Years In Coaching: 11th
Years at USF: 1st
Alma Mater: Kentucky, 2011 – Bachelor’s in exercise science
Family: Wife: Jennifer; Son: Colton
Hometown: Canton, Ohio
NOTABLE:
• Former University of Kentucky quarterback who passed for 5,680 yards and 38 touchdowns for the Wildcats.
• Has been on coaching staffs at six FBS programs.
• NFL playing stints with the Colts and Patriots.
• At Ohio State from 2015-16, he worked with quarterbacks Cardale Jones, JT Barrett, Joe Burrow and Dwayne Haskins.
Mike Hartline joined Brian Hartline’s first South Florida staff in December of 2025 as quarterbacks coach. In his 11th season of coaching – with FBS stops at Ohio State, Cincinnati, Auburn, Charlotte and Coastal Carolina – the former University of Kentucky quarterback (2006-10) came to South Florida after spending the 2025 season as an offensive analyst at his alma mater.
A three-year starting quarterback at Kentucky who passed for 5,680 yards and 38 touchdowns for the Wildcats, Hartline has worked with quarterbacks at four of his previous coaching stops and was the pass game coordinator at Charlotte during the 2023 season.
BEFORE SOUTH FLORIDA
KENTUCKY: Hartline returned to his alma mater in 2025 as an offensive quality control assistant on head coach Mark Stoops staff.
COASTAL CAROLINA: Hartline served as an offensive analyst at Coastal Carolina in 2024 on head coach Tim Beck’s staff, helping guide the Chanticleers to a berth in the Myrtle Beach Bowl.
CHARLOTTE: He spent the 2023 season at Charlotte as the pass game coordinator and wide receivers coach.
AUBURN: In 2022, he served as an offensive analyst and quarterbacks coach at Auburn on head coach Bryan Harsin’s staff.
OHIO DOMINICAN: Hartline gained valuable experience as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Division II Ohio Dominican from 2019-2021. In 2021, Hartline’s Panthers offense averaged 381.5 yards per game with a pair of First Team All-Great Midwest Conference stars in running back Frederick Pitts and wide receiver David Turner. In a shortened 2021 spring season, the Panthers produced G-MAC co-Freshman of the Year Travis Whittaker. In his first season at ODU, the Panthers completion percentage of 62.9 ranked 13th in the nation.
CINCINNATI: He spent two years at Cincinnati as the offensive quality control coach and assistant quarterbacks coach helping the Bearcats to an 11-2 record in 2018, including a victory over Virginia Tech in the Military Bowl and a win at UCLA.
OHIO STATE: His first coaching experience was at Ohio State from 2015-16 where he worked with quarterbacks Cardale Jones, JT Barrett, Joe Burrow and Dwayne Haskins. The Buckeyes had a two-year record of 24-3 with two trips to the Fiesta Bowl during that time.
PLAYING CAREER (Kentucky)
During his four-year career as a quarterback at the University of Kentucky (2006-10), Hartline threw for 5,680 yards and 38 touchdowns and guided the Wildcats to three straight victories over rival Louisville from 2008-10, making him the only quarterback in Governor’s Cup history to be the starter in three consecutive wins. Hartline took over starting duties in 2008, starting the first eight games and then returning to the starting lineup for the 2008 AutoZone Liberty Bowl where he threw for 204 yards and a touchdown and was named UK’s Most Outstanding Offensive Player. He finished the season throwing for 1,666 yards and nine touchdowns.
In 2009, he started the first five games before suffering a knee injury at South Carolina. He returned for his final season in 2010 and completed 268-of-405 passes (66%) for 3,178 yards and 23 touchdowns, leading the Wildcats to the BBVA Compass Bowl. During the year he helped lead the Wildcats to a 31-28 win over South Carolina – throwing for a career-high 349 yards and four touchdowns and earning National Performer of the Week and National Quarterback of the Week honors.
After his collegiate career, he had stints in the NFL with the Indianapolis Colts in 2011 and New England Patriots in 2012.
He attended GlenOak High School (Ohio) where he became the starting quarterback midway through his sophomore season. As a senior, he threw for 1,523 yards and six touchdowns while adding 533 rushing yards and 12 more touchdowns on the ground.
PERSONAL
A native of Canton, Ohio. He is the younger brother of USF head coach Brian Hartline, both of which starred at GlenOak High School in Ohio. Hartline received his bachelor’s degree in exercise science at Kentucky in May of 2011. He and his wife, Jennifer, have one son, Colton.
COACHING CAREER
2026 South Florida Quarterbacks Coach
2025 Kentucky Quality Control Assistant - Offense
2024 Coastal Carolina Offensive Analyst
2023 Charlotte Pass Game Coordinator/Wide Receivers
2022 Auburn Offensive Analyst/Quarterbacks
2019-21 Ohio Dominican Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
2017-18 Cincinnati Offensive Quality Control Assistant/Asst. QBs
2015-16 Ohio State Intern
