Stacy Searels leaving Georgia? Can I offer him a lift? (Update II)
Stacy Searels hasn't lived up to his reputation. (Brant Sanderlin)
(Updated below with Searels officially accepting the job.)
Reports are flying that Georgia offensive line coach Stacy Searels is closing in on taking a job with Texas coach Mack Brown, who has been churning assistants (and recently lost coach-in-waiting Will Muschamp to Florida).
First thought: Does Searels need a ride to the airport?
Second thought: Is it abandon ship time in Athens?
First, about Searels: He came to Georgia from LSU in 2007 with a solid reputation. But the Bulldogs’ offensive line has been central to their problems, particularly in the running game.
Now, I suppose some of the blame also could be attributed to the team’s oft-criticized strength and condition program (Dave Van Halanger recently was demoted), or to a perceived lack of talent up front, or to coach Mark Richt. But Searels can’t be absolved of responsibility. Coaching the offensive line is his job and he also carries the title, “running game coordinator.”
I’ve already received Tweets from readers asking me if Searels’ departure just two weeks before national letter of intent day would hurt recruiting. I doubt it. Any recruit who is willing to come to Georgia knowing the state of things and amid questions of Richt’s job security is not going to change his mind based on the offensive line coach leaving. That recruit probably is coming for playing time and to be at Georgia.
Onto the second thought: Searels has good reason to look around, as would any Georgia assistant coach. We don’t know where this program is headed. If Richt loses his job after next season, his assistants are out of work.
In particular, head coaches tend to bring in their own offensive line coach. If Searels sees guaranteed long-term employment elsewhere — and certainly at a solid program like Texas — he would be nuts not to take the job.
Searels would be going from a 6-7 team to a 5-7 team. But Texas was in the BCS title game two seasons ago and won the title in 2005. Mack Brown’s not going anywhere.
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UPDATE: The Rivals Texas sports site Orangebloods.com reports that Searels has accepted the job. However, Texas has not announced the hiring and the Austin American Statesman reports there will be no announcement tonight. An excerpt from the Orangebloods story:
Sources close to Texas and Georgia have confirmed to Orangebloods.com that Georgia offensive line coach Stacy Searels has accepted the Texas offensive line coaching position. That could bring to an end a nearly two-month-long process in which Mack Brown has replaced six assistant coaches and made changes at two other staff positions.
UPDATE II: Searles was named the Texas offensive line coach Thursday night. Here’s an except of the official announcement, via Tim Tucker’s blog.
“When you’re in this profession, you want to coach at the highest level,” Searels said. “From afar, I had always been interested in The University of Texas because I thought it was one of the premier jobs in the country. You can win a championship, you have great leadership, great players, a great pool of talent to recruit from, and I think there’s no reason you can’t win and win big at Texas, and I want to be a part of that.”
Searels joins the Longhorns after coaching the offensive line at Georgia for four seasons beginning in 2007. He added the duties of running game coordinator in 2009. During his time in Athens, the Bulldogs have ranked in the Top 25 in the nation in fewest sacks allowed three times, including ranking sixth and leading the SEC in 2009 with just 12.
By Jeff Schultz
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So Richt would have a key position to fill on his staff, presumably after recruiting.
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343 comments Add your comment
JB
January 19th, 2011
6:14 pm
Jeff, there is a chance Grantham could bail after signing day, although he has 2 years at 750k coming to him, coaching or not. The NFL is a tight fraternity ( See John Fox hired ASAP) and Grantham has probably had feelers. I don’t think he his happy in Athens.
BostonDawg
January 19th, 2011
6:15 pm
Terry, take a quick look at your grammar before questioning someone else’s intelligence. Just a thought.
Jeff Schultz
January 19th, 2011
6:16 pm
Don Draper — Mack Brown hired Will Muschamp. The school didn’t hire Will Muschamp. Mack Brown gave him the title of coach-in-waiting, not the school, because he didn’t want to lose him. But MB obviously decided to coach longer than anybody expected and so Muschamp left when he got a good offer. Are you saying MB is about to retire because I hadn’t heard that — and obviously neither had Muschamp.
Jeff Schultz
January 19th, 2011
6:17 pm
Fred — Yeah, really. So where’s the love? Hahaha.
Jeff Schultz
January 19th, 2011
6:18 pm
Jack Bull — All I’m saying is he’s not doing the job here.
Jeff Schultz
January 19th, 2011
6:19 pm
1eyedJack — You have a point there.
gabugman
January 19th, 2011
6:20 pm
JS,
Wasn’t Van Halanger PROMOTED to executive in charge of sucking up to Mark Richt?!
Plain and simple, looking out for his own azz. Richt is gone after 2011 (three years too late, I might add) and this man wants a stable office.
Jeff Schultz
January 19th, 2011
6:21 pm
JB — Two things on Grantham: 1) He’s got a pretty healthy contract (with at least 2 years left, I think) so there’s no financial reason to go; 2) His name did come up going back to Dallas Cowboys as the D.C. but I think that was just media speculation. But it wouldn’t stun me if he wants to go back to the NFL.
VA DAWG
January 19th, 2011
6:21 pm
Word is that this may have been in the works for awhile and don’t be surprised if RG is gone after Feb 2 too. This may only be news to us out in the weeds. Time will tell. GO DAWGS!
JB
January 19th, 2011
6:27 pm
It’s looking like McGarity has told Richt any chance of hanging on after next year is with some new coach’s. If he hires 2-3 new ones, he would be able to BUY RICHT SOME TIME if next year is average, but if it’s awful, I can’t save you.
Ted M
January 19th, 2011
6:29 pm
This guy was the most sought after OL coach when UGA got him from LSU. TX is a big time program (duh). They want, can afford and can get the very best assistant coaches. And yet TX wants him.
How does that jive with UGA having a crappy OL the past few years? Something else is at play here.
Ted Striker
January 19th, 2011
6:30 pm
Jeff — I’d have posted earlier but I was locked up while out carousing with Milton Bradley. Thank god Kanye West finally wired bail. I thought we were getting ready to have a romantic jail experience with some Deliverance-type folks who had migrated to the west coast. Squeal like a pig? No thanks.
Twest
January 19th, 2011
6:31 pm
Jeffery in the words of Eddie Murphy in coming to America ” Once again you have judged correctly” Stacy really can leave. But my lord if I may speak, the bigger issue is the lifeless, no-fire-at-all players who reside in athens currently is it not? Journey back to that classic game in memphis. Brandan Smith intercepts a pass if…if…IF.. IF… IF… Bacarri Rambo blocks a teeny tiny bit smith gets a 30 or 40 yard return on interception instead of getting tackled on 15 or 20. and Rambo looking like was I supposed to block??? Sooooooo my king it is not so much Richt or any of the coaches as it is the lifeless, no-fire-at-all players. um…oh king I gotta go just gave myself a headache, but lets do him like me and my prized pet feline, Kazat (african for cat) do when other cats or dogs or birds or possums come in our yard we run their butts out!!! get him outta here!!!
Terry
January 19th, 2011
6:33 pm
BostonDawg, My grammar was good enough that you new what I wrote. Who come up with proper Grammar anyway someone in the pass that you haven’t ever met, and just because you say its proper, I’m suppose to believe you, I could easily question your intelligence. Just a thought.
JB
January 19th, 2011
6:34 pm
The word will come out in the long run that Richt was soft and was killing the program ….and didn’t realize it. I can assure you the S&C guy was replaced at McGarity’s urging. I don’t think wholesale changes will be made due to the obvious sense of urgency in Athens. Nobody’s coming worth their salt for a one year gig.
Savannah Dawg
January 19th, 2011
6:41 pm
Coaches come, coaches go, but somehow everything that happens at UGA is an indicment of Richt according to the “hackmaster spin doctor” Schulz. Leaving the sinking ship in Athens for better job security in Austin. Don’t know if I’m buying that, but he might get a nice raise. Hey Jeff, it’s been over a week since your last “hack job” on Richt. That’s got to be some kind of record. Did you see the rehash of St. Francis’ anti-Richt tirade penned by your “tag team partner” Bradley. Maybe it’s time for you to play that one again. Believe what you like, Jeff.
goldwreck
January 19th, 2011
6:43 pm
Hugh Nall is in the trucking business in Albany.He’s been out of football since Tubberville left Auburn.
Sam
January 19th, 2011
6:54 pm
ToJim: Re OU/UT taking our assistants, Martinez did not make a lateral move. He went from DC to DB coach–a demotion. He developed some pretty darn good DBs in his day; he just seemed over his head in designing a total defense. Maybe he will learn a lot from Stoops/Venables–although the OU defense does not seem all that great.
6-7 Plaques
January 19th, 2011
6:54 pm
searles is a bust—he needs to hit the road and take his mediocre coaching to texas.
Jerry
January 19th, 2011
6:55 pm
Who cares whether this guy stays or goes, he ain’t done squat for the running game.
Worm
January 19th, 2011
6:55 pm
1eyed Jack-Boling had to shift to several different positions..Probably cost him production in college, but will make him more in the NFL..Kinda’ like Jonas Jennings.
Coach Grohbo
January 19th, 2011
6:56 pm
I am confident Coach Searles will do well at Texas after making his escape. Bryan Harsin and Mac Brown will let him coach the way he is accustomed to coaching. The god squad won’t be after him if he needs to chew a player out.
Coach Martinez escaped and immediately earned a Championship and a BCS Bowl ring. Don’t be surprised if it happens to Coach Searels next year.
Paul N Destin
January 19th, 2011
6:56 pm
Texas has big problems ahead so you might wish to withhold all the flaming of Stacy for he like the AU OL coach just might be back in Athens come Thursday. Sometime that green grass just over the hill is not what it appears. I wouldn’t blame any of the UGA coaches for looking this year. UGA should be about 8-4 in 2011 however that will not be get Mark another year. The UGA job is a good gig and the admin will have no trouble hiring a good coach.
Escaped from Email Purgatory
January 19th, 2011
6:57 pm
Successful assistant coaches from big time college programs (and the NFL, for goodness sakes) come to Athens to ply their trade and proceed to lay eggs like they’re working for Frank Perdue rather than the tanned and devout one.
If Richt’s not the problem, then who is?
And answer me this:
a) Who hired all these so-called incompetent / ineffective coaches?
b) Who delivered the medical school cadavers to the Alumni Dinner?
c) Who dumped a truckload of Fizzies in the pool at the Swim Meet?
I’m pretty sure CMR’s fingerprints are all over Question a).
Athens police
January 19th, 2011
7:03 pm
Its Nick Fairley’s fault.
Bug Zapper
January 19th, 2011
7:05 pm
Jeff, thanks for the artical……..As badly as u piss me off at times, most of the time when I lean back in my chair an think about it, you’re usually right……And that pisses me off even worse……….Now, UGA fans, do’nt critisize the messenger…..Is’nt Searels one of the coaches we all wanted to see replaced anyhow…….And we did’nt have to fire him to accomplish this….Bring in Hugh Noll..,..If I spelt that right…lol
Sam
January 19th, 2011
7:05 pm
Coach Grohbo: Martinez was fired (not retained technically). He did not flee. A big difference between that and taking a lower position (position coach v DC).
Steve Spurrier
January 19th, 2011
7:05 pm
You hear that, Ellis Johnson? You can’t spell scores without SS.
dawg4u
January 19th, 2011
7:06 pm
Would anybody argue that CMR is on the hot seat? Each of the last three seasons has been worse than the previous ones plus our players being arrested grows each year. No one is doing a “hack job” on CMR. Former UGA and NFL great Fran Tarkenton has expressed disappointment and frustration with Richt as have most UGA fans in general. I like Coach Richt personally but he hasn’t been hacking it lately and is being paid millions. It’s time for CMR to get it done or be forced out of Athens plain and simple.
Jerry
January 19th, 2011
7:06 pm
Take a look at the O-Line coach at top rushing programs like Nebraska, Wisconsin, or Stanford, these fellas know how to block and run the ball.
Carlton
January 19th, 2011
7:07 pm
Right there with ya Schultz. I got on this blog late but look at the facts-outside of a few good performances by our running game (see-UGA/GT 2009) we haven’t had a lot of run game since Knowshon left (and Knowshon mainly did everything by himself mind you). Searles can go to Texas, but I’m afraid of what might happen if he’s coaching a future up-and-coming back like Malcolm Brown on a Texas O-Line who’s always heavy and can be disciplined with the right direction (which Searles’ pedigree implies). Let’s see..if he goes, he goes. I’m sure Richt will make the right move (like he did with Tereshinski taking over the strength program) in his potentially “hottest” year on the seat..
Carlton
January 19th, 2011
7:10 pm
@Jerry-
Yeah, that’s because Nebraska and Wisconsin boys are born and bred on corn and working on the farm. Why do you think they’re able to block?
And Stanford? I think that was more Harbaugh than anything else..he’s got a Midwest mentality all about “ground-and-pound” versus spread offenses in his college scheme. But look at the Stanford teams of the 90’s and 00’s (for the most part)..couldn’t do much without Harbaugh..
PT
January 19th, 2011
7:16 pm
Either way, I think they all will be gone by the end of next season given some divine intervention.
Jeff Schultz
January 19th, 2011
7:19 pm
Bug Zapper — If you ever agree with me, I would never expect you to admit it publicly. You would become a social pariah. So no worries — I wont take it personally.
Jeff Schultz
January 19th, 2011
7:20 pm
Thanks Carlton.
ldawg121
January 19th, 2011
7:22 pm
Everyone does realize that before this awful season that UGA had won 99 games the 10 years previous to this year ?……I’m no Einstein but that is averaging almost 10 wins a year……as awful as it was this year lets not lose perspective…..I’m pretty sure all big time coaches and programs have went through some lean times….It’s just so typical of the what have you done for me lately mentality of this day and age…..Sinking ship ?…..Please
Tide Roll
January 19th, 2011
7:23 pm
Jeff, Georgia’s problem has been their failure to keep Division 1-A calibre offensive lineman in state. They’ve lost a tremandous OT prospect, Jason Peacock, to Arkansas where he enrolled last week. They are going to lose Xzavier Ward to Auburn. Last year they lost Rontavious Watkins to South Carolina where he was a significant factor in their defeat of Georgia. Tennessee is touting N. Gwinnett’s Jujuan James as their next All American tackle. Chance Warmack from Atlanta and James Carpenter from Augusta started at left guard and left tackle on Alabama’s national Championship team, as did Auburn’s OG Byrom Isom this year. Richt is not only losing the talent, he’s effectively empowering the very teams he needs to beat to keep his job.
Tide Roll
January 19th, 2011
7:26 pm
Who keeps deleting me and why? I should have every right to post my opinion whether you agree with itor not. When are ya’ll going out of business anyway?
Tide Roll
January 19th, 2011
7:27 pm
cute.
Tide Roll
January 19th, 2011
7:35 pm
Georgia’s failure to sign in state offensive lineman such as Jujuan James (UT), Roke Watkins (South Carolina), Jason Peacock (Ark.), Xzavier Ward (Auburn), Chance Warmack (Alabama), James Carpenter (Alabama), Byrom Isom (Auburn), Ed Christian (Auburn), Trevino Woods (Kentucky), and Ray Dominguez (Ark.) has hurt them.
Georgia’s Searels may be part of Texas’ OL coaching search – Fort Worth Star Telegram (blog) — Baton Rouge Real Estate
January 19th, 2011
7:36 pm
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]
Terry
January 19th, 2011
7:39 pm
A hillbilly man and his new bride were on their honeymoon. The husband jumps into bed to wait for his wife to get herself ready. The wife comes out of the bathroom in a sexy negligee and says, ‘Honey, I have something to tell you. I’m a virgin.’
The man grabs his clothes and rushes out of the house yelling at the top of his lungs. He heads straight to his father’s house. When he gets there, his father says, ‘Son, what are you doing here? You’re supposed to be on your honeymoon!’
The son says, ‘Dad, my new wife told me a big secret of hers. She’s a virgin!’
‘God, son! You did the right thing by leaving. If she wasn’t good enough for her family, she sure as heck isn’t good enough for ours!’
Tide Roll
January 19th, 2011
7:40 pm
You keep doing it. Who are you? I am attempting to point out some of the in – state talent that has gone elsewhere and has come back to compete vs. Georgia. You really wield a lot of power!
Dr. Phil
January 19th, 2011
7:42 pm
At Texas, he will get to meet Colt McCoy’s mom, and that’s worth a lot.
ARdawg
January 19th, 2011
7:43 pm
Jeff
Searles’s departure is more like the rats scurrying on a sinking ship. I expect they’ll be more before the start of next season. The program is not in a good place and if I were an assistant I would be dusting off the resume too.
Do you think perhaps Richt suggested to Searles that he start looking?
RomeDawg
January 19th, 2011
7:52 pm
Don’t let the door hit ya where the good Lord split ya!
Herschel Talker
January 19th, 2011
7:53 pm
Schultzie:
Stacy Searels is an overrated piece of garbage. Good riddance to this man who stole money for years. And if the problem wasn’t Searels, then the problem was that anyone who coaches under Richt apparently suddenly becomes retarded.
MARK RICHT IS WORSE THAN RAY GOFF. FIRE MARK RICHT
HT
Jerry
January 19th, 2011
7:54 pm
You can thank McGarity for this one too.
A simple contract extension for Richt or Searels would have kept him.
LonghornHere
January 19th, 2011
7:55 pm
Wow seems UGA fans feel the same way about this guy as we Texas fans felt about McWhorter. As far as UT being a “sinking ship”, no not really. They had a bad season like UF and OU did the year before after coming off of a title appearance. That’s what can happen when you lose a bunch of starters to the NFL, have a rookie QB starting, and a bunch of freshmen at two deep. No UT should never have become a 5-7 team, but that is the coaches fault more so than the players. Alot of those coaches became complacent. They won a title in 06, almost played for one in 08, and played for one in 2010. Players adopted the attitude the coaches had. The only coaches who seemed to be worth anything were Muschamp and Applewhite. There was said to be a rift between the young and older coaches on staff when it came to how to doing things.
Most of the coaches that left UT were forced out with the exception of Akina (left because he wasn’t going any hire than DB coach at UT, as he failed at his one shot being DC at TX in 2007, so he was passed over for Diaz), Muschamp (left for head coaching gig), and Tolleson (retired). UT should improve this coming season. If not, Mack Brown is gone – he has no one else to blame now. He has talented players and he has made some solid hires to replace the coaches that have left. UT has too much at stake to let Mack try to keep figuring it out if they do indeed have another losing season. He’s getting his chance now to fix it now nd won’t have another as the fan base has come to expect alot and will call for is head if something like that happens again.
Most insiders were made aware of the fact before the season ended that a bunch of coaches were going to be let go. Matter of fact, the only surprise was Muschamp leaving although fans always expected him to leave for a HC gig if Mack didn’t step down soon enough. Him leaving for the gig at UF is understandable. What’s interesting is that Seareals had been rumored to be a target of UT’s back in Novemeber. Feelers were supposedly put out, but he told them he wasn’t interested at the time. It was thought that he was being targeted and put in place for when Muschamp took over UT. Tommy Moffitt (sp?) and Kirby Smart were alwso names brought up as targets of UT back in November. But as stated these were thought to be Muschamp’s staff. I tend to believe this is true mainly because of the Weiss hire by Muschamp. Weiss’ family attended a game at UT this past season. Muschamp was going to hire his son and bring him on board at UT. I think I read that his family was in town looking for housing. Since Muschamp has left, Weiss’ son I believe is now apart of Muschamp’s staff as well as Weiss himself. Many have stated Mack was going to leave if we had won the title, then decided he would wait till the end of the season, but stayed because he didn’t want to leave with the 5-7 record. Muschamp got tired of waiting and jumped on UF deal.
As far as the hire goes, UT fans seem to be split on this potential hire. Some hate it because the same issues Georgia’s line had this past year, the UT line also had. Others love it because of his rep from when his was at LSU and to alot of Longhornsl, the fact that he was endorsed by Muschamp is good enough for them.
1eyedJack
January 19th, 2011
7:57 pm
Tide Roll, we’re sick of your opinion. As a matter of fact we’d all think a whole lot more of you if you were somewhere else.