Photo Credit: gousfbulls.com
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The University of South Florida football program continues to build toward an exciting future, but its coaching staff has never forgotten where it started. Head coach Brian Hartline assembled a group of assistants whose careers began with hard work, modest resources, and a determination to succeed. Today, they coach in a program that features the $22 million Porter Family Indoor Practice Facility, a commitment to revenue sharing, and the future $348.5 million on-campus stadium and TGH Center for Athletic Excellence, scheduled to open in 2027. Even with those upgrades, the coaches remain grounded because of the paths that brought them to Tampa.
Many members of the staff worked at small colleges before reaching the Football Bowl Subdivision. Offensive line coach Mike Sollenne and tight ends coach Sean Binckes played together at Long Island University Post before beginning their coaching careers at Nassau Community College. Their daily routine involved loading football equipment into a truck, driving it across campus, and setting up practice fields by hand. Eventually, the program received a storage shed, which made the job slightly easier. Those early experiences taught both coaches the value of teamwork and persistence.
Cornerbacks coach James Rowe also climbed through the coaching ranks one step at a time. He started at Bethel University in Tennessee before moving to Jacksonville University, an NCAA Division III school. Later, he joined Valdosta State, an NCAA Division II program, where he continued to develop his coaching career. Meanwhile, special team’s coordinator and outside linebackers coach Chad Creamer served as a defensive coordinator at Capital University before moving to Shorter University. Creamer recalled crossing paths with Rowe while recruiting throughout Georgia and Florida. Both coaches embraced every responsibility because they understood that no task stood beneath them.
Defensive coordinator Josh Aldridge brings a similar perspective to the Bulls. He grew up on an 80-acre cotton farm before playing football at Harding University, an NCAA Division II program. After college, Aldridge began coaching at West Georgia before moving to Lenoir-Rhyne. He believes Division II football creates a culture centered on selflessness and accountability. Instead of seeking recognition, coaches focus on helping teammates and preparing players. Aldridge credits those experiences for shaping both his coaching philosophy and his leadership style.
Safeties coach Danny Verpaele carries a unique connection to USF football. He played for the Bulls from 2004 through 2008 during the program’s rise into the Big East Conference. He also witnessed the program’s earliest years through his older brother, Kevin Verpaele, who played for USF from 2000 through 2003. Under former head coach Jim Leavitt, the program operated with limited resources. Coaches worked from a collection of trailers known as the “Ponderosa,” and the first staff meeting took place beneath a palm tree. Players walked long distances between meetings, locker rooms, and practice fields because the program lacked modern facilities.
Before returning to USF, Danny Verpaele coached at Army while also gaining experience at Kennesaw State, Valdosta State, and Jacksonville University. Those coaching stops reinforced the lessons he learned during USF’s early years. He believes today’s players enjoy outstanding resources, including elite facilities and championship-level support. However, he also stresses that humble beginnings taught previous generations how to overcome challenges while appreciating every opportunity.
Relationships also helped shape the current coaching staff. Sollenne and Binckes later joined Ohio State as graduate assistants, where they developed a close relationship with Brian Hartline. While working there, they embraced legendary head coach Woody Hayes’ famous belief that championships begin with people. That message continues to guide the USF football program. Sollenne explained that outstanding facilities certainly matter, but coaches, administrators, and players ultimately determine a program’s success.
Brian Hartline echoed those beliefs after arriving at USF. He praised his assistants for their work ethic, commitment, and genuine concern for player development. Hartline emphasized consistency in preparation, coaching, and expectations. He believes players respond best when coaches deliver the same message every day. According to Hartline, football rewards preparation and effort more than anything else, and his staff understands that responsibility.
Sollenne and Binckes reflected on how dramatically their careers have changed. During a road trip with Nassau Community College in 2016, they drove to Columbus simply to admire Ohio Stadium from the field. A few years later, both coaches held keys to that same stadium while serving as graduate assistants at Ohio State. The experience reminded them that success comes through patience, hard work, and continuous growth.
Today, the pair begins another chapter with USF. Binckes believes coaches must stay focused on the job directly in front of them instead of chasing future opportunities. He also praised Hartline’s relentless work ethic, recalling how the former Ohio State assistant coached wide receivers with unmatched energy despite already working at one of college football’s biggest programs. Binckes expects Hartline to bring that same competitive mindset to Tampa.
As USF prepares for a new era, the football program stands on a much stronger foundation than ever before. Modern facilities, increased financial support, and an on-campus stadium highlight the program’s progress. Nevertheless, Hartline and his staff continue to lean on the lessons learned during their humble beginnings. Their journeys remind players that championships require commitment, teamwork, and relentless effort. Those values shaped their careers long before they arrived at South Florida, and they remain the driving force behind the Bulls’ future.
Author Profile
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Bradley Walker serves as the Director of Operations for NGSC Sports, bringing extensive experience across collegiate, professional, and amateur athletics. His coverage spans USF Athletics, including football, baseball, lacrosse, and softball, as well as University of Tampa baseball.
Bradley also provides coverage of minor league baseball with the Clearwater Threshers and Major League Baseball with the Tampa Bay Rays. On the national stage, he covers college football bowl games and conference championship matchups, along with premier golf events across the PGA Tour, LIV Golf, and LPGA Tour.
In addition to his reporting work, Bradley is the play-by-play announcer for Pinellas Park High School Patriots football, lending his voice and insight to Friday night lights.
He is also an active podcast host and contributor, serving as a co-host on the P&W Sports Report and hosting The Walker Report, where he delivers in-depth sports analysis, interviews, and coverage across multiple levels of competition.
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