Zach Cole serves as Chief of Staff for the University of South Florida football program, providing leadership across football operations, strategic planning, and organizational management. In this role, Cole works closely with Coach Hartline and senior staff to support program vision, oversee internal operations, and ensure alignment across personnel, logistics, and long-term initiatives that impact the success of the Bulls on and off the field.
Cole joined USF in January 2024 as Director of Football Operations, where he played an integral role in supporting the day-to-day operations of the football program while contributing to ongoing efforts to enhance efficiency and communication across departments. Cole was promoted to Chief of Staff in 2026 under Hartline, expanding his role to include broader oversight of football operations, staff coordination, and strategic support at the executive level. During his time at USF, Cole led the operations for the program’s postseason appearances in the Hawaii Bowl (2024) and Cure Bowl (2025).
Prior to his time at USF, Cole accumulated extensive experience in the SEC at the University of Tennessee, Texas A&M, and Ole Miss. At the University of Tennessee, Cole continued to build on his skill set within a Power Five environment, gaining experience in his assistant director role managing football operations during conference play and postseason preparation, including the Capital One Orange Bowl (2022) and the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl (2023). His responsibilities included coordinating team operations, advanced travel logistics and scheduling.
During his four seasons at Texas A&M, Cole played a key role in football operations as an assistant for the program. He contributed to the postseason bowl preparations for the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl (2018), Academy Sports + Outdoors Texas Bowl (2019), and Capital One Orange Bowl (2020).
Cole began his career in college football as a defensive intern at Ole Miss (2017), where he developed a strong foundation.
A former collegiate linebacker at Southwestern University, Cole brings a player-centered perspective to his leadership approach, understanding firsthand the balance between competitive excellence, preparation, and student-athlete development. He earned his master’s degree in Sport Management from Texas A&M University.
A native of Bridge City, Texas, Cole lives in Tampa with his wife, Lauren.
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