Ohio State elevates Hartline to permanent receivers coach

Ryan Day, who will succeed Urban Meyer as Ohio State's coach after this season, made his first official staff position move on Saturday by removing the interim tag for wide receivers coach Brian Hartline. Hartline, 32, will be the permanent wide receivers coach for the Buckeyes, who are playing in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1 against Washington. Hartline joined the Buckeyes as a quality control coach with the wide receivers in 2017. He became the interim wide receivers coach after former receivers coach Zach Smith was dismissed this summer in July following allegations of domestic abuse. "Brian is a terrific young coach and mentor to our players and I am thrilled he is on our staff permanently now," Day said in a statement released by the school. "Brian was displaying outstanding leadership qualities when he was a quality control coach, and his efforts coaching the wide receivers this season are a huge reason we are Big Ten champions and headed to the Rose Bowl." Under Hartline, Ohio State receivers enjoyed a prominent role for the school's 16th Rose Bowl appearance and 12-1 record. The Buckeyes' receivers totaled 291 passes for 4,211 yards and 43 touchdowns, setting school records in all three categories while helping quarterback Dwayne Haskins Jr. become a finalist for the Heisman Trophy. Upon learning of Hartline's promotion, Haskins tweeted: "Best in the country, my guy!". Hartline played at Ohio State from 2006 to 2008 and spent seven seasons in the NFL. He was a fourth-round pick of the Miami Dolphins in 2009 and spent six seasons with Miami before playing his final season with the Cleveland Browns in 2015.