Ducks Digest

Ohio State Buckeyes Hire Brian Hartline As OC, Oregon’s Will Stein Stays With Ducks

The Ohio State Buckeyes announced on Wednesday afternoon that they would be promoting wide receivers coach Brian Hartline to their vacant offensive coordinator position. Oregon offensive coordinator Will Stein was potential candidate for the job.

Cory Pappas

Ohio State Buckeyes co-offensive coordinator Brian Hartline watches warm ups prior to the NCAA football game against the Michigan Wolverines at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024.
Ohio State Buckeyes co-offensive coordinator Brian Hartline watches warm ups prior to the NCAA football game against the Michigan Wolverines at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. / Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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The Ohio State Buckeyes announced on Wednesday afternoon that they will be promoting wide receivers coach Brian Hartline to be their offensive coordinator per Pete Nakos of On3. 

Oregon Ducks offensive coordinator Will Stein was thought to be a potential candidate for the job.

Hartline has been at Ohio State since 2017 and has had multiple titles, such as offensive quality control assistant, wide receivers coach, co-offensive coordinator, and offensive coordinator. 

He will be taking over for Chip Kelly. Kelly spent one year as the Buckeyes offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach before accepting the offensive coordinator job with the Las Vegas Raiders earlier this week. 

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Will Stein Remains At Oregon 

Oregon inside linebackers coach Will Stein leads practice as the Oregon Ducks hit the practice field ahead of Michigan State
Oregon inside linebackers coach Will Stein leads practice as the Oregon Ducks hit the practice field ahead of Michigan State Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024 at the Hatfield-Dowlin Complex in Eugene, Ore. / Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Oregon Ducks offensive coordinator Will Stein was in rumors to potentially be the next Ohio State Buckeyes offensive coordinator after Chip Kelly left Ohio State to take the Raiders job. 

Even though Stein leaving Oregon for the same title at Ohio State seems like a lateral move, the Buckeyes have been known to get coaches at other high level programs to join their staff with the same job. Just last year, Ohio State hired former Oregon running backs coach Carlos Locklyn to be their running backs coach. 

With the news of Hartline being promoted to Buckeyes offensive coordinator, Stein will stay put in Eugene…for now. 

Ducks Offense In 2024

Jan 28, 2025; Mobile, AL, USA; National team quarterback Dillon Gabriel of Oregon (8) throws the ball during Senior Bowl prac
Jan 28, 2025; Mobile, AL, USA; National team quarterback Dillon Gabriel of Oregon (8) throws the ball during Senior Bowl practice for the National team at Hancock Whitney Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vasha Hunt-Imagn Images / Vasha Hunt-Imagn Images

The Oregon Ducks offense was at the top of the Big Ten in 2024. Oregon averaged the most yards per game in the conference with 437.4. They were also second in passing offense with an average of 279.5 yards per game and third in points scored with 34.9 per game in route to a perfect regular season and Big Ten Championship.

In his final collegiate season, Ducks quarterback Dillon Gabriel became a Heisman finalist with 3,857 passing yards and 37 total touchdowns. It was the second year in a row an Oregon quarterback was a finalist for the Heisman Trophy. Quarterback Bo Nix finished second in Heisman voting in 2023.

For both of these seasons, Will Stein was the Ducks offensive coordinator. Next year will be the third different quarterback in as many years for Stein and Oregon. However, a big difference this time around is that they will likely not be getting a veteran. Quarterback Dante Moore is expected to be the starter when the 2025 season kicks off. Moore saw limited action for the Ducks last season as a sophomore. Prior to Oregon, he played nine games as a freshman for UCLA in 2023.

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MORE: Oregon Ducks Quarterback Dillon Gabriel Shines at Senior Bowl, Boosts NFL Draft Stock

MORE: Chip Kelly Replacements For Ohio State Buckeyes: Penn State's Andy Kotelnicki?

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Cory Pappas
CORY PAPPAS

Cory Pappas is sports writer for USC Trojans On SI and Oregon Ducks On SI. Since starting in March of 2024, he has been writing breaking news stories, game previews, game recaps, and more across College Sports, the NFL, MLB, NBA, and Olympics for Total Apex Sports. In addition to writing, Cory is also a sports data scout for Sportradar. He covers live sporting events ranging from college athletics to semi-pro and professional. Before joining the industry, Cory graduated from the University of Oregon in 2022. He ran track for Oregon's club Track and Field team. Before Oregon, he played varsity basketball and track and field in high school in Walnut Creek, CA. Cory is using his lifelong passion for sports and writing together.

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