Doesn’t anybody want to be Georgia’s defensive coordinator? (UPDATED)
Excuse Mark Richt if he's wondering what's going on.
(UPDATE BELOW)
At some point, Mark Richt will hire somebody as Georgia’s new defensive coordinator and he will assure the entire Bulldog Nation that he got the man he wanted all along, because that’s the way these things are done.
But it can’t be too comforting for Richt to know that all he really has accomplished so far is to get significant raises for coaches on other teams.
First, Virginia Tech’s Bud Foster turned down the job. As a reward, he was given an annuity worth up to $1 million. Now, it’s pretty apparent LSU’s John Chavis was offered the offered the job and turned it down because athletic director Joe Alleva said, “We did what we needed to do to keep him.”
That meant a significant raise: from $450,000 a year to a reported $600,000. And Chavis has been at LSU for only one season.
There is no telling where Richt turns now. Dallas Cowboys defensive line coach Todd Grantham, who coached under Foster at Virginia Tech, remains a possibility. But Grantham, who also coached for three years at Michigan State, has been in the NFL since 1999 and it’s not known if he would want to come back to college. His only tenure as a coordinator came with the Cleveland Browns (2005-07) and had mixed results.
Regardless, it’s never a good sign when a program is turned down multiple times by job candidates, and Richt doesn’t seem any closer to hiring a defensive coordinator today than he was when he fired Willie Martinez.
(UPDATE: I thought you folks would chuckle at this. LSU put out a press release on Chavis but never referred to Georgia, only an unspecified SEC school. So Vanderbilt offered him a job?)
LSU SPORTS INFORMATION
For Immediate Release December 31, 2009CHAVIS TO REMAIN AT LSU
BATON ROUGE – John Chavis, who was pursued by another school in the Southeastern Conference, will remain at LSU as the defensive coordinator, head coach Les Miles announced on Thursday.
“John has done a great job and he’s a key member of this staff,” Miles said. “John is a man of great character and a tremendous football coach. We’re glad he’s staying.”
In his first year with the Tigers, Chavis coached an LSU defense that rated No. 3 in the SEC and No. 12 in the nation in scoring at 16.0 points per game. The Tigers have allowed just six rushing touchdowns all season, the second-lowest total in college football this year.
“I’m staying at LSU and I’m excited about remaining here,” Chavis said. “LSU is a great place. This is an outstanding football program and I’m happy and honored to be a part of it.”
Chavis joined LSU last January after spending the 14 years as the defensive coordinator at Tennessee.
“We think John Chavis is one of the best defensive coordinators in the country,” LSU Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Joe Alleva said. “We felt like it’s important for the future of the program that we make this investment.”
Chavis will receive an increase in compensation, which will be announced at a future date.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
935 comments Add your comment
Rod
January 3rd, 2010
6:23 pm
Why do Georgia fans NOT post comments on the Georgia blogs? All I read on here are from Tech queers or people that just don’t like Georgia for one reason or another.
Cut Some Eye Holes
January 3rd, 2010
6:26 pm
I dunno Rod … maybe because it is hard to type with a bag over your head ?
The Alpha Male
January 3rd, 2010
6:28 pm
Nobody was EVER offered, Schultz. Calls were made, questions were asked… such as “would you be interested and if so, how much would you require?” These are questions you’re unfamiliar with because nobody has ever asked them of you. Kirby Smart won’t talk to us until after the MNC game because Saban would fire him…. everybody else here to fore has been a backup plan.
Preston
January 3rd, 2010
7:18 pm
Crimson Crush needs to be more worried about keeping Saban in one place for more than a few years. Let him have a down year and have to deal with the Bama fans and alumni and watch him run faster than a roadrunner. MEEP MEEP!
Preston
January 3rd, 2010
7:19 pm
CC, btw, who beat you guys three of the last four? UGA.
Preston
January 3rd, 2010
7:24 pm
Rod, it’s because of two things. They secretly love and respect the Georgia program and also because the city that their team plays in doesn’t have a decent media outlet to provide an outlet such as this to run their mouths on. You didn’t hear much out of any of them until the Willie years.
Crimson Crush
January 3rd, 2010
7:28 pm
Yah yah yah … Saban is leaving … been there … heard that … got the T shirt . Face it skippy … Saban is home … for good . He won’t find another fanbase in college football that matches his own level of fanaticism for the game . I know it is a fervent hope to the unfortunate that Coach actually might leave (and rescue them ) but no knowledgable Tide fan I know worries one second about it . When Saban leaves Bama it will be to retire .
Put another way , Coach Saban leaving Bama is about as likely as either Will Muschamp OR Kirby Smart leaving a historical powerhouse program already running at the top level to take the same (actually lesser) job at mid level Georgia . In YOUR world that means there is “still a chance” . Everywhere else … it is just a pipedream
Crimson Crush
January 3rd, 2010
7:41 pm
LOL … by the time I typed the first response Preston whips out three more snippets of buffoonery . Doesn’t take too long to manufacture one sentence replies if you don’t need to worry about facts or thinking and stuff does it Preston ?
You started babbling something about “three of the last four” and I assume you think you made a point . Somewhere along the way it was lost before you even typed it since you so kindly provided Georgia’s historical record against Bama on the page before .
Put into any real context any sort of slice and dice you try to manufacture that pretends Georgia even inhabits the same region of the college football Universe as Bama looks real silly
Kirby Smart's the Guy
January 3rd, 2010
7:49 pm
1) According to all REAL srouces in the know, Kirby Smart is STILL the frontrunner, and STILL very interested in being the Bulldogs DC after the Jan 7 Bowl game.
2) Richt would NEVER offer the job to someone who would turn it down. If you hear those rumors, they are simply NOT TRUE. Chavis and Foster were guys who were NEVER even candidates fore the position. Richt has discussed defensive philosophy with a lot of people.
3) If Smart changes his mind after Jan 7, Sanseri, Steele, Grantham, are on Richt’s short list and have all been contacted by Richt.
k-rokk
January 3rd, 2010
8:26 pm
I heard he offered Chan Gailey… and he turned them down.
Mass Exodus Hit Gators....
January 3rd, 2010
8:44 pm
ESPN’s Chris Low says Haden gone early to NFL. Predicting a mass exodus of Joniors leaving Florida, the players, insiders, don’t see 2010 as being worth a stay:
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/draft10/news/story?id=4792743
Preston
January 3rd, 2010
9:29 pm
Saban to leave and take over at Texas Tech because Bama fans are already building a guillotine to send him to if they lose Thursday. Mike Leech has already declined the Alabama job.
Preston
January 3rd, 2010
9:32 pm
Whomever we get, he’ll be much better than the village idiot we had.
Mass Exodus Hits Florida in 2009!
January 3rd, 2010
10:20 pm
Gators lose 3rd coach after SEC Champ loss, Bedford gone, headed to Louisville with Charlie Strong:
http://blogs.tampabay.com/gators/2009/12/florida-loses-another-assistant-coach.html
Doesn't anybody want to be Meyer's Coach?
January 3rd, 2010
10:23 pm
Wow, the 3rd Coach to quit on Meyer after the SEC Championship devastating loss. Bedford, like Strong the Defesnive Coordinator, and Gonzales the Recruiter, is gone.
Red Dog 77
January 3rd, 2010
11:51 pm
I cant seem to make much of this blog without some intelligent folk posting from time to time…..much of what I read is just trash, pure and simple. Where is the man……..Whereis BIG L………….BIG L my main man , lets hear some real football talk…….catch up with me sometime ol friend……I am generally on late night…..lets get a holt of some of these wanabes……and tear the cover off the old football….set em straight…whatya say BIG L
Red Dog 77
January 3rd, 2010
11:54 pm
BIG L…..Ive noticed the bee people are starting to use dawg names on here……Lets GATA BIG L
Red Dog 77
January 4th, 2010
12:03 am
On a serious note…..I do like ol BIG L…..But as a BULLDOG full of pride,and always support my beloved GEORGIA BULLDOGS……….I wish the bees all the best luck in the world in the Orange Bowl…..I sincerily hope all the best in every game you play ….that is until you play the Mighty GEORGIA BULLDOGS next November…… so until then good luck and best wishes…RED
Urban Liar
January 4th, 2010
12:57 am
Shocking Lies From Urban Meyer Revealed here:
http://www.utefans.net/lies.php
Will
January 4th, 2010
3:41 am
Mr. Kirby Smart’s the Guy…. Just so you know, Smart stated PUBLICLY during the media day today that he intends to stay right where he’s at for next season. After that, who knows. But why in the H E L L would anyone want to make a lateral move to a lesser program unless there was a head coach in waiting position for them? I mean c’mon…use some common sense…which you obviously don’t have much of. Here’s the link to the story since you obviously don’t research anything before you post it. http://blog.al.com/bamabeat/2010/01/kirby_smart_on_his_role_at_ua.html
takedowndawg
January 4th, 2010
4:25 am
Someone mentioned the DC at Navy, Buddy Green. He just might be very good choice. A great strategist and excellent disciplinarian. Our DAWGS looked very undisciplined defensively this year even when you consider the youth in the secondary. Some strong discipline could be a huge step in the right direction. Everything that I have read regarding him has been very positive. He also does not have a long tenure as the DC there and may be able to be swayed up more easily. I say, give him some consideration. He defense certainly blew out Missouri.
jw
January 4th, 2010
6:43 am
How about that Brooks guy from Kentucky – he is ‘retiring’ so offer him the DC job – he already has a statue and all the gold and diamonds one could own (or snatch from that evil, NCAA rule busting basketball coach) for picking up a morbid Kentucky program – now he could come back to the great state of Georgia and be the best DC since the late great Erskine Russell – we would even have fire and brimstone – something UGA has lacked with CMR! Think about it and it makes all the sense in the world!
Doesn't anybody want to be Meyer's DC?
January 4th, 2010
7:51 am
I find it odd that Urban Liar can’t talk 1 single DC into working with him.
OldSkoolDawg
January 4th, 2010
7:54 am
UGA had its chance to hire Chavis last winter, when UT cleaned house, but we HAD to give Willie one last opportunity to turn it around. Alas, to no avail. I’m afraid we’re a day late and a dollar short.
Kirby Smart's the Guy
January 4th, 2010
8:19 am
In the interview, Kirby Smart says if an opportunity presents itself down the road, he’d look at it. I guess you didn’t read that part of the interview.
Lane
January 4th, 2010
8:22 am
Attached are Bulldog records throughout history. Note specifically the 1970’s
Records of
6/6;5/6;6/5
There was NO mention of firing Erk, i do not believe.
My, My how the game has changed
Lane
http://www.georgiadogs.com//pdf5/643316.pdf?DB_OEM_ID=8800
Most recent posts should be posted 1st
One has turned down the Georgia DC job that we know about
January 4th, 2010
8:37 am
1. Brian Van Gorder
Two have turned down the Georgia DC job that we know about
January 4th, 2010
8:38 am
1. Brian Van Gorder
2. Vic Koenning
Three have turned down the Georgia DC job that we know about
January 4th, 2010
8:39 am
1. Brian Van Gorder
2. Vic Koenning
3. Bud Foster
Make that Four that have turned down the Georgia DC job that we know about
January 4th, 2010
8:39 am
1. Brian Van Gorder
2. Vic Koenning
3. Bud Foster
4. John Chavis
Kirby Smart's the Guy
January 4th, 2010
8:40 am
in 2007, Steele left Bama to head back home to SC and help Clemson. Now, in 2009, Smart will leave Bama and head back home to Ga and help Georgia. No one thought Steele wouild leave Bama either. They were all wrong.
ugapeach
January 4th, 2010
9:54 am
Since when has ANYONE been offered the job? If an official had been made it would be all over the press and one has not; not just speculation. Coach Richt said it would be after the bowl games…that is Thursday…..right?
AceDawg
January 4th, 2010
11:02 am
I imagine the hiring process is hard when Richt hasn’t had to hire an outside coordinator in years. It’s even harder when you are established and scrutinized more closely in who you hire than when you are a new head coach. I’ll stay optimistic that we get Smart or at minimum that we get an aggressive, turnover oriented guy. Richt definitely needs a guy that can run the D on his own so that he can work on Bobo and his EA Sports video game playcalling on offense.
J Dub
January 4th, 2010
12:21 pm
I need to know who is the “Thrilla from Camilla”. I am from Camilla and unless your last name is Pinkins, you are NOT the “Thrilla from Camilla”.
J Dub
January 4th, 2010
12:21 pm
Well, I guess your last name might be Jackson too