Bulls land elite Ohio State offensive guru Brian Hartline, a renowned recruiter and developer, for their next head coach.
Another head coach opening has been filled, as Ohio State Buckeyes offensive coordinator reportedly has accepted the head coaching job with the South Florida Bulls, per Pete Thamel of ESPN. He’s reportedly agreed to a six-year deal and is expected to remain with the No. 1 ranked Buckeyes through their postseason remain. The former Ohio State star receiver has exclusively coached at his alma matter, working up the ladder, and will now assume his first head coach role for the 2026 season.
Hartline will replace former coach Alex Golesh, who accepted the job with the Auburn Tigers, and is set to start his head coach career with full revenue share resources towards NIL and an eventual on-campus stadium in 2027. The former NFL receiver has recruited and sent five first-round picks to the league at the wide receiver position since 2022. In his first year as offensive coordinator and playcaller for the Buckeyes, Hartline has risen as a top candidate and will take on one of the top Group of Five jobs in the nation.
Here is the full story from Buckeyes Roundtable writer Dylan Feltovich on Hartline’s background and what he will bring to the Bulls.
The 38-year-old is one of the top recruiters and developers in college football, and his resume is impressive. Those five first rounders were Marvin Harrison Jr., Chris Olave, Emeka Egbuka, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Garrett Wilson. He’s currently coaching one of the top rooms in the league with Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate as playmakers.
Hartline is the first noteworthy hire by South Florida athletic director Rob Higgins who was hired in September. The Bulls are pushing to become a top American school in the arguably best Group of Five conference, and they just landed a complementary playcaller with a laundry list of NFL-caliber talent he’s cultivated.