Fans fret about UGA coaching search
Mark Richt isn't talking about Georgia's coaching search. (Brant Sanderlin / AJC)
While off last week, I managed to keep a peripheral eye on the goings-on in Athens concerning the hunt for a new defensive coordinator.
Looks like a bit of a mess.
First came the brief media hubub about Virginia Tech’s Bud Foster, who publicly acknowledged “talking” to UGA before announcing he’d gotten a sweeter deal to stay put. Not surprising; you get a lot of folks using your job search in that way who have no intention of making a move. I’m sure Mark Richt wasn’t at all surprised by that.
Then came the Vic Koenning affair, which was a much muddier picture. Apparently the Kansas State co-defensive coordinator had expressed interest in the UGA job, but Georgia dithered while Illinois made it clear it wanted him. Then at the last minute Richt reportedly made an offer to Koenning but he decided to stick with Illinois.
Whether Koenning was the right choice for the Georgia job or not (and I’m not sure he was), what disturbs some Georgia fans about that scenario was the fact that Richt apparently wasn’t sure whether he wanted Koenning or not and then made a move after it was too late.
Of course, we don’t know the whole story since Richt isn’t talking. Maybe Georgia’s initial hesitation about Koenning had more to do with negotiations with some other candidate than it did with indecisiveness about whether Koenning was the right man for the UGA job. If that was the case, the late offer to Koenning probably means things weren’t going well on the other front.
You expect Richt to be talking to more than one candidate, and a lot of Georgia fans are hoping that Alabama’s Kirby Smart is still in the mix. But the reports of an offer to Koenning, if they’re accurate, would seem to indicate things must not have looked good elsewhere in the search.
We have to keep in mind that media leaks during these searches are often self-serving (a la Foster) and quite frequently much ado about nothing (as in the stories earlier this year about Bobby Knight and the Georgia basketball job).
Still, if what has leaked out is true, it’s bothersome that Richt apparently felt the need to make a late offer to Koenning. It gives the impression of desperation.
How do you feel about what’s transpired so far in the DC search?
Elsewhere, a couple of big woofs are due Mark Fox’s basketball Bulldogs for the weekend win over Illinois. It’s likely to be a loooong season for the undermanned Dogs, but they beat a good team under what was essentially road game conditions at Gwinnett Arena. Hopefully the confidence they gained will pay off down the road in the SEC wars.
Go Dogs!
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348 comments Add your comment
Gregg T
December 21st, 2009
11:36 am
To Bill and every other expert on the coaching search, there are reasons CMR and DE are quiet in Athens. In all honesty, would you give out day to day search/contact information to this media and blog crowd? Hell no. Talk about having things blow up in your face.
UGA Fan since 1971
December 21st, 2009
11:38 am
Can so many Georgia fans be so shallow? This decision is so far above your head – no wonder you don’t understand and panic. If you are so unhappy with CMR then become a Tech fan – PLEASE!
Mikey
December 21st, 2009
11:42 am
Nu Keese, you have more to worry about besides where you can play football.
Your short little career as a football player might be over.
Knuckle Sandwich
December 21st, 2009
11:42 am
Bill Goldberg for DC
dawgfan
December 21st, 2009
11:44 am
Bill, I don’t think anyone knows enough about the coaching search to have an opinion one way or the other about it. Personally, I don’t see what the big deal is with Richt’s secrecy. Its the post-season. Assistant coaches, good ones at least, are a little busy. If Richt was going to hire some no name Joe Schmoe from East Michigan A&M wouldn’t he have done so already? People just need to be patient.
Whatever happened with Koennig I’m glad he isn’t coming here. His defenses gave up more points in the Big 12 than Tech’s defense gives up rushing yards to a true freshmen running back from a single A high school. He wouldn’t have got it done in the SEC.
JP Dawg
December 21st, 2009
11:45 am
The message boards are blowing up that Bud foster is coming to UGA. Anyone have anything confirmed???
JASUGA
December 21st, 2009
11:45 am
Everyone needs to calm down a little bit about the coaching search. My cousin is the Associate AD at UGA and has confirmed with me that there has been no offer made to any coach. There has been some phone calls that were merely feeler calls. Also if you are a true UGA fan you would not be worried that the program is in a downward spiral.
Dayman
December 21st, 2009
11:46 am
So I guess Dawg Truth and the others giving King a hard time think UGA’s coaching search is going well. You probably genuinely believe Kirby Smart is leaving Bama too, huh?
Jonathan
December 21st, 2009
11:47 am
I wonder if CMR is looking to give Garner a try out as DC?
JASUGA
December 21st, 2009
11:48 am
I personally do not think Kirby Smart is coming back to Athens. My top candidates I would go after are Travis Jones DL coach with the Saints and or Kevin Steele from Clemson.
jack bull
December 21st, 2009
11:51 am
i do find it funny when coaches and programs keep the media in the dark. the guys who write stories for a living really get angry with this and start writing stuff like “fans fret about….” well, i’m a fan, and i’m not fretting, nor is most that i know. and i’ll be the first to admit, that i posted two weeks ago that Koenning would be named, this coming from a very good, lifelong friend who is employed at K-State. now his, and my own, credibility took a hit. but, i don’t think he was ever “offered” a contract to come here. so printing that is pure speculation. not good journalism, but okay, i guess, for blogging..
now i say our next DC will be……. who the heck knows, but i’m sure we’ll be happy..
GO DAWGS UGA-41 A&M-34
raymond
December 21st, 2009
11:51 am
I would like to that we would be one of the more attractive schools who are looking for a DC, but maybe we only see it that way. Are we loosing our appeal?
JMac12203
December 21st, 2009
11:51 am
I have it on good authority that Willie Martinez is available, and he would come pretty cheap.
Don't worry guys
December 21st, 2009
11:54 am
Don’t worry guys, the pick has already been made and the deal will be announced when BVG’s season is over. Yes, I said, Brian Van Gorder. He just needs to finish up with the Falcons season and he’ll be coming to Athens. We just have to get through the Falcons season. You’ll see.
Chan Gailey
December 21st, 2009
11:57 am
Georgia proved the ONLY game that really matters is the GEORGIA BOWL and yes, they won it AGAIN !!!! And NO, I don’t want my job back !!!!
exNFLplayer
December 21st, 2009
11:58 am
I tend to agree with Olin Buchanan:
According to Olin Buchanan: Georgia is an attractive place to coach football, so there won’t be a shortage of able candidates interested in that position. But coach Mark Richt probably already has a successor for ousted Willie Martinez in mind.
SOUTH GA DAWG FAN
December 21st, 2009
11:59 am
If someone is not already in place then i would have to say this search has been one huge CLUSTER COPULATION , if someone is waiting for their current bowl game or season to be over then i withdraw my complaint.
Law Dawg
December 21st, 2009
12:01 pm
Bill, there is so much talk of no DC of Kirby Smart’s caliber making the “lateral move” to UGA. However, a lateral move would be attractive with a “head coach in waiting” designation such as Muschamp or Ficsher. Is there any talk in Athens of such a scenario?
Dayman
December 21st, 2009
12:02 pm
While I think BVG would be a good DC, I’m afraid if we hire him, we will be in this same situation in two years when his next job offer comes around.
Bill King
December 21st, 2009
12:03 pm
Law Dawg:
Not that I’ve heard, but they wouldn’t be likely to share such details outside of the private negotiations.
oldbird
December 21st, 2009
12:03 pm
I don’t want any D.C. that is not too busy to interview right now, preparing for a bowl game or for an NFL game. Be patient dawg fans and lets get the right guy.
Stinger
December 21st, 2009
12:05 pm
It’s Willie or Chan, take your pick.
Inside Dawg
December 21st, 2009
12:05 pm
From highly reliable booster with direct connections to the board — its a done deal. Kirby Smart will be named DC day after National Championship game.
We pulled your stinger out and stomped it flat,again!
December 21st, 2009
12:06 pm
Quote of the year “we are proud to say we have had no off field problems since the start of the season, and it is indicative of the type of program, we run here” Lane Kiffen. Early the next morning on ESPN. “3 UT players have been arrested for armed robbery outside of a Knoxville Tenn convience store”. Lane Kiffen retort, “it is not as bad as Florida, and I suspend the players” 3 weeks later, one of the players is starting against Kentucky. What a liar.
We pulled your stinger out and stomped it flat,again!
December 21st, 2009
12:07 pm
Stinger, who will be your next DC, or is 108th in the NCAA satisfactory for you?
dawg
December 21st, 2009
12:07 pm
I feel like Mark is the one to make the decision and a fast decision is not always the best decision. He did not get to this stage in coaching by making poor decisions. The Vent hacks and media are the drama queens of the year.
JaxDawg
December 21st, 2009
12:11 pm
I don’t know Bill, your story sounds pretty negative and misleading. I know you well enough so I give you the benefit of the doubts that your intentions are honest
maddawg
December 21st, 2009
12:15 pm
stillman/ga dog – your post wins the award for the most stupid post of the day. Congrats moron.
greg
December 21st, 2009
12:19 pm
go back on vacation
F-105 Thunderchief
December 21st, 2009
12:21 pm
I don’t think Koenning was ever offered the job. But you fret about it if you want to. It’s a free country.
gtfanfrom1951
December 21st, 2009
12:22 pm
Does not matter who UGA hires he will not be as good as Tenn. DC, Fla, or LSU just get use to 7-6 for a long time. The other SEC East schools have moved ahead of UGA.
PHIL
December 21st, 2009
12:27 pm
Bill, A couple of questions. 1. What’s wrong with the official party line from the University of Georgia? Are you implying that those who “make” the official party line are without integrity? Are you saying that C Richt is a liar when he says the job hasn’t been offered? I’d really like to hear you respond to that one.
2. It doesn’t make much sense at all to me that much of anyone would work at IL instead of UGA when they could make more money at UGA. I believe we will pay a top DC more than IL paid that guy. Don’t you? So answer those questions and then tell me why, logically, this is the best you could come up with to fill space.
FRED
December 21st, 2009
12:31 pm
LOOK BOYS THERE ARE ONLY SO MANY DC AVAILABLE. AND THE GOOD ONES WILL NOT MOVE LATERALLY. SO00000! LETS LOOK INTO THE SMALLER DIVISIONS. HOW ABOUT SOMEONE LIKE THE HEAD COACH AT MONTANA. DON”T KNOW HIS NAME BUT HE HAS BUILT A GREAT DEFENCE THERE.
longDawg
December 21st, 2009
12:32 pm
Kirby or Will would be great but if not them all of this Bumpas Bumpas made me look at him closer and he might make a really great DC with our talent pool but I have faith in CMR and just believe we are going to get the right man for the dawg nation
Law Dawg
December 21st, 2009
12:34 pm
Thanks for the response Bill. It seems to me that Smart would make the lateral move to UGA as DC with the designation of CMR’s successor. Heck, maybe even Muschamp would entertain a truly lateral move (DC and Successor Head Coach) to UGA. UGA could likley offer a lower annual salary coupled to such a designtion. However, I seriously doubt that UGA would entertain making such an offer. UGA will end up with a “rising star” from D2 or D3 school.
kurula
December 21st, 2009
12:34 pm
i’m not worried about the search. i think that they actually have someone in mind and all the rumors are just to get the media and fans stirred up. richt said that they will wait until the bowls wrap up and they probably won’t announce anything until the first week after the national championship…i wouldn’t rule out kirby smart. just sayin’….
F-105 Thunderchief
December 21st, 2009
12:34 pm
PHIL, it seems Bill is one of those – and there’s a lot of them on AJC blogs – who seem to want to believe the worst about the UGA football program right now. Oh well, like I said, it’s a free country.
hop
December 21st, 2009
12:35 pm
HEY Bill… keep stirring the pot, the key for richt was his comment that it might take until the first week in january,but ole bill beginning to sound more and more like his cohorts with the ajc.
also evans stated that uga will not let money stand in the way, he is either a liar or a man of his word.
the guy who went to the Illinois for only $350,ooo, i believe if uga wanted him they could have had him, but he was not the one.
Roadrunner
December 21st, 2009
12:37 pm
Got to agree with the suggestion at giving Middle Tennessee State’s DC a look. That team played inspired, played over their heads, made adjustments after falling behind 14-0, and almost totally shut down Southern Miss after that. Seriously Coach Richt, take a look at this guy!
Barnacle Bill Bavasi
December 21st, 2009
12:37 pm
Division 2 or Division 3? Uh, yeah, that ain’t happening. Those guys seasons are done right now and he’d have named them. That’d be almost like Gerry Faust going from high school to Notre Dame and you see how that worked out.
alldawgsgotohell
December 21st, 2009
12:38 pm
TO SHREVEPORT WE GO!!!!
TO SHREVEPORT WE GO!!!
HI HO A CRAPPY BOWL
TO SHREVEPORT WE GO!!!
dawgfan4life
December 21st, 2009
12:42 pm
Tommy Tuberville would be a perfect fit as Georgia new DC/LB coach and David Pollack as the DE coach. Tuberville was successful at Aurburn with there defense always stayed in the top in scoring defense and rush defense.
We pulled your stinger out and stomped it flat,again!
December 21st, 2009
12:42 pm
All dogs, and GT since 51, we still stomp your tail 8 out of 10 games per decade, and our defense still dominated the ACC champs. Again, there will be more at the big Indy bowl wearing red and black than the jackets will have at the OBOWL. You couldn’t even sell out the ACC championship game, so run your mouth all you want, we run this state, and probabally the company for which you work. Shine my shoes son!
alldawgsgotohell
December 21st, 2009
12:44 pm
Richt just called me, he can’t make a decision without the players’ okay first. It’s up to them as usual
DOG FAN
December 21st, 2009
12:44 pm
cmr already has his man for the job and bill you dont really think vk was offered do you i mean come on cmr already had his man leave it alone i think it is muschamp or bumpas so just wait until the 1st week of jan likeeeeeee cmr said didnt he say that more than once but yall dont understand what that means
Carty Seay
December 21st, 2009
12:44 pm
Enter your comments here
alldawgsgotohell
December 21st, 2009
12:45 pm
Dawgs run this state!!! What else do they have, they certainly aren’t playing on a national stage!!! Embarassed by bugs!!! BBBBBBWAWAWAWAWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
(((((((((((((((((( SHREVEPORT )))))))))))))))))
ROTFLMFAO!!!!!!!!!!
alldawgsgotohell
December 21st, 2009
12:46 pm
((((((((((((((((( 11-2 > 7-5 )))))))))))))))))))
BBBBBBBBWAWAWAWAWAHAHAHAHAHAQHAH
DOG FAN
December 21st, 2009
12:49 pm
mack browns 10yr extension was the best thing that could have happened to uga these thinds have a way of working out
Terry
December 21st, 2009
12:50 pm
Why does everyone think Coach Richt is going to pick one of these coaches that have been rumored? He could pick an unknown like when he hire Brain VanGorder.