This is a new era for the Ohio State football team as the reigning champions. Chip Kelly and Ryan Day led them until now. Together, they helped them win the national title last year. However, following Kelly’s successful season, he has moved on to the NFL, and Brian Hartline is stepping into the offensive coordinator role.
The Buckeyes are putting their belief in a coach who has spent years developing their dynamic attack. Ryan Day, the head coach, recently spoke about Hartline’s elevation and made it obvious that he thinks his veteran assistant is ready for the next season.
Ryan Day Sets the Record Straight on $1.6M Hire and Brian Hartline’s Role at OSU
Ohio State head coach Ryan Day has officially spoken about Hartline’s promotion during his appearance on the June 5 episode of Big Ten Football. After years of working as the wide receivers coach and co-offensive coordinator, Hartline is now stepping into a bigger role. And according to Day, he’s more than ready.
When asked about Hartline’s new responsibilities, Day made it clear—his impact hasn’t changed since 2023. In fact, it’s only growing. “Now, he’s going to be coordinator. Now he’s going to call plays,” Day said. “That loyalty and that patience is going to pay off, and I think he’s going to be the best coordinator in the country.”
“He’s more ready than ever, and I’m excited to see where it goes.”
Ryan Day on new @OhioStateFB OC @brianhartline 👇#B1GFootball pic.twitter.com/UYV228ZJKt
— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) June 4, 2025
Last season, some thought Hartline was pushed aside when Chip Kelly was brought in. But Day doesn’t see it that way. Instead, he believes that time helped Hartline grow. It gave him a front-row seat to even more game planning. And now, he’s bringing that experience back to the field, with full control.
Looking back on the 2024 season, Day praised Hartline’s efforts.
“I thought he did some great work in the playoff run,” he said. “I thought he did a great job in a lot of the play design in the past game, and we’ve been together now working for eight years. So, you know, he’s more ready than ever and excited to see how it goes.”
He’s really that good; you can’t deny how much he affected the last season. It’s not easy to miss. The Buckeyes had a 13-1 record at the end of the 2024 season. They won the Big Ten title and went to the College Football Playoff.
In terms of receiving yards per game, their attack was fourth in the country.
His track record also speaks for itself. Stars like Marvin Harrison Jr., Garrett Wilson, and Chris Olave were picked in the first round of the NFL Draft in 2022 while he was their coach.
KEEP READING: Where Does Ryan Day Rank Among Ohio State’s All-Time Coaches? CFB Analyst Offers Bold Take
With Day’s endorsement adding to the anticipation, Buckeyes fans are eager to see if Hartline can deliver on expectations and continue his success in 2025.
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