Falcons’ Dirk Koetter may be candidate at Kentucky
Is Dirk Koetter peeking at Kentucky job? (Curtis Compton/AJC)
There’s a problem for a football team when one of its assistant coaches is viewed as being good at his job: He becomes a candidate for a better one. But the question Dirk Koetter may have to ask himself is whether being Kentucky’s head football coach is superior to being the Falcons’ offensive coordinator.
Koetter, whose work with the Falcons’ offense and quarterback Matt Ryan has contributed to the team’s 8-0 start, has been listed as a coaching candidate at Kentucky, which fired Joker Phillips on Sunday. Yahoo’s Pat Forde listed Koetter, Louisiana Tech coach Sonny Dykes and “several college offensive coordinators” as job candidates, attributing the
Aaaagggh! My eyes! My eyes!
information to unnamed sources.
Coaching rumors often are baseless. But Forde is a solid reporter, generally doesn’t throw stuff against the wall and also is pretty tapped in to all things Kentucky.
Falcons coach Mike Smith said Monday that the school had not requested permission to speak to Koetter.
But would Koetter even want the Wildcats’ job? Most assistants live for head coaching opportunities. But Kentucky football never has been viewed as a destination job — just the opposite — and Koetter is in a pretty good situation now, working with great offensive talent and in a stable organization. He also doesn’t have to recruit.
He had success as the head coach at Boise State, going 26-10 over three seasons (1998-2000), left for Arizona State but was fired after going 40-34 in six seasons (2001-06), including only 21-28 in Pacific 10 Conference play. Then came his five years with the Jacksonville Jaguars before the Falcons hired him in the offseason.
For what it’s worth, Forde also wrote what others have previously speculated — that Bobby Petrino will not be a candidate at Kentucky. I’m not sure if that’s because of Petrino’s embarrassing exits at his last two jobs — quit with Falcons, fired after having an extramarital affair with a subordinate at Arkansas — or because Petrino thinks he can do better.
Too bad. It would’ve been amusing seeing John Calipari and Petrino trying to co-exist in the same athletic department.
By Jeff Schultz
From the digital jukebox
• Short takes: On Julio Jones, Matt Ryan and zero turnovers
• Falcons just keep winning — has anybody noticed?
• Dirk Koetter a big reason for Falcons’ early success
• Predictions: Smelly, incompetent, soft Bulldogs will win again
• Radakovich’s exit illustrates disparity between Tech, Georgia
• Radakovich’s exit won’t affect Paul Johnson (for now)
• Here’s how Georgia can get to BCS title game (step by step)
• Georgia will take an ugly win like this any time
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104 comments Add your comment
IceColdATLien
November 5th, 2012
9:36 pm
Leave an OC job in one of the best NFL organizations (I can’t believe I just said that in reference to the Falcons, but it’s actually true) for a head coaching job at possibly the least respected university in the SEC?… I doubt he’ll do that. He knows he’ll never be able to recruit against the SEC juggernauts, which means he’d have to be willing to take a job that is destined to fail from the outset. He seems too smart to do something so stupid.
Mora less Petrino
November 5th, 2012
10:34 pm
Kentucky is where football coaches go to get fired.
Falcon James
November 5th, 2012
11:13 pm
Kentucky should look at BVG, MM, or Andy Reed. They will all be available soon.
ChipperisGod
November 5th, 2012
11:31 pm
Don’t leave Dirk! You’re doing amazing things here and there is no hope for Kentucky football!
Bobo
November 6th, 2012
12:00 am
First of all, Koetter would be SMOKING CRACK to take the job at Kentucky. Why would anyone in their right mind take that job? It’s career suicide. You have NO chance of beating 5 opponents a year and you’re lucky to make the Toilet Bowl with a 6-6 or 7-5 record if you have a GREAT year. You just can’t recruit the talent to compete in Kentucky. You need more than 5 guys like Calipari gets. Koetter could get 10 jobs better than UK if he is patient.
Jeff…in a related development, do you think Maureen Downey looks like a man wearing a wig?
Thomas Brown
November 6th, 2012
12:19 am
8-0 Louisville
7-1 Florida
7-2 South Carolina
7-1 Mississippi State
7-1 Georgia
Their next 3 games in strength Vandie, vols, Mizzou all have or will beat Kentucky too
# 4 Strength of Schedule in the nation
Lousy state for recruiting
2013 schedule the same and has ALABAMA on it too
Kentucky always have 5 losses on their schedule every year.
2013 they have 6 losses on their schedule next year.
59,900 in attendance
The best they can hope for is a 8-5 or 7-6 season, any year.
It’s like coaching in ANY of the ACC programs.
By the way, who is the ACC CHUMPionship Game ? FSU vs Kentucky ? Might as well be.
__________
@ AUBURN
__________
Why should the game matter at all when their only 2 wins are Louisiana Monroe and New Mexico State ?
53-54-8 South’s Oldest Rivalry
We can draw even in the series. This is our Oldest Rivalry.
Does it bother me Auburn has no offense, no defense, and leads nation in turnovers ?
I want to be 54-54-8. We have tried to do this for a long time.
Let’s make some hey.
You have Onterio McCalebb, and hand him the football 8 times a game ? No wonder you’re 2-7.
21 Scholarship Recruits on Auburn are from the state of Georgia.
That’s because they don’t have any football players in the state of Alabama.
______
54-54-8
______
While Alabama welcomes Johnny Football Manziel Texas A and M.
While Oregon has Stanford and Oregon State coming up after this week, and then Southern California again.
While Kansas State has TCU this weekend and ends with Texas.
While Notre Dame finishes at Southern California. Notre Dame has it easy with no top win.
We get Alabama even if Texas A and M and Johnny Football beat Alabama.
Reminds me of a nimrod post recently which said that Alabama is more likely to beat Texas A and M and LSU, than UGA is to beat Auburn or Ole Miss.
Yeah, right.
This ain’t over. 2007, we did not beat a team making the Top 10. In 2012, we at # 5 beat Florida # 6 who beat # 15 Texas A and M, # 8 South Carolina and # 7 LSU.
______________________________________________________________
Our win over Florida is better than any win Notre Dame, Oregon, Kansas State
______________________________________________________________
Looking forward to doing something about this economy in a few hours now.
Thomas Brown
November 6th, 2012
1:08 am
FALCONS
To the 4 Falcons’ fans, this is a COLLEGE FOOTBALL BLOG. You had your chance to have a discussion about FALCONS here in this college football town and WHIFFED. You put up less than a hundred posts in EVERY FALCONS’ blog, although Jeff Schultz has reminded us forever in here that we can discuss what we deem important on his blogs.
2002 ?
Seriously ?
That is your weak argument about beating Brett Favre way back in 2002, when he had a press conference and said he would rather be back home on his lawn mower. It was the 1st of his many retirement press conferences. I guess if I lost to the Falcons in the play-offs, I would want to be back home on my lawn mower too, retired. That’d do it to you everytime.
Brett Favre you might recall had been drafted by the Falcons and made our Quarterback in 1991. Then, we traded Brett Favre ending my Dad’s seasons’ tickets with the Falcons. Traded Brett Favre for running back Tony Smith with the 19th pick in the 1992 NFL Draft. Tony Smith was Brett Favre’s college teammate at Southern Mississippi. Tony Smith would play for the Falcons 3 seasons and had a career total of 329 yards rushing.
Oh, we beat Brett Favre 2002 and that was EXCITING you say ?
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
11 seasons’ ago in 2002, Atlanta won a PLAY-OFF GAME vs Brett Favre.
Oh, dear, I am I am so impressed.
We have won 1 play-off game since.
1
And, lost to Philadelphia Eagles in the next game anyway 6-20 while Michael Vick was sacked for 3 times and threw 2 interceptions.
___________________
SAD that is all you have.
___________________
I know more about the Falcons than you ever will.
Wake me up when the Falcons win a play-off ? In the NFL, the regular season means NOTHING.
UGA beat Florida who beat # 7 LSU, # 8 South Carolina and # 15 Texas A and M who beats Alabama this weekend.
_________________________________
THIS IS A COLLEGE FOOTBALL TOWN
_________________________________
Falcons’ blog. Not hardly. There are only 4 of you Falcons’ fans on here, none of whom know a thing about the Falcons or anyone on our roster, nor who we play. THIS AIN’T THE FALCONS’ BLOG.
Get over yourself
_____
DREW
_____
Did you write?
November 6th, 2012
2:50 am
My goodness, Mr. Naysayer himself showing his stupidness! Tommie Brown…lay off the ganja bro! What r you sayin that anyone can understand? This is a Falcon blog and u know zilch of the Falcons!lmao…Surprised your Murray-Richt diatribe didnt show itself. Get ya sum 8-o Falcons and drive West to New Orleans or Tuscaloosa!
Choke on my grits
November 6th, 2012
2:58 am
Bobby Petrino Who?
inkspot
November 6th, 2012
3:57 am
This is a good problem to have for the Falcons. If Koetter leaves for Kentucky, which I doubt, I trust Smith and Dimitroff to bring in another quality OC (who we will all criticize at first and then ultimately pray he never leaves.)
Thomas Brown
November 6th, 2012
5:12 am
inkspot,
He’s not going to Kentucky.
garcia
November 6th, 2012
6:07 am
I would hate to see Koetter leave Matt Ryan. Having said that, I hope DK gets the opportunity to become a head coach somewhere. He has worked hard and his family deserves to find a place to put roots down. While Kentucky is not what we all think of as the ideal college HC job, I hear that DK has ties to the area.
Keep in mind that Dirk Koetter raised Boise State from nothing. BSU was far worse than UK. If he was able to raise the Boise football program, he can certainly do the same for UK.
QB/DB
November 6th, 2012
7:14 am
1st he has not been offered the job so hold your horses! As in any job there is a lot of speculation, I read a lot of the Kent. sites and he isn’t their favorite of course that can change. Plus even if offered he would have to seriously consider the Statte of Kent. does not have H.S. FB comparable to other Staes in the SEC. Plus KU is all about basketball. You Dawg fans should be ASHAMED how you slam BoBo one of your own. The team is 5th in the country, he has worked 2 freshmen TB to perfection and worked with a slew of receivers. Give the guy a break, you can do much worse! Those of you screaming for a perfect BoBo are you perfect at your job??????
Jeffro
November 6th, 2012
7:25 am
I would shytcan mike smith and give the reins to Koettter. Why waste a salary on a guy who couldn’t get it done?
BubbaDaBaller
November 6th, 2012
7:47 am
Great last stanza…the thought of someone with a greater “slime factor” than Coach Cal joining the UK Athletic Dept…
Thomas Brown
November 6th, 2012
7:50 am
Be realistic, slime factor is probably what Kentucky has to go for.
Either that, or sit back and take 5 losses every year before the season starts.
Forrest Gump
November 6th, 2012
8:12 am
How bout hire GTBob? GTBob knows everything there is to know about the football industry!
Go Jackets
November 6th, 2012
8:22 am
Arkansas or Auburn maybe, KY Jelly, I dont think so.
Whisky Breath
November 6th, 2012
8:32 am
Jesus H. Christ.
Why isn’t Mark Richt’s name ever listed as a viable candidate for any coaching job?
Anyone??
Anyone??
You do the math as to why not. Same with Mike Bobo.
Mike Franklin
November 6th, 2012
9:00 am
Petrino falls into the same category as Spurrier. Neither of these guys has an ounce of moral fiber… both walked out on NFL teams. They’re both gifted coaches but with the personalities of a gulag commandant.The only real difference is that Spurrier has yet to fall from grace, or a motorcycle.
Thomas Brown
November 6th, 2012
9:10 am
or be with a blonde bimbo, while married.
Thomas Brown
November 6th, 2012
9:10 am
or be unemployed
Thomas Brown
November 6th, 2012
9:10 am
or have as his photo, a neck brace and bruised red face.
Thomas Brown
November 6th, 2012
9:12 am
or 7-2 and # 8 in the nation.
Thomas Brown
November 6th, 2012
9:14 am
Spurrier also did not quit in the middle of the season with the Redskins.
Thomas Brown
November 6th, 2012
9:15 am
Spurrier also has 6 SEC Championships to Bobby Petrino 0
SawThat1nce
November 6th, 2012
9:19 am
Much ado about nothing……No way is Mr. Koetter going to go to Kentuck.
To change the subject, how about that Eagles OLine, my poor ole’ gray haired granny could have walked through it. Poor Micheal.
Thomas Brown
November 6th, 2012
9:19 am
Spurrier also has a Heisman Trophy he won no thanks to Georgia, while Petrino was an NAIA quarterback; Spurrier went on the the NFL and played in the NFL throwing 40 touchdown passees.
When you get right down to it, there is no comparison of Steve Spurrier and Bobby Petrino
SawThat1nce
November 6th, 2012
9:24 am
Did Spurrier ever try to drive a Harley, while recieving a reach around from a “blonde bimbo”?
I bet he would have wrecked, just like Bobby did.
Sorry, I couldn’t resist this comment. I’ll try to do better in the future.
SawThat1nce
November 6th, 2012
9:26 am
They are both jerks, that is one comparison. haha.
Mongo
November 6th, 2012
9:26 am
Could we (UGA) be so lucky that they go after BoBo?
Thomas Brown
November 6th, 2012
9:34 am
Steve Spurrier is College Football Hall of Fame as a player and as a coach.
Bobby Petrino is in the Hall of Shame, unemployed, never did anything in The SEC as a player or coach and did not have a distinquished playing career.
Are you jealous of his 6 SEC Championships, 7 SEC Coach of the Year, 204-77-2 head coach record all but 3 in SEC, or that he has taken South Carolina from never nothing to # 8.
Yes. Yes, you are.
Rodster
November 6th, 2012
9:44 am
I’d really hate to lose Koetter. He’s been very good for the Falcon’s. I hope this does not become a distraction. If you look at it objectively, he’s in a better place with the Falcon’s. Being the football coach at Kentucky is like being the ammo carrier at the Little Big Horn.
I don’t hate on coaches in general, but for Petrino I’ll make an exception. Kentucky would be insane to hire that a$$hat.
Rodster
November 6th, 2012
9:47 am
T-Brown, get some help buddy.
After further review...
November 6th, 2012
9:50 am
Thomas, you are at least consistent in your blindness. To crow they way you do overf beating ONE ranked team (FLorida), given the fact that they handed you SIX turnovers shows a certain amonnt of ignorance. Are you proud of squeaking by a Kentucky team so awful they fired their head coach mid season?
Your Bulldogs are 8-1 and that is an accomplishment. But, only one of the teams they beat is ranked in the to 25. Even if they run the table, including an improbable win in the SEC championship game against Alabama, they are still a one-loss team, and there could still be THREE unbeaten teams from automatic qualifiers for the BCS ahead of them. Should that happen, those teams will each have beaten at least as many ranked teams as the Bulldogs. Kansas State has already beaten Oklahoma (wasn’t Oklahoma number one or two at the time, sort of like when you beat Florida), and has currently-ranked Texas still to play. Oregon has already beaten Southern Cal – still in the top 25 and, if memory serves, in the top five before the loss to Oregon. and will need to beat Stanford, another top 25 team, currently before it is over. Notre Dame has beaten two top 25 teams already – Stanford and Oklahoma – and could beat a third if USC stays in the rankings. Hate to burst your bubble, but Georgia can’t make the national championship game for a shot at their second national title unless they can find a way to beat Alabama in the SEC championship game and unless at least tow of the other teams currently ahead of them lose games they should, on paper, win.
Mike Franklin
November 6th, 2012
9:53 am
Thomas Brown – Would you like for someone to call the pope for you so you could attend Spurrier’s sainthood?
SawThat1nce
November 6th, 2012
10:28 am
Spurrier is still one of the biggest A-holes on the planet.
SawThat1nce
November 6th, 2012
10:30 am
Or should I say that Spurrier is one of the biggest anuses.
This is a family blog, afterall.
shankit
November 6th, 2012
11:24 am
If I were the Kentucky A. D., I would be looking at Chris Hatcher
at Murray State. Best coach in Kentucky, has ties to recruiting in
South Georgia, won N/C’s both as a player and coach at VSU,
tutored under Hal Mumme and Mike Leach. Young, and also
has ties at Kentucky as assistant coach under Mumme and Leach.
Thomas Brown
November 6th, 2012
11:32 am
Spurrier is no Bobby Petrino, and never have the 2 ever been compared one to the other. Not when they played the game. Not when they coached in The SEC. Not when they were elected one to the Hall of Fame and one to the Hall of Shame. And, not today, one # 8 having brought South Carolina respectable football for a program who never did anything in football, and the other unemployed. Anyone making such a comparison yes will have to deal with the facts. I hate Steve Spurrier as much as anyone, but I am not jealous of him, like you are. I think he is funny. I watched the game. I saw him pull all his starters at the 10:45 mark ahead 35 to nothing. I saw Aaron Murray still in there trying to get on the board at the 1:55 mark. I saw him after the game shaking Mark Richt’s hand.
Then, there is your viewpoint.
Uh, that’s just plain silly sitting there saying compare the 2, they’re both the same.
Utter retard.
Yes, I am consistent. I asked for Aaron Murray to beat top team, and said the same for Mark Richt. What ? Now, that they did, I am supposed to what ? Act like they did not, while instead Oregon, Notre Dame and Kansas State have not. No. We did. I’m happy. I asked for that. I ask the same for the Falcons : that they no – not beat Brett Favre in 2002 eleven seasons’ ago and then lose the next game 6 to 20 with 3 Michael Vick sacks and 2 Vick interceptions – and, by the way, 1 play-off since. I ask that the Falcons win play-off games.
It’s the same for both.
As an Atlantan my whole life and seasons’ tickets to both, although given up the Falcons long ago, I am not amused by your posts telling me that you were excited in 2002 eleven seasons’ ago with 1 play-off win since. Not when we traded the guy we beat Brett Favre for his college teammate running back who amassed 329 yards rushing and lost his job. Not when we’ve won 1 play-off game since you were happy and excited vs Green Bay in 2002 as play-off win. Mark Richt had a win over # 9 Auburn in 2006. That’s a LOT better than the Falcons.
I like Mike Smith, and Arthur Blank. I actually watch the Falcons now, again. But, damn; be consistent yourself. The Falcons have NOT DONE what Mark Richt did in beating Florida.
# 6 Florida with wins over # 15 TAMU # 8 So Carolina and # 7 LSU
We beat them and thus we’re top 5.
You want to run in here and tell me we cannot now beat Alabama. BS. Texas A and M can beat Alabama. So, can we. Will we ? You say there is no reason to play.
You give us no credit whatsoever for beating Florida – A GREAT FOOTBALL TEAM 2012 today with 3 great top wins.
Florida has done 3 times as much this 2012 season, as the Falcons have done since beating Brett Favre 11 seasons’ ago in a play-off game.
And, Aaron Murray and Mark Richt have MATCHED what the Falcons have done the eleven seasons of 1 play-off win by beating Florida.
All the NFL players come from colleges. This is where the water hits the wheel. Only Otis Sistrunk from the University of Mars is an exception.
That’s why we have 400 unique posters post about college football and 4 Falcons’ fans in here. And, no this is NOT the Falcons’ blog.
I’m happy with UGA.
Falcons ? Not proved ANYTHING yet. When, they do, I will let you know.
After further review...
November 6th, 2012
12:01 pm
Thomas: the Falcons at least got to play in the Super Bold in the last 15 years. Georgia has not been in the BCS championship game during that timeframe. YES, you beat Florida. We get that. But that win had more to do with the defense stepping up and the fact that Florida played terrribly,l coughing the ball up six times, than with anything else. Georgia has played two ranked teams so far, and there are none on the horizon until the SEC championship game. They beat one of those teams because they managed to put to gether a decent game on a day when their opponent stunk up the joint. THe othe ranked team they played thoughly whipped them. THe fact that Florida beat three other ranked teams this year is more a testament to how poorly they played against the Bulldogs than it is how big and bad the Bulldogs are for beating a team that beat all those teams.
Yes they’ve won a bunch of games against SEC copetition: Vandy, Kentucky, Misouri, Tennesee, and Ole Miss. THey have one SEC team left to play – Auburn. How many of those teams are ranked? How many of them even have a winning record at the moment? The SEC has had an impressive run of national titles, and may get another one this year if Alabama can continue to win. But the majority of those titles: Alabama twice, Auburn, and LSU, came from the other division of the SEC, not the division Georgia plays in.
And I disagree with you completely when you say the Falcons haven’t proven anything yet. They have proven that they can find a way to win, even when they don’t have their “A” game. That is a trai you wil find in champions in all sports at all levels. Will the Falcons win in the playoffs this year? I don’t know. I do know they are capable of doing so, howver.
Thomas Brown
November 6th, 2012
12:22 pm
That isn’t the question.
You said Aaron Murray, Mark Richt and Georgia has DONE NOTHING by beating # 6 Florida with wins themselves over # 15 TAMU # 8 USCe and # 7 LSU.
Sure as Hell, yes, we did.
If Bullfrogs had wings they could fly instead of bumping their buns over the rocks.
The Falcons have won 1 play-off game after your precious exciting play-off win over Brett Favre in 2002.
Georgia has matched that just in beating Florida.
What the Falcons are capable of, is a completely different matter. UGA was capable, Aaron Murray was capable and Mark Richt was capable beating a top team too.
Difference ?
They did it.
Boise Dawg
November 6th, 2012
12:34 pm
I think Koetter is a great coach and a great offensive mind and he would probably do ok at Kentucky (8-4) or (7-5)… but why would he want that over being a well respected NFL coordinator. I wish he was Georgia’s offensvie coordinator.
Put in Timeout by Ken Suguira,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned by Bill King, Chip Towers & only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
November 6th, 2012
12:46 pm
JEFF……………….Whose Biscuit did LILLY eat for the Presidential Election?………………Get it up for your fans.
Thomas Brown
November 6th, 2012
12:55 pm
Duh
Mandate election
PreyDawg
November 6th, 2012
1:38 pm
@Schultz- Dude! This is why the AJC makes it rain in your bank account every payday. We know you have connections. Now get Koetter on the phone and find out if he is interviewing. We don’t need Kentucky rocking our 8 and 0 boat right now!!!
After further review...
November 6th, 2012
1:56 pm
Thomas: by your logic, shouldn’t South Carolina be higher than you? After all, they beat you , and you beat Florida, and Florida beat a bunch of ranked teams. Not only that, but South Carolina’s coach has more Heisman Trophies than your coach, and a better NFL record as both a player and coach than your coach. Other than a FLorida team that managed to hand you the ball six times, who has Georgia beaten this year? Face it, the opponents they have beaten, including Florida at 8-1, are a collective 32-41. Not exactly a legendary season against tough competition. Of the remaining three regular season opponents, only one (Georgia Southern, and FCS opponent) has a winning record currently. I’d be willing to bet that any of th undefeated teams ahead of you in the current BCS standings have faced tougher shedules than your Bulldogs have, and all of them will likely have at least one more game versus a ranked opponent before the season’s end. Quit deluding yourself. The only way a one-loss SEC team makes the national championship game this year is if there is only one unbeaten team above them. While loading your non-conference schedule with FCS teams and creampuffs from second-tier FBS conferences makes the won-loss record look impressinve, but doesn’t help you much in the BCS standings, when the crunch comes.
Stinger2
November 6th, 2012
1:58 pm
GT Bob and Thomas Brown. Any connections?
Thomas Brown
November 6th, 2012
2:20 pm
South Carolina not LOST to Florida 11-44 while we beat Florida, but in addition, South Carolina lost another game. When, since you have mandated that there is no reason for UGA to even play against Alabama, just call in sick – take the game off, don’t show up even, we then lose as you mandate no contest even, we will have 2 losses and will drop to about where South Carolina is in the rankings. You’re way ahead of yourself here. By then South Carolina might lose to Clempson too; or, should Clempson not show up either – just call the game in and give up before it is played ? Rational conversation with the likes of you about football is fruitless.
Yeah, too bloody right UGA is ranked # 5 by EVERYONE, not me, and too bloody right South Carolina is ranked # 8 by EVERYONE, not me.
Get over yourself, or take it up with the entire college football world, not me.
Univ. Of Kentucky
November 6th, 2012
3:05 pm
Mr. Shultz needs to stop reading articles wrote by Yahoo sports writer Pat Forde. Forde is a former University of Louisville crony who has zero connections at UK and is hated by mostly everyone in UK’s athletic department.