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
Flowery Branch Yellow Jacket
January 7th, 2013
7:34 pm
Here’s hoping this is only an unsubstantiated rumor.
Jacket Man
January 7th, 2013
7:36 pm
It happened last week and his office has already been cleaned out. FSU leaked the story before Kelly was ready…
Jacket Man
January 7th, 2013
7:37 pm
He wanted to tell all of his players personally.
South GA Jacket
January 7th, 2013
7:38 pm
I’m with you FB Yellow Jacket. Hope it’s just a rumor.
Tech93
January 7th, 2013
7:42 pm
Sounds like a done deal. It is a disappointment, but hopefully we can find the right guy. We don’t need to hire another “hopeful” or guy who is going to sell us on his 3 year plan to implement a 3-4 defense.
5150 UOAD
January 7th, 2013
7:46 pm
I guess he isn’t the GT DC
dagnabit
January 7th, 2013
7:51 pm
What now?
d1reality
January 7th, 2013
7:54 pm
Good luck coach Kelly, would have liked to see him stay, but it looks like a good opportunity for him.
If he was one of CPJ’s serious candidates for DC, I’m sure this wouldn’t be happening.
Nothing but upside for the new DC after the Groh mess in 2012. I expect some news soon.
dry dirt road
January 7th, 2013
8:00 pm
He probably could’nt handle veinless, effiminate “Buzz” wings w/o black lines/veins in them; he’s smart; “Buzz” art is for GT girls just like pink is for unis
GT sam
January 7th, 2013
8:00 pm
What about the rest of the defensive coaching staff
dry dirt road
January 7th, 2013
8:02 pm
such as who, the missing AD?
TVFan
January 7th, 2013
8:02 pm
CPJ’s seat is going to get warm over this. One month away from national signing day and you find a way to lose maybe your best assistant coach and recruiter. Very bad loss for Georgia Tech. Maybe there was something to Al Groh’s comments. CPJ better hit a home run on his next hire because he’s already had two strikes.
crackbaby
January 7th, 2013
8:03 pm
Ken – Who would Kelly replace @ FSU?
SportsRappority
January 7th, 2013
8:04 pm
Doesn’t this pave the way for Alabama LB coach Lance Thompson? Let’s say Thompson has been offered and accepted. But he’s not going to announce it until after the championship game. And Kelly doesn’t want it to look like he’s been demoted. So hours before the championship game, word gets out that Kelly is leaving for FSU. Then tomorrow morning, CPJ announces Lance Thompson as DC.
RambleOn84
January 7th, 2013
8:08 pm
Good for Coach Kelly. He obviously wasn’t going to get the DC job here, and Johnson is honest and straightforward enough to tell him this.
Coach knows this DC hire is a VERY important decision, and I expect we will get a great one. I like Bama’s Lance Thompson and Chris Rumph. Heck, I’d take any defensive guy from Alabama.
Jacket Man
January 7th, 2013
8:28 pm
Lance Thomson isn’t coming back; Van Gorter isn’t coming on board. Expect the first hire to be named before the first officials next week and the DC to be named before NSD.
Tech93
January 7th, 2013
9:00 pm
Jacket Man…have u heard of names that are being interviewed for DC?
Reality
January 7th, 2013
9:02 pm
I do not mean to sound negative at all towards FSU, but…
Won’t a DC position at GA Tech be more prestigeous and pay more and be a better career path than a LB coach at FSU?
GT Man
January 7th, 2013
9:03 pm
Cant blame Kelly; he needed to know something, if was him or an other. Why wait on PJ, hope he dosent get another Groh. Hope this time its a “young” coach that can relate with the kids and not forget what defense to call. Hope its someone that can stop a pass.
Tony
January 7th, 2013
9:08 pm
Ken instead of saying it is a report of what has happened why don’t you call the guy and ask him. Surely as wonderful a reporter as you his phone number would be in your file. This is a non-story like a lot of AJC crap until it is official. You guys must have a quota to meet on stories so you just throw stuff that you either don’t know is true or you know it is but then you have another when it is official. When it is official then report what has happened and leave the speculation to fiction writers. This may be true but you obviously don’t know..
AtWork
January 7th, 2013
9:13 pm
Tony grow up. If you don’t want to read this stuff…then don’t.
Thanks for the update Ken. Seems to be confirmed now from some of the pay sites. Do you know who he has interviewed? Likely candidates now that Kelly has been removed.
Unspecified injury sound like an ACL for Isiah. Hope he rebounds.
Go Jackets!
Butt Fly
January 7th, 2013
9:14 pm
He has my vote for the smartest man at GT!
Jacket Man
January 7th, 2013
9:16 pm
I can tell you who HASN’T interviewed, and that’s Lance Thompson, and he isn’t scheduled to. I CAN say that after tonight’s game, expect a coach to get interviewed rather quickly, but his name won’t be released, obviously.
doc
January 7th, 2013
9:17 pm
sorry folks this is not a god sign. kelly played the good trooper knowing he was heading for the hills as soon as he could it seems if not given the job outright he was essentially giving a an ojt interview.
it had better be good cpj.
reality, what it says is the condition of the tech program. kelly wasnt going to take a chance to be a position coach in a dead end job. he has shown what he can do as a coordinator in a way and he goes to a better program potentially even as a position coach. he knows more than anyone what the true climate it is to work in at the flats alluded to by groh. if it was good he would have stayed; as it was as a groh guy he is going the other way.
meanwhile alabama is “clinicing” the rest of the ncaa pretenders. love it as i hate notre dame more than alabama or uga.
ken love what you are doing here but there might be a deeper story if sought.
Dogkicker
January 7th, 2013
9:22 pm
Crap!!!!
Dogkicker
January 7th, 2013
9:22 pm
Crap!!!!
FJ10
January 7th, 2013
9:23 pm
Kelly must have known that after the past two games if CPJ wasn’t offering he wasn’t getting.
Uncle Mike
January 7th, 2013
9:30 pm
Lance Thompson WILL be the new DC!
Tech Forever
January 7th, 2013
9:33 pm
Jacket Man says Lance Thompson has not been interviewed…..and he’s correct, he hasn’t been per Coach Thompson to me. But that doesn’t mean Coach Thompson won’t be interviewed…..and it certainly doesn’t mean he’s not interested…..per Coach Thompson to me.
I’ll add that if Lance doesn’t come back to Tech it has nothing to do with Tech and everything to do with CPJ…..but that part is just MHO.
Tony
January 7th, 2013
9:33 pm
ATWork I am grown up. Ken himself states this has been reported and unconfirmed by both schools. Until Ken knows it has happened then it is a non-story and he is an Enquirer type reporter. These guys write things before they know the story just to get a reaction when there may not be anything to it. They need readership proof and need to write something so they make it up. All I’m asking he do is call Kelly and ask him then report what Kelly tells him. He may have and he may know so he gets 2 stories instead of 1. No he doesn’t know who has been interviewed or he would report who they are since he is a great reporter. And since this is still somewhat of a free country I read and commit on what I want. I don’t need you approval nor your smart ass comments about what I post. To borrow from you, “If you don’t want to read this stuff … then don’t.”
Tech Forever
January 7th, 2013
9:36 pm
I’ll add that I don’t know this for sure but I would not be surprised one bit if the LB Coach position pay at FSU every bit as high as the DC position at Tech.
steve brown
January 7th, 2013
9:36 pm
Kelly’s quick departure adds credence to Groh’s rant, does it not?
Rick James
January 7th, 2013
9:40 pm
@Reality
I do not mean to sound negative at all towards FSU, but…
Won’t a DC position at GA Tech be more prestigeous and pay more and be a better career path than a LB coach at FSU?
——————————————————————————————————————————-
Which coach has more job security? Paul Johnson at Tech or Jimbo Fisher at Florida St.? Maybe coach Kelly thinks its Fisher.
George Stein
January 7th, 2013
9:50 pm
Gotta love fans who think they know more than the coach whose job depends on the hire.
Supersize that order, mutt
January 7th, 2013
9:52 pm
@ steve,,,,,no, it doesn’t say anything about Groh’s rant. It says that he probably wasn’t going to get the DC position and wanted to leave while he was ahead. Nothing wrong with that, although I am sorry to see him go.
George Stein
January 7th, 2013
9:54 pm
No, Steve, it doesn’t. He could have left, too. Further, the source of this article also said Groh was offered the DC job Kansas but turned it down last year. Groh loses credibility with that fact, right?
Supersize that order, mutt
January 7th, 2013
9:56 pm
Tony, the rumor had been brought up by various bloggers all afternoon. Why shouldn’t Ken address it as best he could. So what if he hasn’t spoken to Kelly? Hell, Kelly probably hasn’t been available for interviews. Ken does an EXCELLENT job of providing us news and information. Get over it !!!
Oh That Guy
January 7th, 2013
9:57 pm
You guys are so funny, always trying to find the negative. Kelly leaving does not make what Groh said any more legitimate than if he had not. Kelly and Groh did not like each other. Kelly was the one who went to CPJ and started the divide with Groh. Kelly left for more money and because he was told he is not the DC choice. The new DC will come from Alabama’s coaching staff. Just what I have heard from some pretty close sources.
TOS reporting CCK to FSU - Page 2
January 7th, 2013
9:57 pm
[...] PM #13 VaGT Member Join DateAug 2011 Posts68 AJC: Report: Kelly leaving Tech for FSU | Georgia Tech Reply With Quote + Reply to [...]
On the Outside Looking In.
January 7th, 2013
9:57 pm
Sounds like a Smart man! It off a sinking ship.
Oh That Guy
January 7th, 2013
9:58 pm
You guys are so funny, always trying to spin the negative. Kelly left for more money after he was told he is not the DC choice. Kelly is the one who started the divide with Groh. The next DC will be from Alabama’s staff per some pretty close sources.
Supersize that order, mutt
January 7th, 2013
9:59 pm
Since Kelly was so popular with the players, this may be a good thing. Who knows but the players might have revolted against a new guy if Kelly were still on the staff. This way, they may be disappointed, but they can’t begrudge the fact that Kelly got (supposedly) a higher paying job elsewhere
Oh That Guy
January 7th, 2013
10:01 pm
Everybody jumped on the Kelly bandwagon so fast they forgot about the BYU, UGA and UNC games. Sure he had a good bowl game against a back-up freshman QB. Tech has a ton of players coming back and the ACC loses a lot of star players as a whole. Tech will be fine next year.
FORMATION 4 SUCCESS
January 7th, 2013
10:05 pm
@Rick James. I would think so, but if it is true about CPJ being on the hot seat, Coach Kelly could be jobless after 2013. Tech has no money to waste so, CPJ will not be fired and Coach Kelly must have gotten wind that he would not get the Coordinator Job, so a move to FSU may prove to pay more than his current salary.
Tony
January 7th, 2013
10:06 pm
OK Super I’ll get over it. Let Ken start something about anything he apparently knows nothing about and everybody wants to take up for him. Apparently he can’t take up for his self or did he just write this and run. Maybe it has been on various bloggers all afternoon but I don’t have time or desire to follow all those type reports. That’s why I come to the AJC to get at least some idea about what is going on. Then all you get from the so called Tech reporter is a “report” something has happened.
But I’m over wanting to know what has actually happened. I just want a “report” about what may have happened.
Buzz Me
January 7th, 2013
10:09 pm
Bring back Giff Smith!
bob jones
January 7th, 2013
10:12 pm
hopefully thompson will bring some players from alabama with him
George Stein
January 7th, 2013
10:12 pm
Maybe you should ask for your money back, Tony.
Tony
January 7th, 2013
10:13 pm
Super most reporters say the subject wouldn’t answer the phone or was unavailable for comment if that was the case. I’m guessing he didn’t try as his deadline was approaching.
Supersize that order, mutt
January 7th, 2013
10:15 pm
Tony……name me a newspaper or publication in the entire country that offers what you are looking for. They ALL do it, and frankly, I see nothing wrong with it as long as rumors are reported as rumors with no miss-statement that they are facts. That of course, is not what is done in political campaigns, but Ken ALWAYS reports a rumor as a rumor and not a fact. I am fin with that
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)
Jacket Jordan
January 8th, 2013
10:41 am
This is going to really hurt recruiting. The defensive recruits especially the secondary were excited about having him as the coordinator. I am worried that they will go elsewhere now that he is gone and we are starting from scratch on that side of the ball. But hey, who is excited about Kallon?!?!?! Possibly the next Clowney!
Here’s to hoping!
GO JACKETS!! THWG
William Casey
January 8th, 2013
10:52 am
It seems to me that GT’s chances of getting a quality DC improve if the new DC gets to bring his own assistants. Also, dig deep and pay $500,000+. This hire is THAT important.
Bobby Dodd Jr.
January 8th, 2013
10:52 am
JB, UGA is usually in the top 10 in recruiting but what happens at the end of the season? I welcome dog followers on our blog but don’t be a jerk with your 11 out 12. I know you and your dog brethren can’t help. It’s like a normal impulse for y’all. Just keep it under check here.
Joe
January 8th, 2013
11:02 am
Time for Paul Johnson to move on. Not a very good recruiter and nobody wants to work got him.
Peadawg
January 8th, 2013
11:10 am
Thank goodness y’all still have Paul Johnson. That guy is a legend here in Athens! He has a statue next to Reggie Ball.
Peadawg
January 8th, 2013
11:11 am
“but what happens at the end of the season?”
We finish top 5?
fsuguy
January 8th, 2013
11:27 am
@Reality
As for pay and prestige you questioned. Al Groh made 312k last year while FSU LB coach Greg Hudson made 310K. Jimbo Fisher has made it clear he wants to be known as a coach that gets other coaches better positions and is why he has 5 positions to fill this offseason. I think it is a decision based more on that then anything else the reports I read said Kelly wanted a change of scenary
dawgfan
January 8th, 2013
11:38 am
“JB, UGA is usually in the top 10 in recruiting but what happens at the end of the season?”
We play and beat Georgia Tech.
“I welcome dog followers on our blog but don’t be a jerk with your 11 out 12.”
But you just asked what happens at the end of the season. I think 11 of 12 answers that question. Typical Techie asking questions and then crying when he doesn’t like the answer that he gets.
wreckbuzz
January 8th, 2013
11:44 am
JB,
I hate to break it to you but Chan Gailey was NOT the source of those great recruits. It was Giff Smith, the recruiting coordinator. He’s available due to Gailey’s firing in Buffalo. He’d definitely get an interview if it were up to me. The guy has worked the state of GA for years, and well. Plus he was a DL coach that produced all those NFL DL that came from GT (Michael Johnson, Vance Walker, Daryl Richard, Derrick Morgan, and all-ACC guys like Greg Gathers and Joe Anoai).
If the Bama coach doesn’t pan out, Giff should be the guy.
GT Fan
January 8th, 2013
12:03 pm
Fellow GT fans … you’re better off ignoring trolls like JB.
GB's Hamburgers
January 8th, 2013
12:06 pm
Kelly wasn’t a one game wonder. The defense got better the longer he coached them. All other candidates will have to be assessed on how they did somewhere else (like Groh). Kelly showed what he could do here, in this situation. So why the delay, why bring in others …. just hire the guy.
If he didn’t have something going on FSU wouldn’t have wanted him.
GT Fan
January 8th, 2013
12:10 pm
And any TRUE GT FAN knows it was GIFF SMITH who was responsible for 95% of “Gailey’s recruits” and the other 5% to other coaches not named Chan Gailey.
Gailey was a JOKE of a head coach … unless 7-5 or 7-6 is what you aspire for. AMAZING that a guy like Gailey continues to get HC jobs when his W-L Resume is so WEAK! Zero winning seasons in Buffalo, bad at Miami, barely over .500 at GT & Dallas, when the Cowboys were LOADED, and GT had players like Calvin Johnson, Tashard Choice, and PJ Daniels plus Tenuta putting sub 20 ppg Ds on the field!
GT Fan
January 8th, 2013
12:21 pm
After seeing how the D played the past 6 quarters (against 2 teams loaded with NFL talent) I hate to see Kelly leave.
IDK, maybe it took 6 & a half games for Kelly to “wash-out” Groh’s influence, however, I was still gun-shy on him being the DC. Now, it’ll be some time before we’ll know if Kelly should’ve been named the DC. But with him pulling this apparent blindside and accepting a LB coach position at FSU, it’s obvious PJ was not giving Kelly the DC job.
Notre Dame was in the NC game b/c their D surrendered 10.3 ppg, not b/c they outscored everybody (GT Joe).
THE DC HIRE FOR PJ IS AT UTMOST IMPORTANCE FOR PJ! HE NEEDS TO GET IT RIGHT THIS TIME….3rd time’s the charm???
Jacket Dad
January 8th, 2013
12:34 pm
Get us GIFF SMITH!
GT Fan
January 8th, 2013
12:41 pm
3 mins ago: AP sources say….
Georgia Tech names DC from the original Longest Yard movie as it’s new DC
GT TN
January 8th, 2013
12:50 pm
@einstein..I don’t believe a single thing you say about “your sources”..you are stating things that aren’t fact before that..it hasn’t been decided yet if GT will play FSU next year because of the new schools coming in..so you might want to go back and check your sources about what AG said
Al Bundy
January 8th, 2013
12:51 pm
dawgfan you are one heck of a fishman. You put the bait out there and someone always takes it hook, line and sinker and you reel them in! You crack me up! Keep posting for my entertainment if for no other reason.
I do think our chances of landing a good DC are slim. Our moron for a coach has waited so long all the top choice are gone. Time for CPJ to go dumpster diving for coaches!
GT TN
January 8th, 2013
1:04 pm
@dawgfan..it is funny how you bring up 11 of 12 against a team that you say is no good..I don’t understand why it is so fun to pick at Tech..I guess you have to to cover up your horrible record in big games..that is why UGA will never be on the same level as Alabama..do you really think Nick Saben cares what his record is against certain teams..all he is worried about is his team being in position to win the National Championship at end of year..keep on worrying about GT and you get the final at the end of the year..NO SEC Championship and NO National Championship
TeknocratNOTdemokrat
January 8th, 2013
1:13 pm
Who the frick would want vangorder? another ugag reject.
Jacket Man
January 8th, 2013
1:21 pm
Here’s the “real deal” on Tech’s improved defense the second half of the year after Groh left. Paul Johnson went to Kelly when he named him interim DC and TOLD HIM to SIMPLIFY. He also sat in on those team meetings and added HIS input. Coach Kelly implemented PJ’s game plan.
So, Coach Kelly did a great job doing what Groh DIDN’T do, and the players responded. There will be changes in the coaching staff on the defensive side, which was planned all along, with the 1st coach maybe even being named in the next few days. The new DC won’t be far behind, perhaps even 1st so he can set up his own staff. Expect Coach Speed to stay because he did a great job and has done a good job recruiting as well.
And all of these people making the negative comments about Paul Johnson are just reinforcing he’s the right man for the job…
El Paso Jewelry, Pawn, Tatoo, and Piercing
January 8th, 2013
1:22 pm
Once again, your rings are ready. If they are not picked up in the next 10 days, you will forfeit the $10 dollar deposit.
Herschel is 50 and 1980 was a long time ago...
January 8th, 2013
2:42 pm
It it amusing that the puppy dogs struggle so mightly to find some way to validate themselves.
Has UGA consistently been fielding a better team than GT? Absolutely – and their won/loss records supports that observation.
If UGA had been able to achieve the level of success the puppy dogs believe they so richly deserve, you would not find them spending time on the GT blogs.
So GT fans, let’s give the puppies a chance to vet their frustrations. After all,Herschel is 50 and 1980 was a long time ago……
GTman
January 8th, 2013
3:10 pm
Good riddance. Never was a CK fan. As for recruiting, what has he done. None of these guys can recruit. That is why we do not have any 4 or 5 star recruits. Special teams were terrible under CK and so were the DBs. CK coaching linebackers? Really? So you are a 4 or 5 star stud linebacker playing for FSU and CK is telling you how to play linebacker. I hope the FSU players can hold back their laughter.
CPJ better get this defensive hire right. He certainly knows nothing about defense and obvious that he does not care. His offensive genius is so good we can just outscore everybody – yeah right.
kingster
January 8th, 2013
3:13 pm
Yep, Kelly is gone, its a sad day for Tech, football is very much on the down side, how sad is it when we as fans think having a 500 season is good, playing a USC team that minds were still in L.A., Rad should not have given CPJ that kind of money for so long, now we are stuck with this guy with his crazy ways, Kelly should have been given the job, I expect other team to start raiding Tech’s recruit (the few 3 star players we have on defense), I just don’t see a up side with this team with Paul Johnson being the coach, I just don’t!
Paul in NH
January 8th, 2013
3:14 pm
JB
I think Randy Shannon would be a terrific DC for GT. The guy can recruit and as DC at the U he put a good defense on the field. His players graduated and he was also untainted by the shenanigans in Miami
CapitalOne Bowl
January 8th, 2013
3:15 pm
El Paso Jewelry, Pawn, Tatoo, and Piercing
January 8th, 2013
1:22 pm
Once again, your rings are ready. If they are not picked up in the next 10 days, you will forfeit the $10 dollar deposit.
_____________________________________
And UGA’s rings are ready as well; you know, the ones that say “5 yards from a National Championship”.
By the way, What’s In Your Wallet?
Dacusville Bill
January 8th, 2013
3:22 pm
Wish Pitful Paul was gone—Wish Cotton was a monkey
FAN
January 8th, 2013
4:18 pm
42-10
GT TN
January 8th, 2013
4:29 pm
@FAN..still at home watching BCS games..just like the last 5 years..will be the same way again next year as you lose your best defensive players..like I have said many of time..if you worried about yourself as much as you worry about GT then you might get closer to an SEC championship or a National Championship
now that Giff is availalble
January 8th, 2013
4:49 pm
GIFF SMITH GIFF SMITH GIFF SMITH GIFF SMITH GIFF SMITH GIFF SMITH GIFF SMITH
GIFF SMITH GIFF SMITH GIFF SMITH GIFF SMITH GIFF SMITH GIFF SMITH GIFF SMITH GIFF SMITH GIFF SMITH GIFF SMITH GIFF SMITH GIFF SMITH GIFF SMITH GIFF SMITH
GIFF SMITH GIFF SMITH GIFF SMITH GIFF SMITH GIFF SMITH GIFF SMITH GIFF SMITH
GIFF SMITH GIFF SMITH GIFF SMITH GIFF SMITH GIFF SMITH GIFF SMITH GIFF SMITH GIFF SMITH GIFF SMITH GIFF SMITH GIFF SMITH GIFF SMITH GIFF SMITH GIFF SMITHGIFF SMITH GIFF SMITH GIFF SMITH GIFF SMITH GIFF SMITH GIFF SMITH GIFF SMITH
now that Giff is availalble
January 8th, 2013
4:52 pm
What’s Next for Georgia Tech? Choose Giff (Smith)
October 3, 2012 | 8:16 PM Comments: Comments Off
By Joseph Wyatt
After a crushing loss like the one Georgia Tech endured last Saturday the Yellow Jacket nation and local media have been taking stock of where the program is, where it should be and whether it can get there under the current management. Calls for the head of Al Groh and now even Paul Johnson have become louder. The same arguments that were made under former athletic director Dave Braine resurface that GT has a limitation and the type of success (or mediocrity as it were) under Chan Gailey is about where this program can expect to be. I’m here to tell you it’s a false premise, drastic changes are not needed and one only needs to do some quick investigation to find where things went off track and what can be done to maximize this program’s potential once again.
Paul Johnson has been as successful a coach in his 5 seasons at GT as anybody not named John Heisman, Bobby Dodd or Bobby Ross. So cutting him loose is an irrational option. But his success has tailed off since the end of the 1st half in Blacksburg in November 2010. You’ll remember that’s the moment Josh Nesbitt’s career ended at GT. That would seem to give credence to the argument that Johnson won with Gailey’s players. However, that ignores the majority of Gailey’s tenure where the program’s mediocrity was only matched by the mediocrity of the players recruited to it. But “what about Calvin Johnson?” you would say. It is well known that Calvin wanted to be an engineer and was from the Atlanta area. So GT had a great chance of getting him regardless of who was coaching there. Well then, “what about Jonathan Dwyer, Roddy Jones, Morgan Burnett, Derrick Morgan, Demaryius Thomas?” you’d say. But I don’t consider that group of players to be Gailey recruits. I’ll come back to this in a moment.
One of the strengths of GT’s defense in recent times was the defensive line. It was not that long ago that GT fielded a defensive line that contained four future NFL players. DE’s Michael Johnson and Derrick Morgan along with DT’s Vance Walker and Daryl Richard were a force. Morgan was the last one left in 2009 and he was the ACC Defensive Player of the Year. But GT hasn’t developed a difference maker on the defensive line since.
So what do these two things have in common? Giff Smith. Smith was the defensive line coach from 2004-2009. So that all time line I mentioned above, along with All-ACC performers like Eric Henderson, Joe Anoai and Adamm Oliver were coached and developed by Smith. In addition, Smith became the recruiting coordinator for GT in 2006. By his second recruiting season, he brought in the single greatest recruiting class in GT history. Smith had great relationships in the state of Georgia among the high schools and knew how to create a sense of community among the recruits. That’s why I don’t call those guys Gailey’s recruits.
In January 2010, Giff Smith decided to take the defensive line coaching job with the Buffalo Bills, reuniting with Gailey. What event immediately preceded his departure? The hiring of Al Groh as defensive coordinator. I have no idea if Smith was ever interviewed or considered for the job or if he didn’t see himself as a fit to coach DL in a 3-4 scheme. But I do know Smith wants to be a head coach one day. Getting a coordinator job would seem to have been a logical next step for him.
That was the moment GT lost its best recruiter and its best position coach. Who knows maybe the past two years would have been different. Paul Johnson has lifted GT’s offense to as high a level as it has ever been. The offense, for all its built in disadvantages, is one that can continue to succeed in the ACC. So I think he has earned the right to remain head coach here. But wouldn’t it be interesting to see where GT could take its program if they could once again marry Johnson’s offense with Giff Smith’s recruiting and ability to develop NFL quality defensive players? I seem to recall a local team that had some success hiring an NFL defensive line coach, but the team escapes me at this point. Smith worked with Johnson at Georgia Southern, so presumably they have a relationship beyond the two years overlap at GT. In my opinion this is a realistic idea that could reinvigorate the program. We saw what the combination did in 2008-2009. I’d choose Giff.
Read the source article
Copyright © 2012 Chuck Oliver.Net
atlnole
January 8th, 2013
5:28 pm
It is reported official. Welcome to Noles Kelly. For peoples info on here is being reported in insider blogs that move was made due to wanting to be closer to family in south AL and FSU wants him to teach LB’s better coverage skills to deal with high octane offenses. (hmm clemson) Just waiting approval of contract from the boosters since they cover all salaries for coaches
Papa Doc
January 8th, 2013
9:58 pm
Good bye, enjoy, and hope it helps our offense when we play the Noles. God knows our D couldn’t stop a good running game.
Old Dog
January 9th, 2013
7:02 am
To Hell with Tek,today,tomorrow and every other day!
Old Dog
January 9th, 2013
7:02 am
To Hell with Tek,today,tomorrow and every other day!
MC
January 9th, 2013
8:02 am
Interesting. A guy being “considered” as a coordinator takes a job at a rival school as LB coach? Maybe Al Groh was spot on about the football program being an unprofessional, dysfunctional mess. The noose could also be tightening around PJ’s neck and Kelly knows it.
MC
January 9th, 2013
8:04 am
To bad GT can’t afford Randy Shannon, Paul.
Born2Buzz
January 9th, 2013
10:06 am
Who knows what we can and can’t afford? We have no AD. Sure I want a DC in as soon as possible, but we better get an AD.
jj
January 9th, 2013
12:09 pm
CPJ will be unemployed this time next year.
TechApp fan
January 9th, 2013
4:54 pm
guess the speculation on reaon for leaving is answered…the roof fell in…
BuzzBelle
January 9th, 2013
5:03 pm
WooHoo – We got Ted Roof back!!!!!
Pelican
January 9th, 2013
5:31 pm
Great! Another DC re-tread! Heading in the right directon….NOT!
Silly Mutts
January 9th, 2013
5:45 pm
Great hire Jackets!!!! Roof will get it done at GT!!!!! Top 20 defense here we come!!!!!
beezit
January 9th, 2013
5:48 pm
/That is by far your best literary work to date…