After claiming the National Championship in the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff, Ohio State was unexpectedly left in a tough position, as both their offensive and defensive coordinators were poached for other jobs. Offensive coordinator Chip Kelly returned to the NFL, accepting the role of offensive coordinator for the Las Vegas Raiders. Meanwhile, Jim Knowles, a Pennsylvania native, left for a new opportunity as the defensive coordinator at Big Ten rival Penn State.
Photo Cred: Sporting News
This left the Buckeyes with little time to secure their next coordinators, especially given that their search began after the National Championship game. Other teams, on the other hand, had started their searches earlier, some as far back as January, depending on when their seasons ended. Despite the timing challenges, Ohio State’s new coordinators will have huge shoes to fill, as they are taking over for the masterminds behind one of the best offenses and the top defense in the country last season. For the offensive coordinator position, the Buckeyes chose to promote from within, elevating Brian Hartline, one of the top wide receivers coaches in the country, to the role.
Hartline, a former Buckeye wide receiver (2006-2008), seemed like the natural choice after years of success with the team. The outside hire options were limited, and Hartline’s deep familiarity with Ohio State made him the obvious pick. Hartline began his coaching career with the Buckeyes in 2017, following a seven-year NFL career. He took over the wide receiver room in 2018, and since then, his work has been nothing short of exceptional. Hartline has recruited and developed four first-round NFL draft picks, with a fifth in Jameson Williams, who transferred to Alabama before becoming a first-round pick himself.
Hartline is also sending another promising player, Emeka Egbuka, to the NFL draft this year, with Egbuka projected to go in the first round. One of Hartline’s most impressive achievements, however, might still be to come, as he recruited standout freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith. Smith has already proven himself as one of the country’s top talents, and with two more years of college eligibility, the sky’s the limit for both him and Hartline, who will now take on the challenge of calling plays as the new offensive coordinator.
Photo Cred: Ohio State
Though this is Hartline’s first role as a coordinator, he has experience as the co-offensive coordinator last season, playing a key part in Ohio State’s explosive passing game during their playoff run. While replacing Chip Kelly is no small task, Hartline has a wealth of talent to work with in a familiar setting. On the defensive side, Ohio State went with an outside hire, bringing in former NFL head coach and defensive coordinator Matt Patricia.
Known for his success during the New England Patriots’ dynasty, Patricia won three Super Bowls with the team, two as the defensive coordinator. After a tough stint as head coach of the Detroit Lions from 2018 to 2020, where he posted a record of 13-29-1 and faced criticism for his strained relationships with players, Patricia returned to the Patriots as an assistant for the 2021-2022 seasons. Most recently, he served as an assistant for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2023. With 2024 spent away from football, Patricia has plenty to prove, especially with no team giving him a chance last season.
Patricia takes over a defense that was ranked as the best in the country under Jim Knowles. However, the Buckeyes are losing several key defensive starters, including the entire defensive line. Despite these departures, Ohio State remains loaded with talent, headlined by one of the best safeties in the country, Caleb Downs. Nevertheless, Patricia’s ability to step up will be tested early in the 2025 season, as the Buckeyes will open the year by hosting Arch Manning and the Texas Longhorns, the same team they defeated in the Cotton Bowl to secure their spot in the National Championship game.
