Brian Hartline’s departure from Ohio State leaves a significant gap.
During his tenure as wide receivers coach (and most recently offensive coordinator), he helped develop a pipeline of elite pass-catching talent and guided one of the nation’s most prolific receiver rooms, including players like Marvin Harrison Jr. and Jeremiah Smith, while overseeing an offense that ranked among the country’s best this season.
With that legacy and the important role the position plays in recruiting and development,
Ryan Day’s pick to replace Hartline will signal the next chapter of “Wide Receiver U.”
While the search is ongoing and Day undoubtedly has many names on his board, two potential paths have emerged in my opinion: Internal promotion of current assistant coaches, or a high-profile external hire with extensive WR coaching experience.
1. Keenan Bailey, promote from within
One of the most natural and widely discussed options is Keenan Bailey, a longtime Ohio State assistant who has worked closely with receivers during Hartline’s tenure. Bailey’s resume with the Buckeyes runs deep. He has coached at Ohio State for multiple seasons, developing strong relationships with players and recruiting pipelines alike.
Promoting Bailey would keep continuity in a position room that values stability and cohesion, especially with most of this season’s veteran core returning. He has experience coaching Ohio State’s skill players and has been part of the Buckeyes’ offensive rise.
This internal route appeals to fans and pundits who fear disruption in player development during a critical recruiting and national title pursuit. Given his familiarity with Day’s system and the trust built with receivers up close, Bailey is arguably the safest option.
2. Devin Jordan, a logical internal step
Another internal candidate is Devin Jordan, currently serving as an assistant wide receivers coach. Jordan has spent significant time directly involved with Hartline’s development of Ohio State’s receivers and is widely respected within the program.
While he’s not yet held a full-time WR coach title at a Power Five level, his close work with the unit means he already understands the terminology, expectations, and recruiting relationships that matter most.
Promoting Jordan would be a statement about continuity and internal growth. It tells current players and recruits that Ohio State believes in homegrown coaching talent, values the knowledge developed within the building, and trusts its own staff to maintain elite development standards.
This path also minimizes any learning curve for players already accustomed to Day’s offense and Hartline’s approach.
3. Cortez Hankton, experienced outsider with a proven track record
Perhaps the most intriguing external option is Cortez Hankton, the co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach at LSU until recent staff turnover. Ohio State has already interviewed Hankton, who brings a resume full of elite pass-catcher development.
Hankton’s track record speaks for itself, he coached standout receivers at LSU and previously at Georgia, working with NFL talent and contributing heavily to recruiting successes in the Southeast. His experience recruiting nationally and coaching first-round caliber receivers could help Ohio State sustain and expand its recruiting reach in key regions.
An external hire like Hankton also provides a fresh voice and perspective to a room that has done great things but now enters a new era without Hartline.
A choice with big implications
Choosing the next wide receivers coach will be about more than Xs and Os. It will reflect Ohio State’s coaching philosophy, recruiting priorities, and Day’s vision for sustaining excellence.
The receivers room has been a cornerstone of Ohio State’s identity for decades, and finding the right leader to replace Hartline, one who can develop talent, recruit at an elite level, and integrate seamlessly into Day’s offense, is imperative.
Whether Ohio State goes with Bailey’s continuity, Jordan’s internal growth, or Hankton’s external pedigree, each option brings its own blend of stability, experience, and upside. And while none will replicate Hartline’s unique combination of coaching, recruiter, and system architect overnight, all represent solid building blocks for the next era of Buckeye wide receivers.
As the playoff run continues and the staff reshapes, this hire will be one of the storylines to watch, not just for 2026, but for how Ohio State positions itself as Wide Receiver U for the decade ahead.
