McCollum joins Tech staff — updated

Georgia Tech has hired Andy McCollum as defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator.

Formerly N.C. State’s linebackers coach, McCollum is from Marietta and his father still resides there. The hire still must be approved by Tech.

“We will be happy to have a coach with the experience and knowledge that Andy will bring to our program,” Tech coach Paul Johnson said in a statement given to the media. “I have coached against and recruited against him for a long time, and I am confident he will do an outstanding job here at Tech.”

McCollum, 50, recruited Atlanta for the Wolfpack, where he’s been for the past three seasons. He replaces Giff Smith, who recently accepted a job with the Buffalo Bills.

“I am excited to be a part of a great coaching staff and to work with Coach Johnson,” McCollum said in statement given to the media. “It’s a great opportunity to come back home to Georgia and work at an outstanding school.”

Details of McCollum’s contract weren’t released. He made $176,570 at N.C. State and was eligible to receive a bonus of $47,250. Smith made $189,000.

Before being hired at N.C. State, McCollum was the head coach at Middle Tennessee State from 1999-2005, where he led the Blue Raiders to the Sun Belt Conference title in 2001.

As a recruiter, he brought in the conference’s highest-rated classes in 2002, ‘04 and ‘05.

Before being named MTSU’s coach, he was the linebackers/special teams coordinator at Baylor (1994-98), linebackers, wide receivers coach and special teams coordinator at UTEP (1989-93), and did a variety of coaching jobs at MTSU (1981-88).

177 comments Add your comment

WE RUiN THIS STATE

February 9th, 2010
4:27 pm

@ittybitty- Mooney mouthed off and punched the girl’s boyfriend…big deal.

He would eat you if he was still around. Stay classy.

brucemac

February 9th, 2010
4:42 pm

Okay, where do I send the sword, I got the deal done. Hope he gets the 200 season tickets so he can have his whole fam damiliy down form Mayretta and his former players from MTSU where he was apparently fired. Wow, what a track record of success. We will never run this state again with Man Boobs, MTSU failure and DC on Medicaid, at least they were cheap. I am sure CMR and CTG are packing their bags right now.

Tom

February 9th, 2010
4:47 pm

I sense some mutts are whistling past the ol’ graveyard. LOL!

Jacket Backer

February 9th, 2010
4:57 pm

cool…..sounds like a good hire!

Goooooo Jackets!!

Doug Roberson

February 9th, 2010
4:59 pm

Because he was linebackers coach, I’m not sure if there any applicable stats.

nickj0321

February 9th, 2010
4:59 pm

wow Uga fans seem pretty scared on here, as they should be

Sporty Black

February 9th, 2010
5:11 pm

Some ‘fans’ are just dumb. That gimmicky offense won’t work…

-CPJ Div 1AA National Champions @ GA Southern
-First two seasons, GT averages 10 wins (with pro style-Players)
-CPJ average almost 30 PPG game against BCS schools while at Navy
-4 wins vs 2 losses against mighty SEC w/Triple Option
-GT averages 35 PPG against mighty SEC w/Triple Option
-1994, 1995, 1997 National Champions ran Triple Option (Nebraska)
-1995 Triple Option put up 62 points on #1 ranked SEC school, Florida

It’s obvious that GT’s only problem was defense this past season. We have addressed with recruits, injured players returning and new defensive coaches. Can’t wait to see year three or the Triple Option… Especially against that “other state school.”

killerJ

February 9th, 2010
5:13 pm

Al will be a head coach in the next few years so enjoy him while you can,i think most of you are right on,next dc.

BuzzStinger

February 9th, 2010
5:18 pm

Nice pickup. Our coaching staff is looking solid next year. If there is one thing Paul Johnson can do, its get good coaches. Things are looking good for Tech.

Lipstick on a PIG (or bumblebee)

February 9th, 2010
5:21 pm

“The mighty SEC”? Come on man, it was Vandy, Miss. State and one miracle that will never be repeated. Now 1AA and 90’s success I can see. This is 2010 brother and this is big boy football at least once a year and the bowl if you make it. Oh, that’s right he is 1 and 3 in those. Nice try though.

JW

February 9th, 2010
5:28 pm

45 points, 409 rushing yards be’twinx the hedges is just a good ol’ fashion trip out the woodshed…..GT driving on with 3 mins left down by 6 points and a future first round draft pick drops the pass that would’ve spelled certain doom for Richt’s job IS however a miracle

Don’t holler “S.E.C.” if you aren’t going to include the Vandy’s Miss St’s, etc…..because if that’s the case, then tell it like it is

SEC dominance = Florida LSU Bama
SEC Wannabes = UGA, USCe, Vandy, UK, AU, etc, etc

Sporty Black

February 9th, 2010
5:31 pm

Again, 4-2 against not so mighty SEC, and 35 PPG. With a 20th ranked defense, who know what we would of done. Unlike dumb fans, I acknowledge where we were weak. Up two wins from last year.

More wins than anyone in SEC except Bama and Florida. Guess GT would of finished 3rd in SEC… Ahead of UK, UT, LSU, Auburn, South Carolina, Arkansas, Miss St, Ole Miss, and that other State School

Mel on a car phone

February 9th, 2010
5:41 pm

Josh: “The Dawgies talk crap but a lot of them even mentioned him for their DC job.”

Uh, no. Perhaps some here threw his name out there, but nobody with any shred of knowledge of the situation did.

In other words, you can’t use that as “proof” that he’s a great hire. I’m sure you could find some posts here in the past that said Chan Gailey was a genius or that Reggie Ball was destined to be a Heisman winner and 1st round pick. How’d that work out? LOL

Lipstick on a PIG (or bumblebee)

February 9th, 2010
5:42 pm

One and three, good job. That is something ot hang yorr hat on. Keep up the chest beating, I love it.

collegeballfan

February 9th, 2010
5:53 pm

Good hire. Great recruiter. Really good coach. And another coach who has been a head coach. Johnson seems to be following the model of his buddy Mike Smith at the Falcons. A lot of coaches are intimidated by having former head coaches on their staff. Apparently Johnson is secure in his abilities.

Now he needs to replace Jean-Mary.

Alabama Jack

February 9th, 2010
5:56 pm

dumb delusional irrelevant dawgs

I’ve said it all.

Alabama Jack Off

February 9th, 2010
6:02 pm

CMR: 3 and 1 against the Tide and 6 and 3 against Auburn. Lets see, that’s 9 and 4 against the hole darn state. I guess we ain’t irrelavent in your state, huh?

This Buzz for You

February 9th, 2010
6:04 pm

Question …
We hire a coach from Virginia and a coach from NC State, teams that pretty much suck.
Are we watering down the milk, am I going to enjoy my GT flakes this year?

Unicorn Jones

February 9th, 2010
6:17 pm

Alabama Jack

Bama fans should know how that feels having dealt with being “dumb delusional irrelevant” over the past 15+ years. That’s even with the Tide bending the rules and getting caught.

UGA is GAY...Red is Gay Pride

February 9th, 2010
6:19 pm

UGAY cannot run with that pogo stick up their butts.

Hot GT chick

February 9th, 2010
6:29 pm

I don’t actually exist.

GT For You And Me

February 9th, 2010
6:35 pm

Good hire for GT,if true. His recruiting will be a benefit and as far as GA hiring coaches,some coaches would not work for GA,no matter the amount of money GA offered……….

Awesome

February 9th, 2010
6:48 pm

GT goes after coaches who aren’t in demand, hence easily hired. It shows in the results too. LOL

Cleveland, OH Jacket

February 9th, 2010
6:56 pm

Awesome, UGA went after him to get him on their staff too….do some research!

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by dougroberson, dougroberson and dougroberson, Andrew W. Jones. Andrew W. Jones said: bit.ly/1h1mv4 McCollum interviews for job with Tech: McCollum is from Marietta and his father still resides there…. http://bit.ly/clw3Mp [...]

Awesome

February 9th, 2010
7:02 pm

Cleveland, OH Jacket Actually, as “Mel on a car phone” said above, your claim isn’t true and has no merit. Show me a link to prove your claim and I don’t mean a link to an anonymous post from an AJC blog.

gt21

February 9th, 2010
7:03 pm

hey bitedowgbarkin!! Go somewhere else 2 talk trash!!!! il argue wit u all day!!! u aint nothin bt a typical stupid ga fan!!! so go on their fan page n talk!!! oh n by da way, u wanna talk stats from past games? how bout 423 yds rushing in 2008?!!! just shut up dude!!!!

Yellow Fuzz

February 9th, 2010
7:08 pm

“WE RUN TIS STATE”, Hahahaha. NOTTTTTTTT! Florida, Alabama, Tennessee and Georgia Tech do.

Yellow Fuzz

February 9th, 2010
7:12 pm

The infamous dog fan. hahahahahaahahahahahahah

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyVd4dqfT-8

But on the internet he can play the big bad 1eyeJacked guy.

hahahahahahahahaaahahahaha. Georgia can only talk a good game now.

GT fan for 30 yrs

February 9th, 2010
7:38 pm

this hire is a LOSER and his character that I knew back when was not what any of you would want as your coach. SO what he coached at MTSU, worse than Gailey and Wommack put together. I like CPJ but despise this hire. This will end like Wommack.

superDawg

February 9th, 2010
8:01 pm

You guys are gutted and ready for the deep fryer.Say what you want but tek is in for one hell of a beat down this year and you heard it here from superDawg.

superDawg

February 9th, 2010
8:04 pm

The only thing nerds run is their mouth!

Mr. Phoenix

February 9th, 2010
8:05 pm

http://www.roughingthekicker.com/?p=3912
Here’s the link to show you puppies that UGA was interested in Andy McCollum for a coach.

Mr. Phoenix

February 9th, 2010
8:19 pm

It sure does take you chicken farmers a long time to read a little article. I’m just waiting for some of your senseless BS comments about how bad this guy is. Back in December he was going to be a great hire for ya’ll.

hey

February 9th, 2010
8:33 pm

are the T-day tickets for the spring game free? if so how do i get them?

King Ealey

February 9th, 2010
8:43 pm

Georgia Tech Defense. Thats an oxy moron, isn’t it?

Hey doofus

February 9th, 2010
8:48 pm

Only morons think oxymoron is 2 words.

Awesome

February 9th, 2010
9:14 pm

Mr. Phoenix

One guy’s speculation is the “proof”? LOL. Regardless, UGA chose someone else.

Supersize that order, mutt

February 9th, 2010
9:37 pm

sounded like more than “speculation” to me. And UGAG ended up choosing an unknown who got fired from his only DC job. WOO HOO

Atlanta Jacket

February 9th, 2010
9:59 pm

Great hire by CPJ – what a staff he is building. Wonder if Brian Bohannon still put’s up with the redneck lip known as ugag fans? Da’Rick knew better than go to that cess pool to the east.

Get back to your drive-thru window, bug

February 9th, 2010
10:04 pm

That’s the only place I’ve seen McCollum’s name in the same sentence. I’m not buying it.

Get back to your drive-thru window, bug

February 9th, 2010
10:11 pm

That’s the only place I’ve seen McCollum’s name and UGA in the same sentence. I’m not buying it. Regardless, don’t GT folks go around talking about they’re superior to UGA? Why then brag about hiring a guy UGA deemed not worthy of a job offer? LOL

Clayton

February 9th, 2010
10:13 pm

Hello my fellow Rainbow warrior Techies. Buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Let’s plan our Tech sring games dress up party!!!!!

Jugdish

February 9th, 2010
10:16 pm

OK, I call Darth. Supersize, you can be Leia. Mr. Phoenix can be Chewy. Clayton, make sure your parents have plenty of sodas and chips because Yellow Fuzz gets mighty thirsty and hungry after using his light Saber!!!

Muhammad

February 9th, 2010
10:21 pm

Yellow Fuzz and I will be going as Ewoks together. They are sooooooooo cute!!

wes

February 9th, 2010
11:02 pm

I remember the last time GT went 8-5…we went into a 7 year skid….much like UGA is about to go into!

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA !!!!!!!!!!!!!

UGA is going down the toilet (so fitting) cause its shaped JUST LIKE sanford stadium!!!!

Gators!!

February 10th, 2010
12:03 am

I love seeing the bees and puppies argue with each other. I live in Atlanta and can proudly call myself a Gator fan. The puppies suck and will have another 4 or 5 loss season. Aaron Murray will forever regret turning down the gators. As for Tech you guys are even bigger losers and will always be losers if you can’t recruit better. Face it, you had some stars, and they all went to the NFL. Now all you have is Josh Nesbitt and Allen. Good luck with that. I kept hearing all year about this “high-powered offense” and you bees couldn’t even stop UGAy. Pathetic, enjoy a 5 pr 6 loss season and probably another loss to UGAy.

Gators!!

February 10th, 2010
12:06 am

Tech blows, Johnson will never win a BCS game with that gimmick offense.

UF>Tennessee>UGAy>Tech

Washaun

February 10th, 2010
12:13 am

Tech sucks, they know they can’t stop me, I’ll be back next year Coach johnson and round 2 is going hurt even more. I’m going for 200+.

And gators, you’re an idiot.

Gators!!

February 10th, 2010
12:17 am

Washaun shut up I hope we get someone new who will gouge your eyes you piece of garbage.