Another former Ohio State staffer is joining Brian Hartline at USF.
Ohio State communications director Mike Basford, who served as Ohio State’s secondary football contact alongside recently retired associate athletic director of communications Jerry Emig, announced Monday that he is leaving Ohio State to lead the communications staff at the University of South Florida.
Next week, Ill start a new chapter at @USFAthletics with @RHiggins_USF, @brianhartline and the rest of the USF staff in Tampa. Could not be more excited to be a part of whats being built there and the journey ahead.
— Mike Basford (@MikeBasford_OSU) March 30, 2026
Other former Ohio State staffers who are now working at USF alongside Hartline include former associate strength and conditioning coach Antonio Turner, who’s now the head strength and conditioning coach at USF; former Ohio State offensive coordinator Tim Beck, who’s now the OC at USF; and former Ohio State support staffers Sean Binckes (USF tight ends coach) and Mike Sollenne (offensive line coach/run game coordinator). Former Ohio State players K.J. Hill (offensive analyst/wide receivers) and Toby Wilson (assistant offensive line coach) have also joined Hartline’s staff at USF.
Ohio State’s football communications are now led by Will Pantages, who replaced Emig earlier this month as Ohio State’s senior associate athletic director for football strategic communications. Pantages joined Ohio State after six years at Wake Forest.
