Former Ohio State Wide Receivers Coach Brian Hartline to Make $3.5 Million in First Year As Head Coach of South Florida
Brian Hartline's new job comes with new money, too.
According to records obtained by The Columbus Dispatch, the former Ohio State wide receivers coach and offensive coordinator will receive a $3.5 million salary in his first year as head coach of South Florida. This is a significant increase from his $2 million salary as the Buckeyes' OC in 2025, a bump of $1.5 million.
This $3.5 million figure places Hartline among the highest-paid coaches in the Group of Five. Only one head coach at that level, Liberty's Jamey Chadwell ($5.9 million), received a higher salary in 2025, per USA TODAY. UNLV head coach Dan Mullen matched Hartline's figure in 2025 at $3.5 million.
South Florida is fresh off a 9-4 season under Alex Golesh, who left to become the head coach at Auburn this offseason. A premium price tag will aim for high-end results for the Bulls, who won just four combined games across three seasons before Golesh, himself an Ohio State alumnus, took the job in 2023 and rattled off three straight winning campaigns.
Hartline has recruited two former Buckeyes through the transfer portal to join him at USF: wide receiver Bryson Rodgers and defensive end C.J. Hicks. Hartline has landed 37 total commitments in the portal, including two quarterbacks in LSU's Michael Van Buren Jr. and Mississippi State's Luke Kromenhoek. This move has sparked curiosity and excitement among fans and analysts alike, as Hartline's success at Ohio State and his ability to attract top talent could potentially elevate South Florida's program to new heights.
