Brian Hartline's first-ever college head coaching job comes with more than $20 million in guaranteed compensation.
The contract terms for South Florida's new head coach and replacement for the departed Alex Golesh, now head coach at Southeastern Conference program Auburn, were revealed to the public Thursday.
Per terms of the deal, shared by The Athletic's Matt Baker among others, Hartline inked a six-year contract with an average annual value of $3.5 million. That puts the initial total value of Hartline's contract at $21 million in guaranteed compensation.
The Bulls hired Hartline away from his alma mater, Ohio State, where he had been widely hailed as among the nation's best wide receivers and more lately had been the Buckeyes' offensive coordinator.
In addition to Hartline's salary terms, USF also revealed the pool of money for Hartline to assemble his inaugural staff.
USF allotted Hartline $6.2 million to hire out his assistant coaches and support staff, which is almost entirely filled.
Hartline, as Baker noted, would owe USF $5 million if he departed the school before the conclusion of Year 2 -- the 2027 season.
The Bulls won 23 games in their three seasons under Golesh, the former University of Tennessee offensive coordinator who also coached for the NFL's Indianapolis Colts and in then-Iowa State coach Matt Campbell's Cyclones program.
USF opens the Hartline era Sept. 5, 2026, against in-state foe Florida International University, coached by Willie Simmons, at home.