Former Ohio State Buckeyes offensive coordinator/receivers coach Brian Hartline is not burning bridges from Columbus to his new home in Tampa. The first-year USF Bulls head coach recently showed nothing but love for Urban Meyer, Ryan Day, and all the great minds he got to be around during his time coaching at his alma mater.
Hartline took the high road during the American Conference's Media Days, dubbed the 2026 American Kickoff.
“Oh, yeah. I mean, I’m shaped by those men,” Hartline said. “And so, a lot of what we do will probably resemble a lot of things they believe and how they operate. ... I just love investing in people. I love maximizing people. I love the receiver position. The combination of those two things made it an easy passion.
"That passion will continue here. I’ll still be heavily involved with the wideouts because I just need that. I truly enjoy that. I learned a lot operationally from everybody I’ve been around. But just being yourself and not trying to trick people.”
Brian Hartline will likely always have his eyes on Ohio
Hartline likely hopes his career one day leads him back to his home state. For him to ever reach the head coaching level in Scarlet and Gray, though, he'll have to wait until the Ryan Day era is over. That won't be for a long time. Even then, perhaps NFL head coaches get looks, since that archetype has crushed it in coordinator roles.
Hartline could build the Bulls up, look for a bigger role in the state of Florida -- since the Florida Gators, Florida State Seminoles, Miami Hurricanes, and UCF Knights are always having coaching problems throughout the years -- and then hope one day the timing aligns with OSU.
Having already reached the play-caller role, but never really getting the full chance under Day, Hartline has a road ahead of him before earning his dream head coaching job.
Brian Hartline could've aired Ryan Day out over how 2025 ended
Hartline could've raked Day over the coals for how sloppy the play-calling hand-off happened last December before the Buckeyes lost the Big Ten Championship Game to the Indiana Hoosiers and were eliminated from the CFP in the Cotton Bowl Classic at the hands of the Canes.
Instead, he did the opposite and praised him. That's what you call a true professional. Hartline's last memory at the school he proudly played for was compromised by Day. Hartline didn't have to play nice.
With that said, playing nice will only help Hartline in the long run. He doesn't need to ruffle any feathers with his old fanbase. USF has plenty of smoke with Hartline's predecessor, Alex Golesh, now the Auburn Tigers' head coach. Hartline needs to keep his head down and recruit as he did throughout his Ohio State tenure.
The Buckeyes got the proverbial rub, and Hartline is likely getting praise from more than just this writer. A successful unofficial debut in his new seat for Hartline indeed.
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