Hires Made
Ohio State promotes Brian Hartline to OC and Billy Fessler to QB coach, hires Tyler Bowen as OL coach
Ohio State is staying in-house to replace Chip Kelly.
The Buckeyes are turning to their star wide receivers coach to lead their offense in 2025, promoting Brian Hartline to offensive coordinator, according to multiple reports.
BREAKING: Ohio State is set to promote WR coach Brian Hartline to offensive coordinator, @PeteNakos_ reportshttps://t.co/Dd0LZlgLrj pic.twitter.com/6YjD3FaVSd
— On3 (@On3sports) February 5, 2025
Ohio State plans to name Brian Hartline as its new offensive coordinator, sources tell @cbssports/@247sports.
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) February 5, 2025
Hartline has continued to do elite work as a receivers coach, including most recently with guys like Jeremiah Smith, and as a recruiter. Now set for a promotion. pic.twitter.com/v8O3y6oADQ
It’s the second time in three years that Hartline has been promoted to offensive coordinator. Ohio State previously made Hartline its offensive coordinator in 2023, but Ryan Day served as Ohio State’s primary play-caller that season. Hartline was the Buckeyes’ co-offensive coordinator last season after Kelly was hired.
Now that Hartline has two more years of coaching experience under his belt, Day is turning to Hartline to be Ohio State’s offensive coordinator again.
ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg reported that Hartline is expected to be Ohio State’s primary play-caller in 2025, with Day continuing to serve as a program CEO after winning a national championship in his first season delegating offensive play calling. It will be Hartline’s first time serving as a primary play-caller.
Hartline will have to prove himself in his second stint as offensive coordinator as Ohio State’s offense had its worst season under Day when Hartline previously held the coordinator title in 2023. Ohio State finished 48th in the FBS in total offense and 45th in the nation in scoring offense that season, both the lowest marks of Day’s Ohio State tenure.
But Hartline has more than proven himself as one of college football’s elite assistant coaches over the past seven years as Ohio State’s wide receivers coach. Hartline has established himself as the best wide receivers coach in college football – a role he’ll continue to serve in as offensive coordinator – by developing a host of superstar receivers including Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Marvin Harrison Jr., Emeka Egbuka and Jeremiah Smith.
While Hartline has received overtures to become a head coach or offensive coordinator elsewhere, the former Ohio State receiver has remained at his alma mater since starting his coaching career in 2017 as a quality control coach for the Buckeyes. Now, Hartline is the offensive coordinator at the school he loves dearly.
With Hartline’s promotion to offensive coordinator, offensive analyst Billy Fessler – who helped Kelly coach Ohio State’s quarterbacks this past season – is set to be promoted to quarterbacks coach to fill the open spot on Ohio State’s full-time coaching staff vacated by Kelly.
Ohio State also hired a new offensive line coach on Wednesday, hiring Virginia Tech offensive coordinator Tyler Bowen to replace Justin Frye.
Ohio State remains in the market for a new defensive coordinator to replace Jim Knowles.
