Report: Kelly leaving Tech for FSU
Georgia Tech’s search for a defensive coordinator took a left turn Monday. Interim defensive coordinator Charles Kelly, who was a candidate for the job after a strong finish this season, was hired by Florida State to coach linebackers, according to Rivals.com. Spokesmen for both schools could not confirm the move.
Kelly was receiving serious consideration for Tech’s coordinator position, which he took over six games into the past season after the firing of coordinator Al Groh. Coach Paul Johnson said Friday that he thought he would reach a conclusion in the next couple of weeks after he had met with candidates.
It is a considerable loss for Tech. Johnson planned to retain Kelly, one of the staff’s top coaches and recruiters, even if he weren’t made the full-time coordinator. The move makes something of a prophet of Johnson.
“This time of year, I’ve learned through the years you never know what’s going to happen,” Johnson said Friday. “You’re one phone call away from losing a guy or two or three guys. You just don’t know.”
Kelly joined the Tech staff in 2006 as special-teams coordinator, then switched to cornerbacks and then the secondary after Johnson’s hire after the 2007 season. He was the final remaining holdover from coach Chan Gailey’s staff.
As interim coordinator, Kelly closed the season emphatically. The Yellow Jackets held FSU scoreless in the second half of the ACC Championship game and then beat USC 21-7 in the Sun Bowl for their first bowl win after seven consecutive defeats.
Ken Sugiura, Georgia Tech blog
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144 comments Add your comment
gt40pinhd
January 7th, 2013
10:20 pm
i think kelly left for security and opportunity.
if he didn’t get the dc position, it would be hard to stay and more difficult to get another good job. may not have been a 50/50 chance to get it. this way, he’s got a good job at a prestigious school (football, that is).
Paul in NH
January 7th, 2013
10:22 pm
Greg Hudson, the previous linebackers coach at FSU, was hired as DC at Purdue today.
According to reports, FSU’s assistant coaches are some of the best paid in the ACC
http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2011-12-24/sports/os-florida-state-news-1225-20111224_1_jimbo-fisher-mark-stoops-coaching
Congrats and good luck to Coach Kelly
gt40pinhd
January 7th, 2013
10:27 pm
how things have changed: when we played half ass u, they always came to atlanta. we scheduled them because they brought their circus.
Paul in NH
January 7th, 2013
10:33 pm
Quite frankly, I don’t understand some of the angst about Kelly leaving. I have thought all along that Johnson needs to hire a home run DC – womeone who can recruit and coach – and judging by both GT’s defensive recruiting and performance, Kelly wasn’t it.
If Kelly wanted the DC position at GT and wasn’t offered it, the best thing for him and for GT was to move on – and FSU is an excellent football program, that pays well.
Tony
January 7th, 2013
10:34 pm
You ever read the Wall Street Journal, Time, US News and World Report or even most of the Atlanta Journal News. Even when they add something such as, it has been reported, they give where the report came from. But as I said I’m over it. Y’all seem to be in love with Ken so just keep on with how great his so called reports are. And George Just another smart ass.
Supersize that order, mutt
January 7th, 2013
10:38 pm
I hope all the UGA fans are enjoying the NC game. It is obvious that they would have beat Notre Dame and won the NC, except they couldn’t beat Bama……..probably should have, but didn’t.
ignition
January 7th, 2013
10:40 pm
Chris Rumph is the name that is all over the internet.
anyway Lance Thompson kinda stuck up the joint at UCF and has been rumored to be a little shady as a recruiter but who knows.
ignition
January 7th, 2013
10:44 pm
If it is Rumph that’s the guy I wanted all along.
Augusta Jacket
January 7th, 2013
10:50 pm
Rumph would be an intresting hire. He is definitely an outstanding recruiter. Hungry young coaches can make outstanding coordinators. They can also blow up in your face. But really, how much worse can we get defensively?
Gt joke
January 7th, 2013
10:57 pm
Elon and Alabama AM. Wow Some tough ooc games to go along with the joke of an acc schedule.
Sven Ottle
January 7th, 2013
11:03 pm
Rumor is the next DC is from the Bama staff but not Lance Thompson..
ToeMeetsLeather
January 7th, 2013
11:09 pm
Yea Joker, we had Buffalo, Fl Atlantic, and GaSouthern scheduled but decided to upgrade to BYU and the teams you mentioned.
Bobo
January 8th, 2013
12:14 am
My guess is that there is NO CHANCE this happens, but Tech would do well to hire Ken Whisenhunt and tell CPJ that he is the coach in waiting in whatever capacity they can put him (ideally in charge of developing a pass game). If CPJ doesn’t like it, he can pack it in now and get out of the way. Think about how much that would help recruiting. CPJ would also be forced to adopt some new offensive ideas. Of course that doesn’t solve D-coordinator. I can’t think of too many good coordinators from larger schools that would actually leave their positions to work at Tech. Sorry, but I can’t. Our best bet might be to poach whoever got fired from NC State…oh wait….wasn’t that Tenuta….nevermind. Maybe the thing to do is to offer BIG $$$ to someone from a 2nd tier SEC school like Mississippi State or Ole Miss and hope that it works out. Otherwise, we’re going to have to rummage through the D-1 AA bargain basement.
GT TN
January 8th, 2013
12:53 am
@ bobo..do you watch any football..no way KW takes a coach in waiting job and how are you suppose to pay both coaches…MSU lost something like 5 of last 6 games..thier defense couldn’t stop anyone and just slightly better than Ole Miss..until last 5 games of the year they had lost every sec game for almost 3 years..tech had beaten am sec opponent since they gave..please type something worth reading
Full Metal Jacket
January 8th, 2013
1:12 am
Odd timing, but Johnson must’ve told him he wasn’t REALLY going to get considered for DC even though the AJC just reported that Johnson had spoken to Kelley and told him he was one of several candidates. I would have liked to see him get a shot at DC and find it difficult to believe he would leave for a position coach job at another school if he was a serious candidate for DC. Kelly had said he and famly wanted to stay in Atlanta.
Tech Forever
January 8th, 2013
1:15 am
If Rumph is the man I’ll be ecstatic.
Full Metal Jacket
January 8th, 2013
1:15 am
If he’s really gone, then best wishes to him. If not, then good luck.
If do right, no can defense
January 8th, 2013
1:16 am
Calm down everyone.
What we need right now is coordinator stability. Going back 12 months, so far we’ve got a new strength & conditioning coach, fired the co-offensive line coach, hired a new special teams coordinator who took over defensive line duties midway through last season, fired our defensive coordinator, shuffled the entire defensive coaching unit so that our interim defensive coordinator could take over, only to find that he leaves for a top ACC team just as the defense starts looking coherent. This amount of turnover doesn’t help when we’re trying to rebuild the program.
At this rate, it won’t matter if the new d-coordinator is Saban himself, the recruits/boosters/assistants will not like the look of the direction of the program. I’m not being negative and I don’t think the atmosphere is as bad as Groh paints it to be.
I liked Kelly because he was homegrown and understood the strengths and weaknesses of GT football, and therefore would not attempt to implement a foreign scheme that would fail, not to mention solid recruiting skills.
Whoever the next DC (and the other defensive assistant coach now that both Groh and Kelly are gone) is, he should stay for at least 5 seasons and recruit well, and most importantly not implement wholesale changes to our defense: i.e. retain all of the current assistants and the 3-4 scheme. We can’t afford another Groh-style 3-year reboot back to the 4-3, and besides our roster is finally built for the 3-4 (TJ Barnes, Logan Walls, Cross, etc. were the last holdovers from the 4-3). Other than that, he should be given complete freedom to run the defense the way he wants to.
I don’t know how many candidates are willing to commit to rebuild the GT defense without leaving/getting fired, who have good recruiting skills, who will stick with the 3-4 and will retain the same staff as before (excluding the vacated defensive assistant position), who are willing to be paid a modest amount ($ 500k – 1 mil/annum) and will deliver the results on the field. Maybe just one or two… and we need to hire them.
Oh yeah, and we need a new AD fast. Staff and scheme stability, more than “fire” or “youth” or “charisma” will bring in the recruits. Folks will see a balanced, well-coached, steady team and will commit knowing their future is in safe hands.
Tech Forever
January 8th, 2013
1:20 am
Dude…”modest”? Got news for you brother….our new DC ain’t gettin anywhere near $500k. $350k will be his pay…..tops.
Tech Forever
January 8th, 2013
1:22 am
Rumph makes sense. He has history with CPH as the HC at Calhoun County HS while CPJ was at GSU…..probably recruited his school well. I just looked at his recruits list for Bama right now though….not that impressive by Bama’s standards.
Tech Forever
January 8th, 2013
1:31 am
Wow….actually now that I’ve looked at his whole recruiting history dating back to 2006 I’m not impressed at all…..including his own kid chosing Kentucky over him and Clemson.
Fair n Balanced
January 8th, 2013
2:45 am
Can you blame the guy? He did a good job in a really bad situation and didn’t get the job automatically………
aw
January 8th, 2013
4:47 am
someone from alabama, and giff smith as assistant coach and r.c.
Paddy
January 8th, 2013
6:50 am
Tony, your request for non-rumor type stories is rather unrealistic.
Iluvnutella
January 8th, 2013
7:02 am
Tech played really well the last two games…………..I woulda hired the guy. You can always fire him later when fish-fry is shown the door by the new AD. Being stubborn and aloof are two traits that dont go well together. Here’s to hoping that the new AD can clean up DRad’s hiring messes.
Ho hum
January 8th, 2013
7:18 am
Dumpster Fire – I say – Dumpster Fire
Tek is not going to hit a home run hiring a new DC.
No decent DC candidate will give much thought to coaching marginal talent – throw in the fact that CPJ will likely be gone sooner rather than later and you have a Dumpster Fire.
Old Gold
January 8th, 2013
7:57 am
All the rats are jumpiing ship! Can’t blame them!
GT
January 8th, 2013
8:02 am
I don’t blame Kelly, CPJ practically told him, “I will make you DC if I can’t find someone better.” Who knows who is better in this modern game of football, resumes don’t mean much anymore. I don’t blame Johnson either, who knew the last pick was going to be such a bust. A lot of offenses are run by loopholes now days, trying to line up before the defense has a chance to sub or is set. It was almost good to watch Alabama play straight up mash mouth last night, no tricks.
nate from detroit
January 8th, 2013
8:28 am
Tech will not get a home run hire for DC. Moobs won’t hire someone that might take away his self belief that he is always the smartest coach on the sideline. If a “big name” DC perceives that Moobs may be on the hot seat he is not going to come to Tech and worry that after a big loss he will be thrown under the bus by his head coach or that after one season he may be looking for another job. If Moobs really believed in Kelly’s ability he should have offered him after the bowl game.
Jacket Man
January 8th, 2013
8:38 am
Kelly was the frontrunner and was likely to get the DC job at Tech, however, he withdrew his name due to a few reasons. First, his daughter’s about to start high school, and he wanted her closer to his family in lower Alabama, and that’s Tallahassee. Next, he felt like he’s just been at Tech too long as he was a holdover from Chan Gailey’s staff, and he didn’t want to be pigeon-holed into a one-team coach. Finally, Charles was just ready for a change of scenery, and being from a small town, and knowing Jimbo from their days together on staff at Auburn, felt comfortable at FSU.
Kelly got along great with PJ and was very appreciative of being kept on staff at his hiring, and was very appreciative of being put into the interim DC role and given such serious consideration for the full-time role. He knew that he had a job as long as PJ was GA Tech’s Head Coach.
GT TN
January 8th, 2013
8:48 am
No one is worried about takingover the DC job and thinking about getting fired next year..most assistant coaches get 1 year deals..
I’m tired of everyone saying that no one will work for CPJ because he thinks he is the smartest guy on the field..that is every head coach in America..that is what separates them from being a HC and a DC or OC..look at VT..the DC has been there for over 20 years and normally have a great defense..you think if he was HC material he would have gotten a HC job but he is a lifetime assist…
I would rather CPJ take his time and hire the right guy than just rush into one..it isn’t hurting our rec as everyone is saying..all of our rec have commited and no one has left..
Sideways 77
January 8th, 2013
8:55 am
I agree with Buzz Me – bring back Giff. What a great recruiter and coach and since Chan and his staff got fired a week ago, he is available.
JB
January 8th, 2013
9:01 am
I’m thinking a little kiss and make up with Groh and give him another whirl. I’m sure his SSI papers aren’t finalized yet……And I know the Picadilly on Piedmont would welcome him back for his daily low sodium lunch.
dawgfan
January 8th, 2013
9:03 am
Georgia Tech will not get a decent DC for a couple of reasons. Number one, you are Georgia Tech. That immediately eliminates all of the elite candidates as possibilities. Number two, nobody wants to work for Paul Johnson. The guy is a smug jerk who throws his assistants under the bus at every opportunity. He has no business being a head coach because all he knows about the game of football is his offense. That’s it. DC’s probably don’t get a lot of support, just constant criticism. Number three, and Techies never want to believe this one, but no DC in his right mind wants anything to do with this program because of Paul Johnson’s offense. There are no decent scout team players to prepare the defense for traditional offenses. That is why year after year after freaking year we see the Tech defense completely baffled by teams that can throw a football. Who on Georgia Tech’s roster can even come close to replicating an Aaron Murray for instance? All you have is a bunch of running backs playing quarterback. Your defense has no chance. No DC worth a crap wants any part of it.
That’s the truth Techies. Sorry it hurts so bad. Oh well, you can always take pot shots at UGA for not winning the SEC while polishing your Sun Bowl trophy. That apparently makes you feel better for some reason.
Jacket Dad
January 8th, 2013
9:11 am
Hate to see him go in some ways, but hopefully all this works out for the best for him and GT.
Thanks Coach Kelly for your service to GT and best wishes.
I cannot find fault with Kelly's decision
January 8th, 2013
9:13 am
Kelly is jumping OFF of a sinking ship. He knows that being LB coach at FSU is better than nothing. CPJ IS ON THE HOT SEAT and 2013 will very likely, be his last year at The Flats.
GT as usual, is in deep turmoil in recruiting and w/l columns. CPJ’s best period was with Chan’s boys.
DKG73
January 8th, 2013
9:16 am
According to a USA Today survey:
Alabama assistant coaches’ salaries
Smart, defensive coordinator/linebackers, $950,00
Doug Nussmeier, offensive coordinator/quarterbacks, $590,000
Jeff Stoutland, offensive line, $395,000
Lance Thompson, outside linebackers, $375,000
Bobby Williams, special teams/tight ends, $350,000
Chris Rumph, defensive line, $310,000
Burton Burns, associate head coach/running backs, $290,000
Mike Groh, receivers/recruiting coordinator, $285,000
Jeremy Pruitt, secondary, $260,000
JB
January 8th, 2013
9:20 am
The AD hire at Tech will be interesting. If they hire a liberal woman form the NE or West coast, Johnson could be at Tech forever.
JB
January 8th, 2013
9:22 am
I think the best coach on that Bama staff may be Nussemeier the OC. The guy can call a game. Look for him to be gone after 13…..He just won’t have those athletes wherever he lands.
JB
January 8th, 2013
9:27 am
Scout.com as of this morning has Tech checking in at a dismal 52 in recruiting thus far with 15 commits. Dawgs at #6 with 29. 11 of 12 pretty easy to see.
Tech Troll 13
January 8th, 2013
9:38 am
90% of the bloggers didn’t know who Coach Kelly was prior to the firing of CAG, but now the world is ending because he is leaving. I thank him for his service and wish him well.
I prefer that the new DC be able to bring in some coaches he is comfortable with to add to the staff.
And thanks to the leghumpers making predictions with their Magic 8 Ball. I am sure they are making their annual prdiction of a NC for UGA next year, again.
GT TN
January 8th, 2013
9:39 am
@JB..it is stupid to say the OC is the best coach on the staff..they had a great offense last night and the last few games of the season..Smart has done it for the last 3 years and not just a few games..Tech only has 15 recruits becuase we only have something like 16 spots open..UGA is losing a ton a player from this years team..they have more spots..I’m a die hard GT fan but I do realize we will not compete with UGA on recruiting..we have to get diamonds in the rough and hope they come to Tech and turn into something special
Jacket John
January 8th, 2013
9:46 am
Looks like CPJ doesn’t want someone to give him competion for the spot light or replace him in the future. This doesn’t bode well.
GT TN
January 8th, 2013
9:49 am
Bay Bay was a 3 star out of high school and had offers from GT, Duke and UGA..he turned into a stud but was projected to be special of out high school..
Roddy Jones was a 3 star and had offers from Clemson, Duke, Maryland and GT
JB
January 8th, 2013
9:55 am
Gailey is Available. Johnson ought to hire him as recruiting cord. and restock the program with D1 players, just say’n
JB
January 8th, 2013
9:57 am
Tech troll 13……Dawgs pretty dang close this year. Hate to see some Tech friends swallow their slide rule.
Burdell
January 8th, 2013
10:08 am
That sounds like a moral victory to me, JB. And as you well know, there are no moral victories allowed on these blogs.
Tampa Wreck
January 8th, 2013
10:20 am
Sorry to see Coach Kelly leave. I think he did an admirable job in a very tough situation this past year. That said, this is likely the best move for him. This program needs a jump start on defense. Hiring a position coach from our own staff that was part of the lst 5 years debacle as a new DC probably wouldn’t have been the right move, regardless of how well he performed in his short audition this year. And if he wasn’t going to get the DC position, probably best that he move on so as not to be perceived as looking over the shoulder of a new DC. I’m glad he landed on his feet in a solid program like FSU.
Now its time for CPJ to step up and make a good hire, and it needs to get done sooner rather than later. We can’t afford to lose even more ground in recruiting due to undertainty on the defensive staff.
Einstein
January 8th, 2013
10:27 am
Losing Kelly to FSU is a HUGE loss for GT and a big gain for FSU. Also shows Jimbo Fisher ain’t stupid:
FSU plays GT next year and what better to have a young, “up & coming” defensive coach from GT who can help FSU design a defensive plan to shut down PJ’s offense next year. (Remember, many people think GT will actually be better next year.)
And, we shut down FSU’s offense in the 2nd half of the ACC Championship game thereby showing signs of defensive life, i.e., FSU picks up an excellent, bright young coach and gains an edge for the next couple of years playing GT and at the same time ensures that the coach responsible for shutting down FSU in the 2nd half will not be GT’s next DC. …… not a bad hire …..
And by the way, think Groh’s recent comments are all sour grapes with no truth? You might want to think again ………… “my sources” indicate much of what he said is right on the money ………
And yes, now is the time for PJ to step up and make the best hire of his career and yes, it needs to be don NOW!
JB
January 8th, 2013
10:38 am
What if: How would you feel if Johnson would of hire Randy Shanon as DC and for recruiting? ( before he went to Arkansas)