Ohio State offensive coordinator Brian Hartline is confirmed to be a piece of the Penn State coaching search, but would it make sense?
The coaching carousel is at a fever pitch and Penn State is well in the middle of it with its search well underway.
Less than a year removed from a College Football Playoff Semifinal run, Penn State is in a tailor made position to have success with their coaching hire.
Let’s take a look at some of the candidates and why it makes sense or doesn’t for both the candidate and the program:
Brian Hartline – Ohio State
Every coaching search cycle features Hartline’s name atop many lists. Penn State is no different. He’s been the front-runner for this coaching search according to many including this writer. Hartline might not have the head coaching experience, but he’s spent a lot of time with a lot of great coaches in Urban Meyer and Ryan Day plus many assistants.
Pros for Penn State
- This would be a big-time hire to not only lure him away from his alma mater, but also the impact this would have in recruiting and development at the wide receiver position, which has been a weakness for Penn State in recent years.
- His familiarity with how Ohio State operates and what goes into that operation being successful each year is quality intel and would be a great asset.
- Hartline could bring some high-quality assistants with him and with his familiarity in working with Jim Knowles, could keep the coordinator on staff as well as many of the defensive assistants saving the university some big time money they can pump back into the program.
Cons for Penn State
- Despite the success as an assistant, it’s far different when you’re running your own program. That’s a cause for concern, but they won’t know unless they found out.
- If the Ohio State job were to open up and Penn State hired Hartline, would he leave immediately for it or would he be there for the long haul?
- How long does he ride out the season with Ohio State until he can join the program?
Pros for Hartline
- You would get a program ready and built for success. It’s not a rebuild which is a positive for all involved and especially so for a first-time head coach.
- Familiarity with the Big Ten and the same recruiting turf he’s familiar with at Ohio State
- It finally an opportunity to run your own program and be your own boss.
Cons for Hartline
- It’s not Ohio State, a program he graduated from and had developed as an elite assistant and recruiter in.
- What if success is harder to come by at Penn State?
- If not this job, what job would be the dream job for Hartline?
Hartline has been my favorite to land the position, and if I had to guess, I would expect that to be the case by the time it’s all said and done. Is it the splashiest of hires? No, but it is of the coordinators and he’s certainly paid his dues with the Buckeyes. Wide receiver has been a black hole and being able to recruit elite talent and develop that talent would be exactly what’s needed.
It would make sense they pair him with a general manager and lessen the load on him as a first-time head coach, but the route they go for that remains to be seen.
