With University of South Florida officials allocating more than $6 million to fund its football program's support staff for the new head coach, that leader, Brian Hartline, continues to assemble his inaugural USF Bulls staff.
And sources tell FootballScoop that Hartline is adding an experienced assistant coach to the defensive side of the ball who's got a background in the Southeastern Conference and nearly a decade of coaching experience.
Eric Ponio, who's been handling special teams duties in Major Applewhite's University of South Alabama program, is joining Hartline's USF staff, FootballScoop has learned.
Per sources, Ponio -- a former University of Arkansas player and graduate-assistant coach -- is expected to help coach the inside linebackers for new USF defensive coordinator Josh Aldridge.
It's a reunion for the duo who previously worked together on the Liberty University staff in the late-2010s and early 2020s.
Aldridge was hired by Hartline away from East Carolina last month to serve as Hartline's initial defensive coordinator. A Jackson, Tennessee, native, Aldridge had helped curate an East Carolina Pirates defense that ranked at or near the top of the American Conference in more than a half-dozen statistical categories.
East Carolina wrapped up its first full season under head coach Blake Harrell with a win against Atlantic Coast Conference program Pittsburgh in the Military Bowl.
As for Ponio, the move to USF comes on the heels of four seasons as South Alabama.
First arriving as an offensive analyst working with the quarterbacks, Ponio switched to special teams midway through his tenure with the South Alabama program and helped direct the Jaguars' various special teams units.
He also previously worked with special teams during his time alongside Aldridge at Liberty, where Ponio was a special teams analyst and also contributed to the defensive staff.
Ponio played two seasons at Arkansas before he transitioned into coaching, first as a student-assistant coach and then as an graduate assistant. He collected bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Arkansas.
Hartline was hired atop the USF program last month after an enduring and successful run as a top assistant coach at Ohio State under both former head coach Urban Meyer and current Buckeyes boss Ryan Day. Additionally, Hartline spent six seasons in the Sunshine State during his NFL playing career with the Miami Dolphins.
He was hired atop the program to replace the departed Alex Golesh, who took over at SEC resident Auburn.
USF is set to open the Hartline era Sept. 5, 2026, at home against Florida International University (FIU).