TAMPA, Fla. — Ohio State offensive coordinator Brian Hartline will become the next head football coach at the University of South Florida, according to a statement released by the school.
University of South Florida CEO of Athletics Rob Higgins has announced Dec. 3 the selection of Hartline, who has been an important part of Ohio State University’s recent excellence, with the Buckeyes wining the 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship, posting a 37-4 record the last three seasons and being the No. 1-ranked team in the latest CFP rankings.
“Brian Hartline was our clear-cut first choice to lead our football program into the most exciting era in program history, and I am so fired up to have him leading the Bulls,” Higgins said. “A relentless recruiter, outstanding developer of talent and a gritty competitor, he comes from a championship background and is obsessed with instilling championship excellence in his players and teams. He is ready to lead our program to the next level. He knows the state of Florida, having spent six seasons of his professional playing career in Miami, and has successfully recruited the state and the Bay area for a long time. We are so excited to welcome Brian, his wife Kara and their children Brayden, Kameron and Brooklyn to the Bulls family.”
A major part of Ohio State’s recruiting success, Hartline has helped the Buckeyes’ current 2026 signing class rank No. 5 in the nation according to 247Sports. Ohio State has ranked among the top five recruiting classes in the nation in each of the last seven seasons.
"I’m honored and excited to join the University of South Florida as its new head football coach," Hartline said. "Becoming a first-time head coach at a place like USF is a dream come true for me and my family. I look forward to leading the team to new heights, both on and off the field. Bulls Nation, we’re going to need your support and commitment to help us get to where we all want to be: never-ending championship excellence, building something that lasts, and serving our university, our community, and our fan base with integrity and passion. I can’t wait to get to work with our team and the entire USF community. Go Bulls!"
Hartline will coach the Buckeyes in Saturday’s Big Ten Championship game against Indiana before being introduced to Bulls Nation.
"Coach Brian Hartline is a proven winner who has experienced success at the highest levels of college football," said USF Board of Trustees Chair Will Weatherford.
USF President Rhea Law said, "His championship-level experience aligns perfectly with our commitment to excellence with our football program. We look forward to building on our momentum and reaching even greater success under Coach Hartline’s leadership."
In Hartline’s nine seasons on the Ohio State staff, he has recruited and helped develop some of the best wide receivers in the nation, including Marvin Harrison Jr. who was selected in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft with the fourth overall pick and Tampa Bay Bucs' Emeka Egbuka, who was selected in the first round in the 2025 NFL Draft after posting 1,011 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns for the Buckeyes in 2024.
The Bulls will learn their bowl destination in the coming week after their third 10-win season in program history. Coca-Cola Bowl Season selections will be announced on Sunday, Dec. 7.
The news of Hartline's hire comes after Auburn hired University of South Florida's Head Coach Alex Golesh as its next football coach on Sunday.
Golesh went 23-15 in three seasons with the Bulls, a tenure that coincided with USF ranking second in the country in total offense and fourth in scoring.
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