TAMPA, Fla. – It was during the 2015 season at Ohio State when Tim Beck became acquainted with Brian Hartline. The latter, a former Buckeyes receiver, was playing for the Cleveland Browns in what would be his seventh and final NFL season. He occasionally made the 140-mile trip south to Columbus to visit his younger brother, Mike, and hang with the team. Mike Hartline was a grad assistant working with quarterbacks Cardale Jones and J.T. Barrett under Beck, who was Urban Meyer’s offensive coordinator.
“You could see Brian’s knowledge of the game, that he had the energy level and focus,” said Beck, of a then-28-year-old Hartline. “He was an extremely intelligent young man.”
Shortly after he was hired in December to lead USF, Brian Hartline contacted the 60-year-old Beck to gauge his interest in becoming the Bulls’ offensive coordinator. Mike Hartline was on board as the quarterbacks coach.
“When he presented the opportunity to me, that I have a chance to get back together with Mike, I thought it was a perfect fit,” said Beck, who spent the previous three seasons (2023-25) as the head coach at Coastal Carolina where Mike Hartline served as an offensive analyst in 2024.
READ: USF’s Bryson Rodgers Grateful For Opportunity To Continue College Career In Tampa
The larger picture at USF, one that includes a new stadium rising over adjacent practice fields, also made Beck’s decision to move to Tampa an easy one.
“What Rob is doing from the front office all the way down, the commitment to the program in trying to get us to be the absolute best we can be, it’s impressive,” said Beck, in referring to Rob Higgins, USF’s athletic department chief.
Beck, who played at and graduated from UCF, began his coaching career at Miramar High in 1988. He ultimately became the OC at Nebraska (2011-14), Ohio State (2015-16), Texas (2017-19) and North Carolina State (2020-22).
“I have been around a lot of places and have had a chance to see (what other programs have done), and we are definitely on the right track,” he said.
New QB Room, New System
It is early in spring drills and four new USF quarterbacks continue the acclimatation process under the guidance of a new coaching staff and within a new scheme. At least at this point, Michael Van Buren (LSU transfer), Luke Kromenhoek (Mississippi State), Jayden Bradford (Liberty) and KJ Cooper (Texas Southern) have collectively shown that things are progressing pretty well.
“Mike, Luke, Jayden and KJ are very intelligent guys who have been able to pick things up, and you wouldn’t think that because everyone was coming from a different system,” said Beck. “It’s like having a bunch of foreigners and everybody is speaking a different language. I’m speaking completely different from the four to them, and they have to understand what I’m talking about. But they do. Kudos to them.”
Van Buren has 12 career starts, including four last season at LSU after starting eight games at Mississippi State in 2024 following a season-ending injury to Blake Shapen. He has thrown for 2,896 yards and 19 touchdowns. Kromenhoek began his career at Florida State and made two starts for Mike Norvell’s ‘Noles in 2024 before transferring to Mississippi State where he saw limited time as one of Shapen’s backups last year.
Bradford spent his last two years of high school in Bradenton at IMG Academy before commencing his collegiate career in 2024 at Liberty, where he saw action in one game in two seasons. Cooper totaled 17 touchdowns last season as the starter at Texas Southern, an HBCU where he played the last two seasons after beginning his career at a Minnesota JUCO in 2023.
“They are experienced and they have been able to transition from their vernacular to ours,” said Beck. “So, it does help, but it’s still different.”
What has not changed is how Beck handles his quarterbacks. To use an example he provided, if the left tackle jumps offside, it is not the lineman’s fault. The blame is something the quarterback, as the field general, must shoulder.
“I am very demanding and I blame them for everything all of the time,”
he said. “They have to understand that, and they have learned and embraced that.”
USF’s spring game is scheduled for Sunday, April 19 at Corbett Stadium with proceedings getting underway at 3:30.
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