According to Chris Anderson of 247Sports, Ohio State co-offensive coordinator Brian Hartline has interviewed to be West Virginia‘s head coach.
After a seven-year career in the NFL, Hartline returned to Ohio State, where he played his college ball, and started off in 2017 as graduate assistant. He’s worked his way up in Columbus since then and now oversees one of the best wide receiving corps in the country.
Hartline is the latest name to pop up in the coaching search, which has mostly focused in on former West Virginia head coach Rich Rodriguez, who is now at Jacksonville State, following his disappointing head coaching stints at Michigan and Arizona.
Also, Penn State offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki was an early target for the Mountaineers, but he announced earlier this week he would be remaining as the head coach of the Nittany Lions. And another name that entered the conversation this week was Army head coach Jeff Monken.
Ohio State Football’s Offense
Hartline has been the co-offensive coordinator with Chip Kelly, who is in his first season on the job. Ohio State is getting set to play in the College Football Playoff, where they will host Tennessee in a No. 8 vs. No. 9 first round match up.
Ohio State’s offense ranked fifth in the Big 10 in total yards per game this season, fifth in passing yards per game, sixth in rushing yards per game and third in points per game.
Hartline has been named the Wide Receivers Coach of the Year twice in the last couple of seasons. On3 Sports named him its 2022 national wide receivers coach of the year and FootballScoop named Hartline its 2021 wide receivers coach of the year. Most recently, Marvin Harrison Jr. won the 2023 Biletnikoff Award as the outstanding receiver in collegiate football and was a Heisman Trophy finalist. Also, Chris Olave (2021), Garrett Wilson (2021) and Jaxon Smith-Njigba (second-team in 2021) have all been named All-Americans under Hartline’s watch.
West Virginia decided to fire Neal Brown after a 6-6 season. Brown was in Morgantown for six years before being let go following a blowout loss to Texas Tech to end the 2024 campaign.
