Brian Hartline Named Ohio State Offensive Coordinator

Brian Hartline was named last night as Ohio State’s 48th offensive coordinator. The move, one of three the Ohio State Buckeyes made yesterday, was designed to keep Hartline in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio State also hired a wide receivers’ coach to fill in for Hartline, and an offensive line coach to fill in for Justin Frye. He was previously offensive coordinator at Ohio State in 2023 and had great success as a recruiter and wide receivers coach. Fans are right in wondering if the success Hartline had there will translate to the entire offense. Do you think it will?

Brian Hartline Hired As Offensive Coordinator at Ohio State

Ohio State announced last night that Hartline will be promoted from wide receiver coach to offensive coordinator for the 2025 season. This is the second time he has been the offensive coordinator, and the terms of the deal were not released, though he surely got a big raise to replace Chip Kelly. Kelly departed the offensive coordinator position at Ohio State last week for $6 million a year to take the same position with the Las Vegas Raiders.

The promotion was designed to keep Hartline in Columbus. He received overtures from college and professional teams. It has been reported that in the 2025 season, Hartline will call the plays. Before Kelly, Head Coach Ryan Day called the plays.

Fans are wondering whether the success Hartline had at Ohio State as the wide receivers’ coach will translate to the entire offense. There Hartline developed and recruited a host of superstar receivers including Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson, Jaxon Smith-Najiba, Marvin Harrison Jr., Emeka Egbuka and Jeremiah Smith.

Hartline previously served as Ohio State’s offensive coordinator in 2023. That success did not translate, and the Ohio State offense was pedestrian.  Ohio State finished 48th in total offense and 45th in the nation in scoring offense that season. Both marks are the lowest Day’s Ohio State head coaching tenure.

Billy Fessler Promoted

Billy Fessler was an offensive analyst with Ohio State. He was promoted by the Buckeyes to be the wide receivers coach. That was the position vacated by Hartline. Fessler is reported to be intelligent, and he has been praised by Day, but Buckeye fans everywhere hope he is as good of a recruiter and developer of talent as his predecessor. 

Tyler Bowen To Be Offensive Line Coach

Tyler Bowen was the offensive coordinator at Virginia Tech. Bowen accepted a bit of a demotion to be the offensive line coach at Ohio State. That position was vacated when Frye departed Ohio State for the same position with the Arizona Cardinals last week.

Conclusion

The terms of all three deals were not released immediately by Ohio State. Nevertheless, the Buckeyes are able to pay top dollar for talent, whether they acquire it, or keep it in the fold. Fans hope all three are as successful as their predecessors.