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

Mark Pricht

January 1st, 2010
2:26 pm

Denver Dog

and make that 1 td with 3:20…..dont change the fact AU and LSU both look like crap against weaker teams

Denver Dog

January 1st, 2010
2:27 pm

Like I said, then again it is Auburn.

Pugnacious Paul

January 1st, 2010
2:27 pm

Stupid Ben Tate cost Auburn a T D with his basketball antics. When will these thugs ever learn. Score then simply hand the ball to the ref!

Urban Liar

January 1st, 2010
2:28 pm

Look, I stepped on a cat, ok, I didn’t want to mention that because I knew it would offend cat owners out there. Anyone who’s a cat owner can understand that. I slipped on a cat, it’s that simple. Get over it. Look, I’m coming back in August (hhaa haaa haaa). Really. Hey, I’m serious this time. My heart was miraculously healed by a new procedure called “The Gator Tin Man”.

Mark Pricht

January 1st, 2010
2:29 pm

But my LSU is looking better

Denver Dog

January 1st, 2010
2:29 pm

Mr Pricht, UT, Aub, and LSU do look like crap. UGA looked decent, and that is all. UT really did look like a high school team.

Pugnacious Paul

January 1st, 2010
2:30 pm

northwestern recovers fumble ha ha ha.

Pugnacious Paul

January 1st, 2010
2:31 pm

This game may go to Ova time !

Kirby Smart's the Guy

January 1st, 2010
2:32 pm

Sure, Smart’s not coming to Georgia, right? And Bama’s DC didn’t leave Saban in 2007 either, right? Goons.

Mark Pricht

January 1st, 2010
2:32 pm

you are right…it is AU…wow the missed pat might be the difference

Denver Dog

January 1st, 2010
2:33 pm

Like I said, then again, it is Aubrurn. Mr. Pricht if you are right, you deserve the Leonards Losers award.

Pugnacious Paul

January 1st, 2010
2:33 pm

big 4th dowm here

Pugnacious Paul

January 1st, 2010
2:34 pm

Pugnacious Paul

January 1st, 2010
2:35 pm

TD northwestern !!!

Denver Dog

January 1st, 2010
2:35 pm

A stupid Auburn playyer just did a facemask on a sack. They are dumb

Than again it is Auburn. NW just scored.

Pugnacious Paul

January 1st, 2010
2:36 pm

tie game !!!! SEC is going down baby !

dawg gone it

January 1st, 2010
2:36 pm

Pricht, I agree, both AU and LSU look sub par. They have all season. LSU was lucky to beat UGA.

The DC hunt indeed is more complicated than it seems on the surface. Maybe due to doubts regarding CMR’s longevity at UGA.

Was really impressed by Bud Foster’s defense vs. TN last night. Sucks GA couldn’t get him.

btw…NW just tied with AU!

Mark Pricht

January 1st, 2010
2:36 pm

Denver Dog

talk to me now…I still have life

how2fish

January 1st, 2010
2:37 pm

Mark Prict you must not have watched the game, UGA stomped a mudhole in the Bugs..so bad CPJ meatled down and went pass happy(really smart move) get used to him doing that..I hope they can beat Iowa..but if the Bugs are not way ahead in the 4th look for another coaching meltdown sorry to break it to you..he is the 3rd best coach in the ACC and not in the top 8 in the SEC..he would never win 90 games in 9 years in the SEC..never….24-30 live it love it…we will rinse and repeat next year…8-1 going for 9-1 in ten years

Pugnacious Paul

January 1st, 2010
2:38 pm

This looks like UGA football with all the dancing and celebration

Pugnacious Paul

January 1st, 2010
2:38 pm

Wreckmaniac

January 1st, 2010
2:38 pm

Santa Cuz Dawg: CMR has won 1 nat champ at UGA ? Gee, I thought it was 10. And 2 national champs at FSU. So Bobby Bowden didn’t get
credit for those as head coach ? Thanks for being so informative.
Actually, if you haven’t won a nat champ and if you have lost the FL game every year and if you had to go to the Punishment Bowl this year and if can only recuit QB’s instead of defensive studs and if half of your players end up in jail, I guess you have to pick something meaningless to crow about like 90 wins in 9 years.

Mark Pricht

January 1st, 2010
2:38 pm

dawg gone it

and on the ACC side..Miami and NC choked…that is why I never gamble on CFB too unpredictable

Pugnacious Paul

January 1st, 2010
2:39 pm

Northwestern ball ! Stupid Bill TateHa Ha Ha

Pugnacious Paul

January 1st, 2010
2:41 pm

SEC is going down ha ha ha

Wreckmaniac

January 1st, 2010
2:42 pm

The SEC’s bowl meltdown this year is a disgrace. I’ve never seen TN pushed around like they were last night. KY looked like a pack of sissies against Clemson. And UGA lost to both of these ? The Chick-Fil-A really took a step back last night. A bowl of this level should demand higher quality play. You match up a top 25 team against a mid-level SEC team. Where’s the logic in this ? I thought that AL would beat Texas until last night. After seeing TN and KY I see now that AL hasn’t played much of a schedule this season.

Wreckmaniac

January 1st, 2010
2:44 pm

Another ridiculous matchup. Auburn is forced to play an academic institution ?

Mark Pricht

January 1st, 2010
2:44 pm

how cant argue with stupid so I wont repond but 1 time to you…1 minute before the GT UGA game, you or no other mutt thought they would win, one seconcd after you were all in shock, the best team did not win or UGA wouldnt have played in Shreveport, but the team that played the best game that day did win…again I say your name should be how2foolyourself

Pugnacious Paul

January 1st, 2010
2:44 pm

how2fish

January 1st, 2010
2:45 pm

The Auburn game is unreal

Pugnacious Paul

January 1st, 2010
2:46 pm

Ben Tate should be running gassers now

Mark Richt is The Man!

January 1st, 2010
2:46 pm

Good grief, I knew Richt was good, is Richt the ONLY SEC Coach that will get a win in a Bowl game in 2009? We know Urban won’t win his game by 24. Mark Richt is the Man!

dawg gone it

January 1st, 2010
2:46 pm

Wreckmaniac, it wasn’t just TN playing poorly. Don’t underestimate Bud Foster’s half time adjustments. If I’m not mistaken, VA Tech hasn’t allowed a point in the second half for the last six games!

Mark Pricht

January 1st, 2010
2:47 pm

Pugnacious Paul

AU had several unsportman 15 yd…no dicipline just like thuga

Pugnacious Paul

January 1st, 2010
2:47 pm

where is this SEC speed???? What a myth !!!!!

Florida Is Overrated

January 1st, 2010
2:48 pm

The SEC Bowl game losses prove Florida’s wins were ovverated.

Denver Dog

January 1st, 2010
2:49 pm

Maybe Auburn needs the new DC and Special Teams coach? Those AU players are dumb. They tried to make big plays when all they had to do was to get on the ground.

Mark Pricht

January 1st, 2010
2:50 pm

Mark Richt is The Man!

maybe because the other coaches didnt get to coach at shreveport

Pugnacious Paul

January 1st, 2010
2:51 pm

SEC is going down like UGA

santa cuz dawg

January 1st, 2010
2:51 pm

90 SEC wins in 9 year don’t matter? Okay, if wins don’t matter, then you have to take away the Natl Champ wins from Meyer too, I guess those wins don’t count either, right? How many Natl Champs did FSU win AFTER Richt left? UGA got the Natl Champ in 2007, and went 13-1 another year, should have got it that year too. Voter bias doesn’t change anything-Richt has 2 Natl Champ’s with UGA, and 2 with FU, and 90 SEC wins in 9 seasons.

Denver Dog

January 1st, 2010
2:52 pm

Mr. Pricht, I did, and I guess you could go back and find it where I said UGA would win with a running game. No more attacks againg the Dogs. They did what they were supposed to do and beat Tech too!

Pugnacious Paul

January 1st, 2010
2:54 pm

Aurburn has thugs too!

how2fish

January 1st, 2010
3:01 pm

Mark the fool Pricht if you checked any of the blogs prior to the game I said UGA would win…just didn’t know CPJ would get so totally out coached..

Pugnacious Paul

January 1st, 2010
3:03 pm

FLA DAWG

January 1st, 2010
3:04 pm

Jeff,

We are all so touched by your feeling of victimization of our blog responses.
When you write your opinion it should be based on information that exceeds those who read it.

I don’t know the details of the offers (if any) of Chavis, Smart, etc. but the fact they received (reported) raises indicates Richt is going after quality coaching talent. Why not headline that instead of the negative?

I could care less if you’re a Dawg Fan or a GT Fan. Just think a bit before writing your opinion and expect to be called on that opinion by both sides.

Denver Dog

January 1st, 2010
3:04 pm

Wreck maniac Tech has thugs too! Joe Hamilton ring a bell. Auburn players are so stupid twice they had this game won and have don something stupid. Even when AJ Green got hurt he was tackled out of bounds. You are right, they are stupid and dumb

Mark Pricht

January 1st, 2010
3:05 pm

Denver Dog…..you may have called me wrong too early…stupid penalties will win it for me

dawg gone it

January 1st, 2010
3:05 pm

NW vs. AU, the never ending game!

Pugnacious Paul

January 1st, 2010
3:05 pm

SEC is going down baby !

Denver Dog

January 1st, 2010
3:06 pm

Everyone send a crying towel to Jeff Schultz