Doesn’t anybody want to be Georgia’s defensive coordinator? (UPDATED)

Excuse Mark Richt if he's wondering what's going on.

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, 2009

CHAVIS 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.

935 comments Add your comment

GT STILL IS A 4TH RATE HIGH SCHOOL TEAM

January 1st, 2010
12:06 pm

NOBODY LIKES TO PLAY A HIGH SCHOOL TEAM LIKE THE YELLOW TUCKS EVERY YEAR, THAT IS WHY. IT IS TOTALLY INSULTING FOR COLLEGE COACHES. HAHHAHAHAHAAHHAHAHAHA AND MORE HAHHAHAHAHAHA

dawgit

January 1st, 2010
12:11 pm

Seems to me one thing Richt’s got going for him is his loyalty. I mean given how long he was willing to go with Martinez, seems potential candidates would realize that they are gonna be given time to prove themselves.

txdawg

January 1st, 2010
12:12 pm

Does anyone know about the TCU DC Dick Bumpas, has he come out a said he is not interested or have we not contacted him yet?

txdawg

January 1st, 2010
12:38 pm

Doesn't anybody want to be Meyer's DC?

January 1st, 2010
12:46 pm

Guess not. Meyer hasn’t made an announcement of his new coahc yet, that proves definitevely that NO ONE WANTS TO BE URBAN LIAR’S DC.

Even ESPN agrees:

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/bowls09/news/story?id=4785603

jellybeandawg

January 1st, 2010
12:48 pm

Its easy to see why Smart,Foster, and Chavis have all turned us down.. Its because the notoriously CHEAP AD will not spend what it takes to bring in a big name DC. Sure, we make offers but they are just slight increases of what they currently make and we are easily counter-offered.

Its not rocket science people!!! Find the very best DC money can buy and make him an offer he cant refuse! Bama did it with Saban…. They simply would not be denied, take no for an answer, or be out bid for his services and wa-la, like magic they are playing for a MNC.

Unfortunately Evans learned from the ultimate tightwad miser Dooley himself and he will never Spend the money it takes to land the caliber of DC they are pursuing. Richts hands are tied b/c they will not pay serious money to get an assistant. They should just go ahead and hire Manny Diaz on the cheap and get it over with.

santa cuz dawg

January 1st, 2010
12:48 pm

Coach Richt has:
1) 90 SEC wins in 9 seasons
2 2 Natl Champ’s at FSU
3) 1 natl Champ in 2007 at Georgia.

Nobody comes close.

Kirby Smart's the Guy

January 1st, 2010
12:51 pm

Listen, chill out, Richt has denied making an offer to anyone. Richt will get a guy, with championship experience, and will let us know who that good man is after the Bowls finish on Jan 8.

No one has supplied any proof Richt has offered the job to Koenning, Foster, or Chavis. ESPN and Pollack say Smart’s the guy.

Urban Liar

January 1st, 2010
12:53 pm

Anyone seen PROOF Meyer has a heart condition?

Anybody? Anywhere?

Kirby Smart's the Guy

January 1st, 2010
12:57 pm

It make take Kirby 4 or 5 days to get his 2 assistants after Jan 8, that’s why Richt said it might take a couple more days after Jan 8. Smart has NOT denied he is coming to Georgia. Smart’s the guy. Speculate all you want. Doesn’t matter. It’s a done deal.

papadawg

January 1st, 2010
12:58 pm

I don’t think it’s a matter of not wanting to come Georgia as much as they are happy where they are and don’t want to go anywhere especially when they get a raise.

Doesn't anybody want to be Meyer's DC?

January 1st, 2010
12:59 pm

Chavis turned down Meyer you eggheads, nothing in the press release said Georgia was the SEC team pursuing Chavis, that would be Meyer. That proves it was not Georgia, it was Florida.

DogGoneGaDawg

January 1st, 2010
12:59 pm

Jeff Schultz: Thank you for the disclaimer. But I must say that an association with a Georgia Dawg in your son will eventually have its consequences. I am from GA but now reside in SC. Objectivity is a difficult task but I must say that in your neutrality you do a pretty good job of stirring the pot of controversy–which is part of your job. Jim Powell, who is now one of the Braves announcers once worked for a local Columbia radio station (This is before he moved on to the Brewers). He used to infuriate me to no end because he portrayed himself as one of the biggest Gamecock homers to come down the pike. Some time later I learned that he was a UGA grad and his dream job was the job he now has. The Rams have moved on to St Louis and so have you. You no longer have the Coliseum but the Classic City is not too far away! Oh, and by the way, so that I can get my digs in: Hey Techies, have you realized that UGA can have twenty-thousand no-shows and still have seventeen-thousand more on hand than you have when Bobby Dodd is filled to the gills?

Reptillicide

January 1st, 2010
1:00 pm

Schultz you’re full of it. Uga has allegedly been turned down once. Foster was never far enough along in the process to turn anything down. This “doesn’t anybody want to be georgias dc” crap is the reason why people call you a tech homer. Only a tech fan would say something that stupid. So start being a little more reasonable and you’ll stop getting blasted.

1eyedJack

January 1st, 2010
1:01 pm

The next DC at Fla will be a pariah. How could anyone come in and improve on what Strong has done? And with the losses on that side of the ball? No poven guy who has a decent job will want to jump into that situation. At least the new DC at Georgia will have a chance to significantly improve.

FLRDADAWG

January 1st, 2010
1:01 pm

90 SEC wins in 9 seasons–unreal–that’s impossible —-in the #1 toughest conference–no other SEC coach has done that–remarkable Mark Richt.

papadawg

January 1st, 2010
1:01 pm

Meyer does have a heart condition He’s so broken hearted cause his Tebow is leaving him

ESPN Lied

January 1st, 2010
1:10 pm

ESPN said Koenning and Foster were offered contracts.

That’s simply untrue, and Richt denied it.

jellybeandawg

January 1st, 2010
1:14 pm

Kirby Smart’s the Guy you are on drugs or extremely naive (probably both) if you don’t think Georgia has made silent offers to at least 3 of these coaches. Richt may not have done it directly but all negotiations like this are handled under the table until one of them actually accepts. Do you really think that just out of the blue with no cause or reason whatsoever the DC’s mentioned suddenly just stared getting raises left and right??????

ESPN Lied

January 1st, 2010
1:16 pm

Anyone hear a SINGLE ESPN commentator come out against Craig James? Of course not. Great reporting there James homers. Yeah, Leech was the media darling and had zero history of player abuse until he crossed Craig James.

ESPN said Richt offered the job to Foster. Richt said he did not.

ESPN’s Kirk “Mr. Bias” Herbsteit, claimed Georgia didn’t deserve the Natl Cahmp in 2007 even though Georgia was ranked #3 when #1 and #2 lost. Huh? Herbstreit has pictures of him jumping up and down at OSU games. Bias? Me thinks so.

Herbstreit is as bad as it gets in sports journalism.

Kirby Smart's the Guy

January 1st, 2010
1:22 pm

Ever heard of an agent? Duh. Welcome to college sports eggheads. Agents lie, make up false rumors, during Dec. before Bowl games, so their coaches can get raises. That’s hw it works. No one has supplied proof Richt ever offered the job to anyt of those 3 clowns. Didn’t happen. Richt has his pick of any college DC in America. You’d have to be an idot to not take more money, work with the most loyal coach besides Beamer, who wins more than anyone else in the toughest conference, in the best recruiting state. Smart’s a Georgia guy, has family here, wnet to UGA, his wife played for UGA, they love UGA. No way Smart stays at Bama and tries to improve the #1 defense when he can come to UGA and anything is an imporvement for the D. Saban’s last DC split in 2007 for the same reason Smart’s leaving–Saban is a jerk. Saban is like Meyer, they quit every 1-5 years and head somewhere else.

ESPN said Koenning will be the new UGA DC. ESPN was simply WRONG!

papadawg

January 1st, 2010
1:23 pm

I think most of the bloggers on this site are Tech fans who are scared to death that the Dawgs will find a quality DC who will greatly improve the defense that will stopped their offense. I know this is true cause one of my GT buds admitted it

Stonemntman

January 1st, 2010
1:27 pm

When you seek highly qualified candidates that already have jobs at great programs,and you persue to hire that person for a job well done,the current school who was not paying the big money,now realize they need to give this person a raise and keep him here. Coach Richt is not going after a average coach, he wants the best,but other great programs will make it difficult fo CMR to hire a DC anytime soon.

Why did Meyer Quit?

January 1st, 2010
1:30 pm

#1 reason- Meyer knows Kirby Smart is coming to Georgia. That would drive any coach into retirement.

Kirby Smart's the Guy

January 1st, 2010
1:31 pm

You eggheads, Richt never spoke with Chavis. Miles said Richt never even requested permission to talk with Chavis.

Kirby Smart's the Guy

January 1st, 2010
1:32 pm

Kirby is sick of doing all the work, and Sabam getting the credit. Smasrt’s had enough. He’s coming to UGA.

newdcfornewUGA

January 1st, 2010
1:39 pm

Look where the DC’s came from for both Texas and Alabama. Maybe Coach Richt might want to look at other former UGA players that are assistants at other schools now.

Mark Pricht

January 1st, 2010
1:41 pm

What about the mighty SEC? Pretty funny 2 teams that beat the mutts so bad got beat by the weak ACC…Tenn and KY….

and another thing I went to wal mart to look for my Shreveport Champions shirt and couldnt find one…anyone know when they will arrive at local flea markets?

how2fish

January 1st, 2010
1:41 pm

$1.4 million Shreveport vs. our $14 million BCS Orange bowl 8-1 and yes we out coached your team and then spanked the Bugs all over Grant Field accept it Bug..and bye the bye you really might not want to go down that punch a bulldog in the nose road..your tickle pile and world of warcraft skills just haven’t prepared you and the rest of the Bug village for that.Really

Mark Pricht

January 1st, 2010
1:43 pm

Why did Meyer Quit?

Hey thats a good one….for some reason I dont believe anything would make anyone at Florida fear UGA…but thats was a good one..

dawg gone it

January 1st, 2010
1:47 pm

Didn’t CMR say that the DC would be finalized after the first week of Jan? Jump the gun much?

Mark Pricht

January 1st, 2010
1:48 pm

how2fish

should change your name to …..how2foolyourself

Mark Pricht

January 1st, 2010
1:53 pm

Also funny the SEC is gonna drop 2 more today, both AU and LSU Tigers are gonna lose today….what a weak conference…maybe they should have sent them all to Shreveport

dawg gone it

January 1st, 2010
1:54 pm

Pricht, regarding KY and TN, UGA beat itself against those two teams. No denying that UGA had coaching issues. But there’s also no denying that UGA outplayed GT. You guys just didn’t match up to our OL.

I also believe that VA Tech is probably the best team in the ACC, and it showed the way they played against TN.

I hope GT puts on a good show in the Orange bowl.

JeffB

January 1st, 2010
1:55 pm

Well, bottom line is the AD is not going to let CMR get who he wants account of the money issue, you seen how long it took to get a BB coach, which by the way is doing outstanding. But this DC job, I don’t understand why Garner don’t want it.

Denver Dog

January 1st, 2010
1:57 pm

Tim DeRuyter. Watch that name.

Denver Dog

January 1st, 2010
2:02 pm

Pricht, looks like you are off on your prediction already. You must m or Saint Simons, or Yellow Fuzz by the way you state your argument.s

Denver Dog

January 1st, 2010
2:03 pm

Mr. Schultz, you should check out that name!

Mark Pricht

January 1st, 2010
2:03 pm

dawg gone it
I also disagree with you GT beat themselves, the QB out for a quarter and then a great receiver drop a pass and terrible Dfense and lose by six only.. Tenn beat UGA badly with 1 play the bootleg…UGA didnt beat themselves in that game…Tenn would have beaten anyone that day..I have watched the GT UGA several time and GT moved the ball well except when Nesbitt was out..it was a good game, we just couldnt stop how well UGA ran the ball

Mark Pricht

January 1st, 2010
2:05 pm

Denver Dog

how am I off, both games are not over yet….dont count your chickens yet…AU has 5 int and still cant put them away

papadawg

January 1st, 2010
2:08 pm

All GT fans wa wa wa. 30-24.

Mark Pricht

January 1st, 2010
2:09 pm

dawg gone it

and you may be correct VT may be the best next year, but this year GT beat them and GT is the best, but the way GT played D after that game I still wonder how they beat them

DSGD

January 1st, 2010
2:12 pm

If you fake dawgs fans believe everything someone prints or say on tv than you deserve to be stressed out about Dc. I’ll say it again just “relax” Mr. Richt knows what he is doing.

Mark Pricht

January 1st, 2010
2:15 pm

Denver Dog

now I have a shot at 50/50 haha…have to admit when I am wrong since my wife is not on here to tell me

GatorChomp

January 1st, 2010
2:18 pm

I’m amazed at how the UGA fans posting are still in denial. Unofficially and officially the UGA program has been turned down by 7 DC’s. Maybe 6 if Ellis was never approached which I seriously doubt. He is on the record as stating he would stay at South Carolina. Why make the statement if Georgia had not sent out feelers? The denial comes from leaving the pressure Richt will face if he has another 4 or 5 loss season next year without having the strength of schedule that he had this year. Why would a DC with any ability wish to be thrown into the cauldron that could be brewing in Athens next year? Even if my beloved Gators crash and burn next year…what about the UGA program makes anyone believe they will fill the void? Much more likely that Tennessee or even South Carolina steps in to fill the power vacuum than Georgia. They will again have a first year QB with little to no experience and a first year DC. The players will take some time to gain experience at both the QB position and the new D philosophy. Shoot, UGA could beat us next year (with us having a subpar year) and still lose the East by a fair margin. Nothing about the UGA program seems very intimidating by those of us looking at the UGA program from the outside. Amazed at the thickness of the blindfolds on many of the UGA fans if they honestly think a DC hire is their only weakness. I am much more concerned by the quality of coaching at Tennessee than the current job been done in Athens.

jellybeandawg

January 1st, 2010
2:19 pm

Its not that Garner doesn’t want it, he is not being offered it. Dumb a$$ where there is smoke there is fire and if it was just b/c of agents then every decent DC across the nation would say they have been contacted about UGA to get a raise, not just 3. I also do not believe that an “official offer” has been made to any of them. The part that you are to dense and stupid to realize is that its only considered an “OFFICIAL OFFER” when they have agreed to accept it. Every school does this to keep from being publicly embarrassed by “officially” being turned down, in our case multiple times. If Chavez would have said “yes”, then the offer would have been official, because he said “no”, no offer was ever offered. Wake up retard.

Denver Dog

January 1st, 2010
2:20 pm

Pricht, Auburn is up by 2 TD with about 4and 1/2 left. That is how you are wrong.

Mark Pricht

January 1st, 2010
2:23 pm

Denver Dog
see my comments at 2:15….you are a little late

Gilda the Gatorette Gatorade Drinker

January 1st, 2010
2:26 pm

I find it hilarious that other Gator fans post here saying Georgia will stink bad next year and Florida will be so good. If that’s true, why are they so worried that some of them post hundreds of times a week? Their own eagerness to post, belies their true beliefs.

Denver Dog

January 1st, 2010
2:26 pm

But then again it is Auburn