UAB gave Hartline a shot to come in and take over the program from Ohio State.

Hartline’s next promotion with the Buckeyes would likely come as an offensive coordinator. He’s already the passing game coordinator right now. If Ryan Day wants to hold onto him, he’s going to need to promote him and keep him well paid for as long as possible.

The Ohio State football program is in better shape because Hartline is on staff. Whenever he does leave for a better job, and that’s a matter of when not if, it will be a sad day for Buckeye fans. He’s a great Buckeye and we will root for him to succeed wherever he does go.

Hopefully though, that’s not for a while.