Welcome to your Daily Buckeye Blitz instant reaction special. I was surprised to hear that Brian Hartland will be taking over as the new offensive coordinator. I had thought that Justin Fry would be the one to take on this role. However, the University officially confirmed the news late this afternoon. Hartline’s resume is impressive, he has been the passing game coordinator, and before that he was promoted to wide receiver coach.
Last season he also interviewed for the head coach job at the University of Cincinnati and Kentucky OC job. He started his career as a QC coach in 2017 and in 2018 was interim wide receivers coach after Zach Smith was fired. He took over full-time as the wide receivers coach in 2019 and is considered a top recruiter in the country. Ryan Day has praised Hartline in the official statement, saying that he is more than ready to take on the role of offensive coordinator and that he will now be recruiting for the entire offense. This is an exciting prospect, as Hartline is considered to be an invaluable asset to the Ohio State team. He is setting himself up for a potential head coach role at Ohio State in the future.
Justin Fry, by the way, is now officially the Run game coordinator and Tony Alford has been promoted to assistant head coach for the offense. All these changes will have an influence on the offense, but we should not worry about throwing the ball 60 times a game. Ryan Day’s offense will remain the same. The only question I have is what does Hartline know about the Run game, as he has been around it but does he have the specific knowledge that is needed to be successful in this role.
I know he’s been around the program, but I wonder how much he knows about the ins and outs and the details that are necessary. That would be my one question. He is an invaluable asset that Ohio State can’t afford to lose. He is setting himself up to possibly be the head coach for Ohio State down the road, sooner or later. I don’t know how long he will wait or if he will be a head coach somewhere else.
A lot is going in his favor. Just being a part of the program from day one, dating back to his playing days as a QC in a room, then as a coach, and now as OC has been a progression, and he has worked at every level. He loves the program, and that has to be first and foremost.
I think his recruiting success will now bring that to the entire offense, which is huge in my opinion. This will be a big test for him, let’s see how he fares in season one. I’m sure Ryan Day will be holding his hand a bit, but I think this is huge.
There was talk when Justin Fry was hired that when Kevin Wilson would leave, Frye would be considered for the OC job. I’m not sure if Frye will be there that long, I could see him being here maybe three years, but he’s got bigger ambitions too. So we’ll see how that plays out.
But anyways, I’m pumped about this, and I’m excited to see what Hartline brings to the offense and how Ryan Day, being freed up during games, how this all plays together. So, I got an instant reaction show for you as always. Please like, subscribe, don’t forget, Sunday night YouTube live, be there, talk to you later, Go Bucks.