December 28, 2025 • 21 mins
Daniel Jeremiah, Bucky Brooks and Rhett Lewis are joined by South Florida HC Brian Hartline to discuss his leap from Ohio State offensive coordinator to head coach for USF. He opens up about the tenets of his coaching philosophy, his history of developing wide receivers and his immediate plan to build a strong foundation for his new school. .
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
And now move the sticks with Daniel Jeremiah and Bucky Brooks.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
All Right, guys, I'm excited about this next guest here.
This is someone we've talked to in the past, but
in a different role. Looking forward to having a chance
to catch up with coach Brian Hartline. He is a
new head coach at South Florida after an incredible run
at Ohio State. There's a great player there, played the
National Football League and then as taken over really as
(00:27):
kind of the premier wide receiver coach in college football,
then elevated to be the offensive coordinator for the Buckeyes
and a fantastic job, and now has this opportunity as
the head coach at South Florida. So wanted to catch
up with him and get a chance to discuss this
new challenge that he's facing and his excitement for this challenge.
Here's our conversation with Brian Hartline. Well, coach, I appreciate
(00:49):
you taking some time. I know it's been a wild,
busy time.
Speaker 3 (00:52):
For you here. Can can you walk us through this
decision process?
Speaker 2 (00:56):
I mean we've talked to you before, obviously, appreciate all
the work you've done State and doing the draft stuff
over here with those white outs man and now taking
over as the coordinator. But what was this decision like
to accept this one? I know, this is not your
first opportunity that you've had.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
Yeah, you know, it's a there's no clear, easy way
to navigate these things at times. I think for me,
the ability to win consistently is real, really important to me.
And so I've identified you know, USF as a place
that can be done for sure.
Speaker 4 (01:26):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (01:26):
You know, so that was a huge part just from
football wives. I mean, it was all about ball. The
connection with with some people it was important, but then
it was you know, seeing you know, connecting with the leadership, right,
I mean, to be able to make sure we're aligned,
making sure that they understand, you know, the process is
going to be. It's not it just happened. It takes
a lot of work. And uh, they're kind of you
(01:48):
know coming in they're only you know, a couple of
months in, and the alignment they have there just felt right.
The communication felt right. Uh. And so you started painting
that picture and then you take it to your to
your life and your significant others and my family, and
you know, they were very you know, passive and they're
very hold offish, but then as you continue to talk
(02:09):
and they loosen it up, it was almost like they
were the ones telling me, we're doing this. So uh,
it progressed. It progressed, you know, really well, organically, went fast,
made no mistake about it. But you know, I think
that coupled with the last piece, like if I was
going to leave or go somewhere, I really cherish home.
I really to chaish that family feel. And I've always
(02:29):
felt even though I was born and raised and lived
a long time in Ohio, Florida was kind of always
my second home. Frankly, that's how we've always felt that way.
So it's just it was the alignment. It was all
of it. It wasn't just one piece. And uh, really
really excited.
Speaker 4 (02:44):
You know, coach, I heard you talk about people, process
and purpose being critical to being successful.
Speaker 3 (02:50):
Expand on that for us.
Speaker 4 (02:51):
But the people that haven't heard you talk about those
tennis success.
Speaker 1 (02:55):
Yeah, you know, I think people people drive everything. So again,
I only get long winded on us, but you know,
there's a lot of guys that I'll start with this
from an athletics standpoint, like, there's a lot of guys
that are five ten to six two that weigh one
hundred and seventy five pounds one hundred and ninety five pounds,
that you know, run a full four to five to
four to six five, Like, there's a lot of those
kind of players. So there's a lot of linemen that
(03:17):
are six two to six six that way, anywhere from
two seventy five to three twenty five. I mean, you
have all those measurements. I just feel like people, you
know their mental makeup and how they're wired, and how
they carry themselves and how they do one thing, that's
how they do all things. It's ultimately the best identifier,
best variable of success. And so you know, for us,
(03:38):
people is everything. You don't necessarily want the best guys.
You want the right guys, and the right guys are
much more important than quote unquote the best guys because
the right guys become the best guys. So that's the
people part. You win with people. And there's a lot
more to that. And I al would say process wise,
I mean, at the end of the day, your practice,
your record, your Saturdays are just feedback on how your
(04:01):
process went. In my opinion, So if you want better results,
if you want better outcomes, then change the process. Don't
continue to do the same things and expect different results.
That's that's silly. And then your purpose is just your
motivating factor. I think a lot of times when you
sit down and think about your purpose, whether you're why
or whatever that is, it gets lost from the day
(04:23):
to day and you may, you know, find it in
your hardest times. But if I can bring it out
and you pull you aside, ask you to you to
think of your why and now go run the rep.
I got a feeling it's probably the best rep you've
had all day. So why can't we capture that day
in and day out, rep after rep, week after week
to ultimately find the best version of yourself. So those
(04:43):
three pillars, to me, I think is the mainstay of
how things ultimately go.
Speaker 5 (04:50):
Coach Red lewis here excited to chat with you. Congrats
on this opportunity for you. Thank you, This is this
is super cool. I've had such respect for your game
when you were playing in the league, obviously playing playing
in college too, And I was texting with one of
my college teammates, Justin Frye, who I know is just
super excited for you.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
Great dude, and as a man.
Speaker 5 (05:08):
Yeah, he really is man, and and he had had
great things to say about you and what he learned
from you in your time together there in Columbus. But
I want to know, like what you learned from others
that have led you to this moment. Who are your
biggest coaching influences that have kind of shaped who you
want to be as a head coach.
Speaker 1 (05:25):
Oh my gosh, you got enough time? Yeah, you know,
I'll go quickly and just rattle them off. I mean
I think that first my high school head coach Jack Rose,
just the way he was there for me, even for
transportation to get the practice, Like the impact that kind
of had on me. To my high school hurdling coach
Chad Palmer, which we used to watch. I watched more
film on hurdling in high school than I ever did.
(05:46):
Like football and like to become a technician at something
I think subconsciously like that made a huge impact on me.
Darryl Hazel at Ohio State, my college receivers coach. He
was there the whole time, between a great man, but
just the way he operated and the way he brought
me along and believed in me and all of that,
And I was very impressionable in the NFL as well.
(06:07):
But those early years are so important, and I think
that those ones just echo in your mind for a
long time, you know. I'd say, you know, the one
always that goes with me was Jeff Ireland in New Orleans.
I remember being as a rookie. He he identified I
had a hamstring. I had a hamsterring. He goes, man,
you're hamstering, all right, And I was like yeah, he goes, well,
if it doesn't get better quick, I'm about to find
somebody else. And then ever since then, I was like, yeah,
(06:29):
I'm going to figure this out. So that made an
impact on me forever, and we're lifelong friends. But I
mean the ones, the ones at Ohio State, Jim Trussell,
you know, I to this day, I wish I could
be in a staff meeting with him to see how
that operated, but to see how he operated as a
coach still echoes with me. I would say, as of late,
(06:50):
I mean coach Meyer, you know, be able to see
him operate and do it the way he did it,
and then to flip the script to see the way
Ryan Day has done it. I think it was pretty impactful.
You know. I think that seeing those different viewpoints allows
you to know, like, just be yourself, fearlessly be yourself,
and yourself is enough. Don't try to be somebody else
(07:13):
or Coach Day did not try to be coach Meyer,
and coach Meyer sure is hacking and try to anybody else.
So I really appreciated that. I think that Coach Day
at the most recent I mean his ability to handle
the changing landscape of college football still be tough but
still support it from a love perspective, handle nil and
(07:36):
that new changing variable. So there's been so much to
learn from from Afar, but the day to day seeing
Coach Day operate, seeing coach Philman come in into our
staff a couple of years ago, that was my head
coach in Miami. There were so many opportunities to learn,
very impactful, all very different, but I try to absorb
as much as I could.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
Coach, one of the things I'm excited for you is
you've done such a great job and you know position
room and then taken over an entire side of the ball.
But I'm excited for you to get to build an
entire program and I know that's got to set you
on fire. But from a foundation standpoint, for coach hertline
head coach, what is the where are you starting here
as you build this thing? What's the foundation going to
(08:17):
look like?
Speaker 1 (08:18):
Foundation is always about the players? So what is best
for the players? And I think that my true passion
is developing individuals to go attack life and the NFL.
I mean, I think that's that's really my passion. Like
I love maximizing individuals. I just talked about the people
(08:38):
and how those metrics are such a wide range, but
ultimately how you're built mentally allows you to unlock everything
you want to unlock athletically. So it's about the players.
What's right for the players? Which coaches have the right
mentality to maximize these guys? Know I love some of
the coaches that have done more with less, you know,
(08:58):
all that kind of thing from a from a coordinator standpoint,
So there's a lot going into it. But I think
at the end of the day, if I'm trying to
do right by the players and I'm going to do
right by their development, trying to do right by the
honest communication, It'll find us in a good spot. So
I've leaned heavily on that, spend a lot of time
with those guys, and I look forward to continue to
surround them with the right guys.
Speaker 4 (09:20):
Coach, I want to pick up on something that you
just said about being honest and direct with the players.
How did you develop that coaching style and just in
terms of just laying out there like it is regardless
of star factor and all that other stuff.
Speaker 1 (09:33):
Well, I think you'd like to do, you know, or
rely on your ability to identify that you picked the
right guys, Like they came to your program for the
right reason. So if you did that properly, this is
what they want, you know. And again, you can only
coach guys and be as honest as guys as their
relationship allows. So you've got to spend time on the relationship.
That's really important. But if the relationships intact, it's it's
(09:57):
got to obviously come from a place of of improvement,
of love of I want to help you get there.
If I'm worried too much about hurting your feelings, like
we're just delaying the inevitable. Now, if certain players need that,
then that's what they need. That's that's a whole different conversation.
Our job is to maximize individuals. Our job is to
(10:17):
find what makes guys tick and how do we relate
to them, how do we get the best out of them?
And not everyone's the same. Trust me, every wide receiver
in that in the room I've been with is not
being the same. And I won't point out who is different.
But for the most part, you'd like to get like
minded individuals that want to be surrounded by elite peers
(10:37):
because I'll tell you what you guys know, like, there's
nothing better than peer pressure. If you can bring on
non scholarship guys, you can bring in guys year off
a year that won't be the best. It's uncomfortable when
you look over your shoulder and they're doing things the
right way. They're going to class, they're getting all their
academics done, and they're also balling on the football field
like that's that's that's the model, And you want to
(10:57):
find guys that want that smoke, not the one that
are scared of it.
Speaker 5 (11:05):
Coach, So much of what we talk about here and
move the Sticks is about evaluation, right, It's about evaluation.
It's about implementation of players and personnel, and obviously that's
a big part of what you're talking about here in
your pillars and obviously in today's college football, there's a
lot of different ways. But in your mind, what's the
right way to build a personnel department now at the
college level, that helps you get that evaluation piece done.
Speaker 1 (11:27):
Yeah, evails are big, all right, that's a that's a
big part of it. Obviously, you're getting a little more
potentially ev ols from the portal, the guys playing at
least liked peers at least that it gives you some information.
There's some analytics out there that you can use just
to give you some reference points where you look at
your current roster and what the what are their analytics.
So when you kind of bought that up side by
(11:48):
side with somebody potentially looking to go somewhere else, I
can give you some information. There is still the eval
there is still the you know, get them on campus.
That's huge for high school. If you're not willing to
come to campus, then it's probably just not the right fit.
But I think those guys on campus tangibly be able
to work with them, try to coach them on something
and see if they can apply it and how quick
(12:09):
it takes them to apply it. That's a that's a
good tell. But there is still a you know, the
baseball it's still the not the eye test, but the
gut test. But to me, if mental evaluation or mental makeup,
or how the guy is wired, how the family operates, like,
if you don't spend time getting to know them, then
you can't really make that evaluation to least the best
(12:31):
of your knowledge. So it all goes part of it.
I think that evals are really important to your coaches
have to do a great job. I think that's what
different about college football than the NFL. I mean, I
think the NFL, they do a really good job of
working on getting evals and submitting them, but the personal
department ultimately makes those decisions. I don't know if I
fully believe in that. I always worry about, you know,
(12:51):
the chef making a you know, the parcels, parcels you make.
The chef's not getting his own ingredients, but you got
to make the meals. That's kind of tough. So again,
that's kind of how my brain works. So again, the
right coaches, the right staffs, the right evaluators, the right recruiters,
all those play apart, which is a little different still
(13:11):
than the NFL.
Speaker 2 (13:13):
A coach I was talking to a baseball gym a
while back, and he did some homework looking back on
guys they got right and guys they missed. To think
about how hard that's got to be when you're evaluating
high school kids that are seven years away from the
big leagues. And he said, we found out the more
points of contact we had with a kid, the better
our opportunity was to get the evaluation right. So even
(13:33):
just seeing him play live, but just being around the kid,
being around him, watching him work, being around maybe meeting
some family members. How much of an advantage is it
with your location where you are, where a tank of gas,
you can bring kids in all the time, Like not
just hey he can pop in and visit campus one time,
but you're going to get a chance to have a
lot of points of contact with some of the best
high school football in the country.
Speaker 1 (13:54):
Yeah. Man, it's huge. I mean only that, like you're
pointing out the ones that maybe went somewhere and didn't
maximize it, or they get the right coach to kind
of push the right buttons and now they want to
come home. I mean, hey, for guys, feel free. Feel free.
I got you. I got to stop for you. So
and you know, what I think. As long as I'm allowed,
I'll pay for your gas. I'm good. I don't worry
about that. So but no, I think that it is
(14:17):
a big part, right. I mean, that's the reality of it.
If you have opportunities to pick somewhere where you want
to be, I think that it's an added bonus to
want to be down here and surrounded by great players
and be in the heat, and and and and being
a place that you want to as you can see yourself.
I think that's that's a part of it. I think
we also have an unbelievable new stadium coming on campus,
(14:38):
unbelievable performance center. It's linked to just for football here
on campus, and so you know, we're eighteen months out
of that, so I can't even fathom once that happens.
It's really a hotbed. It's at some of the best
football in America, and you don't need to go anywhere
else to go find it. You can find it right
here in Tampa. So we want to make sure we
are prepared for that. We are prepared to support these
(15:00):
guys at a very very high level, and ultimately the
goals can be endless, you know, Coach at a time
where college.
Speaker 4 (15:07):
Football is so so much change, people in and out, transient.
How do you build trust with your players as you
come into a new program, You're gonna hear in a
bunch of different players. How do you start the process
of bide beginning to build trust with them, being around.
Speaker 1 (15:22):
Them as much as I can, right, I mean, at
the end of the day, I don't have a narrative, Okay,
I want to make that really clear, Like I do
the best I can, which is shooting in real the
whole time. And if I can just not keep up
with a narrative in my head and all I'm trying to,
you know, get something done. But then it's always authentic,
and so I just I had experiences early in my
career where I was authentic, I was honest, and I
(15:44):
just felt like it was best for the young men
when I was that, and I didn't always work out
in my favor, but good karma found us and I
believe in that wholeheartedly. So I'm always gonna do right
by the athlete. They're just trying to navigate it too.
So I'm always just going to try to be as
authentic as I can, whether I'm having hard conversations or
I'm just on the football field trying to connect and
(16:05):
just then get to know me and just talk and
ask if they got a girlfriend or whatever else. Uh
that's kind of what I've been doing, at least this morning.
Uh I heard, you know, they got in the weight
room they were lifting, so I was like, I'm gonna
get a lift in So I went in there and
made sure that I was getting a lift with them.
And Uh, I don't know, I just I don't know how.
I don't know how else to do it besides just
trying to just be yourself. And then and as you know,
(16:26):
you guys have all been involved in sports, like, we'll
appreciate the coach that's authentic. Don't don't be anything more
than yourself. I'll learn to love who you are man Like,
it's not it's not that that crazy. You're You're in sports,
so we got something in common, so we'll be all right.
Just be yourself.
Speaker 5 (16:42):
Last one for me here, coach, just you know, reading
a little bit about you know how you kind of
approach this now, you know, understanding so many guys in
your position that are taking jobs in this cycle or
doing so with a with a lot of work to
do in terms of getting back to a certain standard.
And you know USF has been playing some good football.
You talked about that had reverence for that, but you
want to enhance it. Where does that put you on
(17:06):
on your path? You know, maybe a little bit ahead
of where you might have been otherwise to get to
where you want to go.
Speaker 1 (17:12):
Yeah, I mean we have a great alignment here from
the top down, So that's that's number one. I really
appreciate that they're relatively new as well. I mean, Derek
Brooks is my CEO, so like he ain't new, but
you know, you know, it's it's awesome to have. But
like the really uh, the honesty is that you know,
new a d and he's done a great job. He
was really one of the big reasons why I wanted
(17:33):
to be here. So there is still work there. Obviously,
with with the coach moving on going to Auburn, I
think there's some a lot of staff has left, so
which creates some instable feel for the for the players.
You just want to make sure the players are stabilized. Stabilize,
get your vision in there, let them feel you. There's
obviously a lot of choices that be made here coming
(17:55):
up in January when the portal kind of opens. So
you just want to make sure if they choose to
do that, they have it. They do it with all
of the information at hand. They know the coach, they're
getting to know me, and they see the vision, they
see it coming together. If you make the choice at
that point, I don't I can sleep at night, but
I don't want to make sure they're making the choice
without that information. So I want to make sure that
(18:16):
their Philly fellow are well informed. That's really important to me.
And so outside of those things, I think that we
have an advantage because we have great players. Frankly, there's
gonna be some guys that, you know, you can't retain,
which is everyone in America, but we have a really
good base. I think there's an opportunity to just be
more consistent, you know. And I think that the great play,
(18:38):
the great teams out there, the great players out there,
I'm much more consistent day in and day out, how
they do everything, how they do all things. I'll say
that all the time. I feel that how cleans the
locker room, how clean is the plane when you fly,
like all of those things matter. And I think that
there's a probably opportunity to be more consistent, which will
show up on the field. There's probably an opportunity where
there's a game or two you wish you could take
(19:00):
back from this past year, the last couple of years.
We want to eliminate that feeling and make sure we're
doing a better job consistently week in a week out.
Speaker 3 (19:08):
Coach, the last last thing for me is a two parter.
Speaker 1 (19:11):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (19:11):
Number one, how excited are you to access the shorts
drawer in your dresser? And number two? What are you
gonna do with all those sweatpants?
Speaker 1 (19:18):
Now?
Speaker 3 (19:18):
You can't use those anymore? They're gone?
Speaker 1 (19:20):
Yeah, I mean, uh yeah, I'm kind of pants guy
though too, so I'm gonna have some. I just got
to find the real breathy one from Adidas, you know
what I mean. Well, but now I hear you. I
think my wife is definitely more excited about that than
maybe me.
Speaker 3 (19:36):
But you're gonna need some.
Speaker 2 (19:38):
You're gonna need some some some sun Tana lotion on there.
We're gonna need to protect. We need some UV protection.
Speaker 1 (19:43):
Yeah, at least early on because I lost I had yeah, correct.
Speaker 3 (19:48):
Correct, Miami heart line is still in there like that?
Speaker 1 (19:50):
Yeah, I mean I mean it was like it was
like fifteen years ago, so that is gone. But like
I guess, you know, no, it's honestly, it's great to
be back South Florida. Florida in general is my second
home and so uh to be back in this in
this city, in this state, in this city, I felt
the love from before and it's it's exciting to move forward.
Speaker 2 (20:13):
Yeah, that's awesome man. Well we've we've enjoyed getting to
talk with you over the years. Look forward to catching
up with you down the road. And uh quick p
s A. If you're a wide receiver in the state
of Florida and I want to get coached by the
absolute best, you probably ought to go to Tampa and
check out coach Heartline.
Speaker 1 (20:27):
Oh and I want to be coaching. I am not
walking out of that room. That room. Oh right, the
receiver receiver the receiver coach. Better just know we're both learning.
Now he's going to be learning. I'm gonna be learning.
But I'm fully invested in that receiver room. Now.
Speaker 2 (20:42):
He tells me there might be some some former Buck
guys might be trained a little bit in the off season.
Speaker 3 (20:47):
Yeah, that's so next going.
Speaker 1 (20:49):
To be our assistant coach. He said he's gonna come
over when he's no problem. If you were get coached
by a Mecca Buka, feel free to come to South Florida.
Speaker 3 (20:59):
Hey, coach, we wish thank you the best of luck.
Speaker 1 (21:00):
Man.
Speaker 2 (21:01):
Super excited for you and good luck to the Buck
guys as well as you get into the tournament here.
We appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (21:05):
That's awesome. Thanks for having me, guys.
Speaker 2 (21:09):
Great to catch up with Coach Hertline again, really excited
about this opportunity. There are players all over the state
of Florida, and I have a feeling of a good
number of them are going to find their way to
Tampa to play for one of the bright young coaches
that we have in college football really in the NFL
as well. Just a really, really rising star, so I
can't thank him enough. Really enjoyed getting to visit with
(21:29):
Brian Hartline.
And now move the sticks with Daniel Jeremiah and Bucky Brooks.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
All Right, guys, I'm excited about this next guest here.
This is someone we've talked to in the past, but
in a different role. Looking forward to having a chance
to catch up with coach Brian Hartline. He is a
new head coach at South Florida after an incredible run
at Ohio State. There's a great player there, played the
National Football League and then as taken over really as
(00:27):
kind of the premier wide receiver coach in college football,
then elevated to be the offensive coordinator for the Buckeyes
and a fantastic job, and now has this opportunity as
the head coach at South Florida. So wanted to catch
up with him and get a chance to discuss this
new challenge that he's facing and his excitement for this challenge.
Here's our conversation with Brian Hartline. Well, coach, I appreciate
(00:49):
you taking some time. I know it's been a wild,
busy time.
Speaker 3 (00:52):
For you here. Can can you walk us through this
decision process?
Speaker 2 (00:56):
I mean we've talked to you before, obviously, appreciate all
the work you've done State and doing the draft stuff
over here with those white outs man and now taking
over as the coordinator. But what was this decision like
to accept this one? I know, this is not your
first opportunity that you've had.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
Yeah, you know, it's a there's no clear, easy way
to navigate these things at times. I think for me,
the ability to win consistently is real, really important to me.
And so I've identified you know, USF as a place
that can be done for sure.
Speaker 4 (01:26):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (01:26):
You know, so that was a huge part just from
football wives. I mean, it was all about ball. The
connection with with some people it was important, but then
it was you know, seeing you know, connecting with the leadership, right,
I mean, to be able to make sure we're aligned,
making sure that they understand, you know, the process is
going to be. It's not it just happened. It takes
a lot of work. And uh, they're kind of you
(01:48):
know coming in they're only you know, a couple of
months in, and the alignment they have there just felt right.
The communication felt right. Uh. And so you started painting
that picture and then you take it to your to
your life and your significant others and my family, and
you know, they were very you know, passive and they're
very hold offish, but then as you continue to talk
(02:09):
and they loosen it up, it was almost like they
were the ones telling me, we're doing this. So uh,
it progressed. It progressed, you know, really well, organically, went fast,
made no mistake about it. But you know, I think
that coupled with the last piece, like if I was
going to leave or go somewhere, I really cherish home.
I really to chaish that family feel. And I've always
(02:29):
felt even though I was born and raised and lived
a long time in Ohio, Florida was kind of always
my second home. Frankly, that's how we've always felt that way.
So it's just it was the alignment. It was all
of it. It wasn't just one piece. And uh, really
really excited.
Speaker 4 (02:44):
You know, coach, I heard you talk about people, process
and purpose being critical to being successful.
Speaker 3 (02:50):
Expand on that for us.
Speaker 4 (02:51):
But the people that haven't heard you talk about those
tennis success.
Speaker 1 (02:55):
Yeah, you know, I think people people drive everything. So again,
I only get long winded on us, but you know,
there's a lot of guys that I'll start with this
from an athletics standpoint, like, there's a lot of guys
that are five ten to six two that weigh one
hundred and seventy five pounds one hundred and ninety five pounds,
that you know, run a full four to five to
four to six five, Like, there's a lot of those
kind of players. So there's a lot of linemen that
(03:17):
are six two to six six that way, anywhere from
two seventy five to three twenty five. I mean, you
have all those measurements. I just feel like people, you
know their mental makeup and how they're wired, and how
they carry themselves and how they do one thing, that's
how they do all things. It's ultimately the best identifier,
best variable of success. And so you know, for us,
(03:38):
people is everything. You don't necessarily want the best guys.
You want the right guys, and the right guys are
much more important than quote unquote the best guys because
the right guys become the best guys. So that's the
people part. You win with people. And there's a lot
more to that. And I al would say process wise,
I mean, at the end of the day, your practice,
your record, your Saturdays are just feedback on how your
(04:01):
process went. In my opinion, So if you want better results,
if you want better outcomes, then change the process. Don't
continue to do the same things and expect different results.
That's that's silly. And then your purpose is just your
motivating factor. I think a lot of times when you
sit down and think about your purpose, whether you're why
or whatever that is, it gets lost from the day
(04:23):
to day and you may, you know, find it in
your hardest times. But if I can bring it out
and you pull you aside, ask you to you to
think of your why and now go run the rep.
I got a feeling it's probably the best rep you've
had all day. So why can't we capture that day
in and day out, rep after rep, week after week
to ultimately find the best version of yourself. So those
(04:43):
three pillars, to me, I think is the mainstay of
how things ultimately go.
Speaker 5 (04:50):
Coach Red lewis here excited to chat with you. Congrats
on this opportunity for you. Thank you, This is this
is super cool. I've had such respect for your game
when you were playing in the league, obviously playing playing
in college too, And I was texting with one of
my college teammates, Justin Frye, who I know is just
super excited for you.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
Great dude, and as a man.
Speaker 5 (05:08):
Yeah, he really is man, and and he had had
great things to say about you and what he learned
from you in your time together there in Columbus. But
I want to know, like what you learned from others
that have led you to this moment. Who are your
biggest coaching influences that have kind of shaped who you
want to be as a head coach.
Speaker 1 (05:25):
Oh my gosh, you got enough time? Yeah, you know,
I'll go quickly and just rattle them off. I mean
I think that first my high school head coach Jack Rose,
just the way he was there for me, even for
transportation to get the practice, Like the impact that kind
of had on me. To my high school hurdling coach
Chad Palmer, which we used to watch. I watched more
film on hurdling in high school than I ever did.
(05:46):
Like football and like to become a technician at something
I think subconsciously like that made a huge impact on me.
Darryl Hazel at Ohio State, my college receivers coach. He
was there the whole time, between a great man, but
just the way he operated and the way he brought
me along and believed in me and all of that,
And I was very impressionable in the NFL as well.
(06:07):
But those early years are so important, and I think
that those ones just echo in your mind for a
long time, you know. I'd say, you know, the one
always that goes with me was Jeff Ireland in New Orleans.
I remember being as a rookie. He he identified I
had a hamstring. I had a hamsterring. He goes, man,
you're hamstering, all right, And I was like yeah, he goes, well,
if it doesn't get better quick, I'm about to find
somebody else. And then ever since then, I was like, yeah,
(06:29):
I'm going to figure this out. So that made an
impact on me forever, and we're lifelong friends. But I
mean the ones, the ones at Ohio State, Jim Trussell,
you know, I to this day, I wish I could
be in a staff meeting with him to see how
that operated, but to see how he operated as a
coach still echoes with me. I would say, as of late,
(06:50):
I mean coach Meyer, you know, be able to see
him operate and do it the way he did it,
and then to flip the script to see the way
Ryan Day has done it. I think it was pretty impactful.
You know. I think that seeing those different viewpoints allows
you to know, like, just be yourself, fearlessly be yourself,
and yourself is enough. Don't try to be somebody else
(07:13):
or Coach Day did not try to be coach Meyer,
and coach Meyer sure is hacking and try to anybody else.
So I really appreciated that. I think that Coach Day
at the most recent I mean his ability to handle
the changing landscape of college football still be tough but
still support it from a love perspective, handle nil and
(07:36):
that new changing variable. So there's been so much to
learn from from Afar, but the day to day seeing
Coach Day operate, seeing coach Philman come in into our
staff a couple of years ago, that was my head
coach in Miami. There were so many opportunities to learn,
very impactful, all very different, but I try to absorb
as much as I could.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
Coach, one of the things I'm excited for you is
you've done such a great job and you know position
room and then taken over an entire side of the ball.
But I'm excited for you to get to build an
entire program and I know that's got to set you
on fire. But from a foundation standpoint, for coach hertline
head coach, what is the where are you starting here
as you build this thing? What's the foundation going to
(08:17):
look like?
Speaker 1 (08:18):
Foundation is always about the players? So what is best
for the players? And I think that my true passion
is developing individuals to go attack life and the NFL.
I mean, I think that's that's really my passion. Like
I love maximizing individuals. I just talked about the people
(08:38):
and how those metrics are such a wide range, but
ultimately how you're built mentally allows you to unlock everything
you want to unlock athletically. So it's about the players.
What's right for the players? Which coaches have the right
mentality to maximize these guys? Know I love some of
the coaches that have done more with less, you know,
(08:58):
all that kind of thing from a from a coordinator standpoint,
So there's a lot going into it. But I think
at the end of the day, if I'm trying to
do right by the players and I'm going to do
right by their development, trying to do right by the
honest communication, It'll find us in a good spot. So
I've leaned heavily on that, spend a lot of time
with those guys, and I look forward to continue to
surround them with the right guys.
Speaker 4 (09:20):
Coach, I want to pick up on something that you
just said about being honest and direct with the players.
How did you develop that coaching style and just in
terms of just laying out there like it is regardless
of star factor and all that other stuff.
Speaker 1 (09:33):
Well, I think you'd like to do, you know, or
rely on your ability to identify that you picked the
right guys, Like they came to your program for the
right reason. So if you did that properly, this is
what they want, you know. And again, you can only
coach guys and be as honest as guys as their
relationship allows. So you've got to spend time on the relationship.
That's really important. But if the relationships intact, it's it's
(09:57):
got to obviously come from a place of of improvement,
of love of I want to help you get there.
If I'm worried too much about hurting your feelings, like
we're just delaying the inevitable. Now, if certain players need that,
then that's what they need. That's that's a whole different conversation.
Our job is to maximize individuals. Our job is to
(10:17):
find what makes guys tick and how do we relate
to them, how do we get the best out of them?
And not everyone's the same. Trust me, every wide receiver
in that in the room I've been with is not
being the same. And I won't point out who is different.
But for the most part, you'd like to get like
minded individuals that want to be surrounded by elite peers
(10:37):
because I'll tell you what you guys know, like, there's
nothing better than peer pressure. If you can bring on
non scholarship guys, you can bring in guys year off
a year that won't be the best. It's uncomfortable when
you look over your shoulder and they're doing things the
right way. They're going to class, they're getting all their
academics done, and they're also balling on the football field
like that's that's that's the model, And you want to
(10:57):
find guys that want that smoke, not the one that
are scared of it.
Speaker 5 (11:05):
Coach, So much of what we talk about here and
move the Sticks is about evaluation, right, It's about evaluation.
It's about implementation of players and personnel, and obviously that's
a big part of what you're talking about here in
your pillars and obviously in today's college football, there's a
lot of different ways. But in your mind, what's the
right way to build a personnel department now at the
college level, that helps you get that evaluation piece done.
Speaker 1 (11:27):
Yeah, evails are big, all right, that's a that's a
big part of it. Obviously, you're getting a little more
potentially ev ols from the portal, the guys playing at
least liked peers at least that it gives you some information.
There's some analytics out there that you can use just
to give you some reference points where you look at
your current roster and what the what are their analytics.
So when you kind of bought that up side by
(11:48):
side with somebody potentially looking to go somewhere else, I
can give you some information. There is still the eval
there is still the you know, get them on campus.
That's huge for high school. If you're not willing to
come to campus, then it's probably just not the right fit.
But I think those guys on campus tangibly be able
to work with them, try to coach them on something
and see if they can apply it and how quick
(12:09):
it takes them to apply it. That's a that's a
good tell. But there is still a you know, the
baseball it's still the not the eye test, but the
gut test. But to me, if mental evaluation or mental makeup,
or how the guy is wired, how the family operates, like,
if you don't spend time getting to know them, then
you can't really make that evaluation to least the best
(12:31):
of your knowledge. So it all goes part of it.
I think that evals are really important to your coaches
have to do a great job. I think that's what
different about college football than the NFL. I mean, I
think the NFL, they do a really good job of
working on getting evals and submitting them, but the personal
department ultimately makes those decisions. I don't know if I
fully believe in that. I always worry about, you know,
(12:51):
the chef making a you know, the parcels, parcels you make.
The chef's not getting his own ingredients, but you got
to make the meals. That's kind of tough. So again,
that's kind of how my brain works. So again, the
right coaches, the right staffs, the right evaluators, the right recruiters,
all those play apart, which is a little different still
(13:11):
than the NFL.
Speaker 2 (13:13):
A coach I was talking to a baseball gym a
while back, and he did some homework looking back on
guys they got right and guys they missed. To think
about how hard that's got to be when you're evaluating
high school kids that are seven years away from the
big leagues. And he said, we found out the more
points of contact we had with a kid, the better
our opportunity was to get the evaluation right. So even
(13:33):
just seeing him play live, but just being around the kid,
being around him, watching him work, being around maybe meeting
some family members. How much of an advantage is it
with your location where you are, where a tank of gas,
you can bring kids in all the time, Like not
just hey he can pop in and visit campus one time,
but you're going to get a chance to have a
lot of points of contact with some of the best
high school football in the country.
Speaker 1 (13:54):
Yeah. Man, it's huge. I mean only that, like you're
pointing out the ones that maybe went somewhere and didn't
maximize it, or they get the right coach to kind
of push the right buttons and now they want to
come home. I mean, hey, for guys, feel free. Feel free.
I got you. I got to stop for you. So
and you know, what I think. As long as I'm allowed,
I'll pay for your gas. I'm good. I don't worry
about that. So but no, I think that it is
(14:17):
a big part, right. I mean, that's the reality of it.
If you have opportunities to pick somewhere where you want
to be, I think that it's an added bonus to
want to be down here and surrounded by great players
and be in the heat, and and and and being
a place that you want to as you can see yourself.
I think that's that's a part of it. I think
we also have an unbelievable new stadium coming on campus,
(14:38):
unbelievable performance center. It's linked to just for football here
on campus, and so you know, we're eighteen months out
of that, so I can't even fathom once that happens.
It's really a hotbed. It's at some of the best
football in America, and you don't need to go anywhere
else to go find it. You can find it right
here in Tampa. So we want to make sure we
are prepared for that. We are prepared to support these
(15:00):
guys at a very very high level, and ultimately the
goals can be endless, you know, Coach at a time
where college.
Speaker 4 (15:07):
Football is so so much change, people in and out, transient.
How do you build trust with your players as you
come into a new program, You're gonna hear in a
bunch of different players. How do you start the process
of bide beginning to build trust with them, being around.
Speaker 1 (15:22):
Them as much as I can, right, I mean, at
the end of the day, I don't have a narrative, Okay,
I want to make that really clear, Like I do
the best I can, which is shooting in real the
whole time. And if I can just not keep up
with a narrative in my head and all I'm trying to,
you know, get something done. But then it's always authentic,
and so I just I had experiences early in my
career where I was authentic, I was honest, and I
(15:44):
just felt like it was best for the young men
when I was that, and I didn't always work out
in my favor, but good karma found us and I
believe in that wholeheartedly. So I'm always gonna do right
by the athlete. They're just trying to navigate it too.
So I'm always just going to try to be as
authentic as I can, whether I'm having hard conversations or
I'm just on the football field trying to connect and
(16:05):
just then get to know me and just talk and
ask if they got a girlfriend or whatever else. Uh
that's kind of what I've been doing, at least this morning.
Uh I heard, you know, they got in the weight
room they were lifting, so I was like, I'm gonna
get a lift in So I went in there and
made sure that I was getting a lift with them.
And Uh, I don't know, I just I don't know how.
I don't know how else to do it besides just
trying to just be yourself. And then and as you know,
(16:26):
you guys have all been involved in sports, like, we'll
appreciate the coach that's authentic. Don't don't be anything more
than yourself. I'll learn to love who you are man Like,
it's not it's not that that crazy. You're You're in sports,
so we got something in common, so we'll be all right.
Just be yourself.
Speaker 5 (16:42):
Last one for me here, coach, just you know, reading
a little bit about you know how you kind of
approach this now, you know, understanding so many guys in
your position that are taking jobs in this cycle or
doing so with a with a lot of work to
do in terms of getting back to a certain standard.
And you know USF has been playing some good football.
You talked about that had reverence for that, but you
want to enhance it. Where does that put you on
(17:06):
on your path? You know, maybe a little bit ahead
of where you might have been otherwise to get to
where you want to go.
Speaker 1 (17:12):
Yeah, I mean we have a great alignment here from
the top down, So that's that's number one. I really
appreciate that they're relatively new as well. I mean, Derek
Brooks is my CEO, so like he ain't new, but
you know, you know, it's it's awesome to have. But
like the really uh, the honesty is that you know,
new a d and he's done a great job. He
was really one of the big reasons why I wanted
(17:33):
to be here. So there is still work there. Obviously,
with with the coach moving on going to Auburn, I
think there's some a lot of staff has left, so
which creates some instable feel for the for the players.
You just want to make sure the players are stabilized. Stabilize,
get your vision in there, let them feel you. There's
obviously a lot of choices that be made here coming
(17:55):
up in January when the portal kind of opens. So
you just want to make sure if they choose to
do that, they have it. They do it with all
of the information at hand. They know the coach, they're
getting to know me, and they see the vision, they
see it coming together. If you make the choice at
that point, I don't I can sleep at night, but
I don't want to make sure they're making the choice
without that information. So I want to make sure that
(18:16):
their Philly fellow are well informed. That's really important to me.
And so outside of those things, I think that we
have an advantage because we have great players. Frankly, there's
gonna be some guys that, you know, you can't retain,
which is everyone in America, but we have a really
good base. I think there's an opportunity to just be
more consistent, you know. And I think that the great play,
(18:38):
the great teams out there, the great players out there,
I'm much more consistent day in and day out, how
they do everything, how they do all things. I'll say
that all the time. I feel that how cleans the
locker room, how clean is the plane when you fly,
like all of those things matter. And I think that
there's a probably opportunity to be more consistent, which will
show up on the field. There's probably an opportunity where
there's a game or two you wish you could take
(19:00):
back from this past year, the last couple of years.
We want to eliminate that feeling and make sure we're
doing a better job consistently week in a week out.
Speaker 3 (19:08):
Coach, the last last thing for me is a two parter.
Speaker 1 (19:11):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (19:11):
Number one, how excited are you to access the shorts
drawer in your dresser? And number two? What are you
gonna do with all those sweatpants?
Speaker 1 (19:18):
Now?
Speaker 3 (19:18):
You can't use those anymore? They're gone?
Speaker 1 (19:20):
Yeah, I mean, uh yeah, I'm kind of pants guy
though too, so I'm gonna have some. I just got
to find the real breathy one from Adidas, you know
what I mean. Well, but now I hear you. I
think my wife is definitely more excited about that than
maybe me.
Speaker 3 (19:36):
But you're gonna need some.
Speaker 2 (19:38):
You're gonna need some some some sun Tana lotion on there.
We're gonna need to protect. We need some UV protection.
Speaker 1 (19:43):
Yeah, at least early on because I lost I had yeah, correct.
Speaker 3 (19:48):
Correct, Miami heart line is still in there like that?
Speaker 1 (19:50):
Yeah, I mean I mean it was like it was
like fifteen years ago, so that is gone. But like
I guess, you know, no, it's honestly, it's great to
be back South Florida. Florida in general is my second
home and so uh to be back in this in
this city, in this state, in this city, I felt
the love from before and it's it's exciting to move forward.
Speaker 2 (20:13):
Yeah, that's awesome man. Well we've we've enjoyed getting to
talk with you over the years. Look forward to catching
up with you down the road. And uh quick p
s A. If you're a wide receiver in the state
of Florida and I want to get coached by the
absolute best, you probably ought to go to Tampa and
check out coach Heartline.
Speaker 1 (20:27):
Oh and I want to be coaching. I am not
walking out of that room. That room. Oh right, the
receiver receiver the receiver coach. Better just know we're both learning.
Now he's going to be learning. I'm gonna be learning.
But I'm fully invested in that receiver room. Now.
Speaker 2 (20:42):
He tells me there might be some some former Buck
guys might be trained a little bit in the off season.
Speaker 3 (20:47):
Yeah, that's so next going.
Speaker 1 (20:49):
To be our assistant coach. He said he's gonna come
over when he's no problem. If you were get coached
by a Mecca Buka, feel free to come to South Florida.
Speaker 3 (20:59):
Hey, coach, we wish thank you the best of luck.
Speaker 1 (21:00):
Man.
Speaker 2 (21:01):
Super excited for you and good luck to the Buck
guys as well as you get into the tournament here.
We appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (21:05):
That's awesome. Thanks for having me, guys.
Speaker 2 (21:09):
Great to catch up with Coach Hertline again, really excited
about this opportunity. There are players all over the state
of Florida, and I have a feeling of a good
number of them are going to find their way to
Tampa to play for one of the bright young coaches
that we have in college football really in the NFL
as well. Just a really, really rising star, so I
can't thank him enough. Really enjoyed getting to visit with
(21:29):
Brian Hartline.
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