Tech is close to a deal with Groh to coach its defense
Georgia Tech is close to an agreement with former Virginia head coach Al Groh to become the Yellow Jackets’ defensive coordinator, according to someone with knowledge of the situation. Tech coach Paul Johnson and Groh have discussed the position and plan to meet again, possibly before the weekend is out.
Asked if he and Groh were indeed close to an agreement, Johnson said Saturday: “No. Not really. I don’t know how this [talk of Groh] got started.”
Johnson attended Tech’s basketball game Saturday — the Jackets upset No. 5 Duke at Alexander Memorial Coliseum — and responded to the question at halftime.
Final agreement would likely come only after Johnson and Groh meet face to face.
Tech announced Friday that Dave Wommack, who served as Johnson’s defensive coordinator his two seasons here, would not be retained. Rumors had already begun to swirl about Groh, who was fired after eight seasons at Virginia, being in line as a replacement. Groh has been a defensive coordinator in the NFL.
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279 comments Add your comment
Andrew Travers
January 9th, 2010
6:44 pm
Some guys are simply better coordinators and position coaches than head coaches, where you are essentially a CEO.
Al Groh is a helluva defensive mind and would improve the D performance of this team 10 fold.
GTSUXREALLYBAD
January 9th, 2010
6:45 pm
Tech could hire anyone and will still suck next year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
4tix4dogs4cokes
January 9th, 2010
6:45 pm
Over the past month the Maggot Faithful have been spouting that there is no way that Smart leaves Bama for UGA….UGA has a bloated sense of self, etc.,….now that it is being finalized, the new Maggot narrative is that Smart was not really the DC at Bama…..too funny….predictable, but funny…..of course, now they will be touting the warmed over has been who was fired from Wake Forest, Jets and Va…..also, his defense at UVA this year was ranked #52 nationally in Total Defense…one spot ahead of GT at #53 and 14 spots behind the Willie Martinez UGA defense that was ranked #38……hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
mason
January 9th, 2010
6:46 pm
(( 30-24 )) UGA over GT
hahahahahaha
(( 73-66 )) UGA over GT
hahahahahaha
(( 24-14 )) IOWA over GT
hahahahahhaha
Sure sounds like a winning tradition to me.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!
Elmore Spencer
January 9th, 2010
6:46 pm
See, there’s NOOOOOOOOO such thing as global warming-Earth, 4.6 billion years old, hmmmmm recorded weather data (120-130 years),get the picture, don’t let the main stream media fool you
They can tell what the weather was like a long time ago. Its called Science.
Sane Dawg96
January 9th, 2010
6:47 pm
Glad to hear Groh is coming to Tech. I hope we get someone as good or better! It’s good for the state for Tech to do well and I think Johnson is set to make sure he corrects any obvious weaknesses before going into next season. Whether we get Smart, the Dallas guy, or someone none of us have heard of, I see good things ahead in our rivalry. I do acknowledge that Johnson did a better job of not waiting too long to pull the trigger on definite weak spot than CMR did. But, I still take CMR any day of the week even if Tech has the hot coach right now.
McG
January 9th, 2010
6:48 pm
I don’t see this as just a high profile hire that some people might be worrying about. Al Groh is a great coach. I like it. BTW.. Dawg fans, go help mom take stuff to the dump or just roll over and go back to sleep. PEACE!
Elmore Spencer
January 9th, 2010
6:49 pm
Dawg fans, go help mom take stuff to the dump or just roll over and go back to sleep. PEACE!
Nah. We are busy thinking up new sports we will kick your tails at.
Techs Biggest Fan.."UGA"
January 9th, 2010
6:50 pm
can’t complain,every year he seems to Improve. He seems to thrive on nae-sayers. I’ve also heard that he gives credit to others when its due. He said lots of good things about most everyone he has coached against. He is a great coach and we are lucky to have him. Nice pick up coach.
hey Spence, that was close. nice game …tough luck. They will win plenty with Fox as coach.
HokieHIGH
January 9th, 2010
6:50 pm
You guys better stop talkin UGA and start talkin VT….
You don’t stand a chance against us next year … Al Groh … HA!
I guess one more loser on the flats can’t hurt!
HOKIE HOKIE HIGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Steve
January 9th, 2010
6:50 pm
Decent hire, better than Wommack. As usual, the Tech fans on here are talking about the one or two victories over Georgia in the past, or the possibility of one or two more victories in the upcoming decade. Everyone has to have a dream I guess.
I will take a DC holding a clipboard for Nick Saban over a coach who defenses were only good back before the spread offenses started hitting college football. Groh is a good coach, but his philosophy has always been to let the other team come to him (bend but don’t break). I am just not sure that is good enough with all these high-powered offenses in the college game today .. it sure didn’t work for Martinez.
Do you think Groh is coming to Tech to learn? No. then why do you think UGA wants to bring Smart in to learn? Smart wouldn’t be coming to UGA to learn, if he comes, which I seriously doubt at this point. Smart would be coming here to show what he has already learned, and hopefully build on that.
We Run This State
January 9th, 2010
6:50 pm
Techman, First I have to say that Tech was WAYYYY over rated. How many teams did the bees even play with a winning record?? Second, 30-24 and 73-66. Beating Tech is much sweeter than a ranking. Let me say it. State Champions!!
Al Grow
January 9th, 2010
6:51 pm
Al Groh is a helluva defensive mind and would improve the D performance of this team 10 fold.
Yet he was just fired from a pathetic program. Nuff said.
Big Dawg 97
January 9th, 2010
6:51 pm
This will not bake any difference.
‘UGA owns GT.
4tix4dogs4cokes
January 9th, 2010
6:51 pm
Reality — Yep, you are right “Groh had a hell-uv-a defense at UVA” it was indeed hellish…..so hellish that it was ranked #52 in Total Defense this year, a full 14 spots worse than the Willie Martinez led UGA defense. However, you do have this bit of good news to chew on…..if Groh can work his UVA magic at Tech, he can improve your defense from #53 all the way up to where he had UVA this year — #52
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha — “hell-uv-a defense” — hahahahahahahahahahah
pragmatic meteorologist
January 9th, 2010
6:51 pm
Hey Spencer, you’re what makes the world go round and round, thanks for the info.
Techmaster
January 9th, 2010
6:52 pm
Mason,,,GT finished the season ranked 13th in the nation. What about UGA? Where they a ranked team?
collegeballfan
January 9th, 2010
6:52 pm
GT. Al Groh would be a really good hire. Only question, does he still have the fire in his belly. The stats on his teams when he has been DC are exceptional.
UGA. You do not want Smart. Saban runs the defense at Alabama same as he did at NFL Miami & LSU. You want to hire a DC who has been there.
Smart is a DC in Name Only (DCINO for you political types).
You want the guy at the NFL Dallas team.
—————–
You UGA grads – please go out and support Fox and his team. They took UK to the wire. He is a really fine coach but will move on if you sorry UGA fans continue to stay home at game time.
willie martinez
January 9th, 2010
6:52 pm
Dave Wommack and i are forming a new club. Defensive Coordinators Who Got the Shaft.
Elmore Spencer
January 9th, 2010
6:52 pm
Hey Spencer, you’re what makes the world go round and round, thanks for the info.
Anytime man anytime. Just trying to help
We Run This State
January 9th, 2010
6:56 pm
Techmaster…. First I have to say that Tech was WAYYYY over rated. How many teams did the bees even play with a winning record?? Second, 30-24 and 73-66. Beating Tech is much sweeter than a ranking. Let me say it. State Champions!!
UGA Fan
January 9th, 2010
6:57 pm
I’m sick and tired of UGA fans talking about we run this state. That’s something a high school team should be talking about. What about aspiring to be like Alabama, Florida, LSU, Auburn? Hell did even finish ranked in the nation.
CPJ
January 9th, 2010
7:00 pm
Now that we fired the DC let’s get rid of the OC and that high school offense. Oops, that’s me!
WPinAZ
January 9th, 2010
7:00 pm
I’ll say again…..we have 2 325lbs+ DT on the roster now, one will be a sophomore, the other a redshirt freshmen. IF they can be coached up AT ALL, then I say we can run a 3-4 pretty good with our current linebackers. If they can’t………..
Aside from that, I like the choice. Al Groh is an excellent football coach with an NFL success pedigree. I like it.
GO JACKETS!!!
We Run This State
January 9th, 2010
7:01 pm
UGA fan, if you are sick and tired of it, move west. The fact remains that the dawgs OWN tech. Suck it up buttercup!
Techs Biggest Fan.."UGA"
January 9th, 2010
7:02 pm
collegeballfan “You UGA grads – please go out and support Fox and his team. They took UK to the wire. He is a really fine coach but will move on if you sorry UGA fans continue to stay home at game time.”
UGA is a football school. not much for Bball. and sadly most fans don’t know the address. Most have never been to UGA , even for a visit. Even more sad most have jumped ship and now pull for bamma. That includes my little brother, who for years has called himself and gone by the nickname “BIG DAWG”.
How cool would it be for every one wearing college swag to have attended. The world would be a smarter place.
SEC fan
January 9th, 2010
7:04 pm
Headline says ‘Close to a deal’, quote says, ‘no not really’. Mark, were you in the cups when you wrote this?
Dawgs run this state!
January 9th, 2010
7:04 pm
Tech has peaked and is headed back to the cellar. One loss to UGA and PJ is squirting his pants. Done fired the DC. There is a reason why teams abandoned the option years ago. And tech will soon abandon the option and PJ.
Only techies could be dumb enough to be excited about an option based offense in a major BCS conference.
'17,'28,'56,'90
January 9th, 2010
7:07 pm
We Run This State…So how was Shreveport and the $h!tter bowl by the way? Since UGA(y) fans are always the first to come whine about their pi$$ poor seasons on Tech blogs. It never gets old. You can’t say Groh wouldn’t have success as DC for the #13 team w/ at least-OK I’ll compromise-SOME talent as opposed to the amazing UVA recruits. Are you really gonna sit there and try to feed this BS that UVA and GT are one in the same? C’mon! I know you went to Georgia but I know even you’re not buying it.
Reggie Ball's Ghost
January 9th, 2010
7:09 pm
Welcome to Atlanta Mr. Groh.
Enjoy your two years…..or however long it takes Paul Johnson to blame you for the fact that his defense still can’t hit anybody.
Ezekiel
January 9th, 2010
7:14 pm
Groh is a very intriguing hire. In addition to his defensive expertise he could be an invaluable sounding board for Coach Johnson with his wealth of experience which of course includes many years in the ACC. Talk more Tech football at: http://www.bbuzzoff.com
flagboy?
January 9th, 2010
7:18 pm
no class.
I have stated on here that I respected Paul Johnson and his coaching ability. I still think he’s a great coach (if arrogant in that he won’t adjust his passing game to aid Nesbitt), but this stunt with Groh, if true, is classless.
GT man
January 9th, 2010
7:19 pm
Hope not—this guy is as old as me, 65 is not too good with the young recruits, rather go back fot Tenuta. Last so called “pro” coordinator, wind up being Gailey–still just hoping it dosent happen
Suspended SEC Officiating Crew works Orange Bowl
January 9th, 2010
7:20 pm
Enter your comments here
Is Groh really the best Tech can do?
January 9th, 2010
7:21 pm
Why on earth would Al Groh be a great hire? Guys, he was the head coach and the defensive guru (remember, his vaunted 3-4 defense) this year of a team that in losses gave up 26 (to William & Mary!!!!!), 30, 38, 34, 28, 52, 34 and 42. He may not have been the defensive coordinator but he was the man who installed the defense, picked the players for his system and is ultimately responsible for the game results. This is Willie Martinez-like. He followed a pseudo-legend in George Welsh at his alma mater and could not build the program successfully. He never won more than nine games as a head coach anywhere and his career record is under .500. In fact, Georgia’s total yards allowed last year was statistically better than Virginia’s and Tech’s ranking in the same category was just two spots below Virginia. Virginia gave up 358 yards of total offense per game this year and Georgia Tech gave up 360. I just don’t see how there is much of an improvement. Sure, the guy was a two-time coach of the year in the ACC but look at the two years that he won: 2002 and 2007. Those two years the team finished 9-5 and 9-3. Good records, but worse than Tech’s record this year. And, take out the 2007 season and Virginia’s last tree season records were 5-7, 5-7, and 3-9. Yikes. I would think that Tech would be good enough at this time to find a candidate that wasn’t just fired at his alma mater for not performing up to the standards of a school that has a weak football history. I know that he is considered a so-called “genius” but I just think that Tech can do better than to troll the ACC has-beens for coaching talent.
4tix4dogs4cokes
January 9th, 2010
7:21 pm
GT man — Tenuta would be a great hire, no make that a GREAT hire…..I thought he was especially effective the night he got torched 51-7
bugsquacher
January 9th, 2010
7:22 pm
hey tech, if Bradley tells you that this DC is good, run for your LIVES! remember he was the one that predicted tech would beat georgia and Iowa……. 30-24…….
4tix4dogs4cokes
January 9th, 2010
7:23 pm
Bring back Tenuta…..he was tremendous the night his D was torched 51-7….he would be a GREAT hire
Jeckyll Island
January 9th, 2010
7:27 pm
30-24!!!
30-24!!!
30-24!!!
30-24!!!
73-66!!!
73-66!!!
73-66!!!
73-66!!!
Not Disappointed
January 9th, 2010
7:29 pm
Al Groh has produced alot of defensive stars. This should interesting.
Ramblin Wreck for life!
Tech Fan
January 9th, 2010
7:30 pm
We just got physically manhandled in the Orange Bowl….Iowa whipped our butts!!!! The ACC is not near as tough as the Big Ten!!!! The ACC is finesse, like a ballet dancer…the Big Ten is brute strength and power like a well…a real man!
Lane Kiffin-1 Richt-0
January 9th, 2010
7:30 pm
Hey Mutts!
***45-19***
Tokyo jacket
January 9th, 2010
7:30 pm
To “we run this state,” GT had 4 victories over teams that won their bowls this year, a victory over a 10-win team, two 9-win teams, a victory over a team that was #4 and finished #10, and a huge road win. We lost to two teams that were both ranked in the top 10 at one point in the year and our archrival. No excuses, you beat us there.
By comparison, UGA only beat Tech (and according to most UGA fans we’re overrated and irrelevant). I guess the Auburn win was respectable. UGA only beat one team that won a bowl game this year – and that was in OT. That’s sad.
blazerdawg
January 9th, 2010
7:31 pm
Groh will be an excellent addition to Tech’s emerging program…if UGA gets Smart (or not), and Tech gets Groh, then the UGA/GT game in November is going to be awesome. THWTBig10/12
Johnny FuPa
January 9th, 2010
7:31 pm
Former Defensive Coordinator under Bill Parcells when the Patriots made the Super Bowl in the mid 90’s. Also a Successful Defensive Coordinator under Parcells with the Jets. I will take that Resume any day of the week!h
GTSteve
January 9th, 2010
7:33 pm
Groh, really…can’t Tech step up and hire a real d coordinator
Tech Man
January 9th, 2010
7:34 pm
We need someone with the mentality like Tenuta had when he was at Tech. Tech fans ignore the little pups!!They are mad because we got all the attention this year and they didn’t.Like CPJ said I got a short memory with the lost to ga.Hedges will be coming down in 2010!!!
Johnny FuPa
January 9th, 2010
7:36 pm
Former Defensive Coordinator under Bill Parcells when the Patriots made the Super Bowl in the mid 90’s. Also a Successful Defensive Coordinator under Parcells with the Jets. I will take that Resume any day of the week! LETS GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
alabama
January 9th, 2010
7:37 pm
you bulldogs are the losers top ten in recruiting every year can barley beat tech,was ranked no 13 in the nation did not make top 25.year before picked no 1 finished no 13 your coach can,t coachem up but coachem down .BAMA RULES YOU LOSERS.
Settle down
January 9th, 2010
7:37 pm
For all you Tech fans who keep talking about how most Georgia fans didn’t attend the school, settle down. I attended both Tech and UGA and they were both great experiences. But, these are both state schools and every person who pays taxes in this state personally pays for part of the educational experience that those who attend state schools receive. These tax payers are owners of the school and can cheer for whoever they want to cheer for. I know a lot of people who did not graduate from either school who are bigger fans than people I knew in college. In fact, some of the largest Tech fans are ones that never went to school there but have attached themselves to the school based on its academic excellence, sports tradition and location in Atlanta. In fact, we are all more allowed to be fans of the Georgia State teams and Kennesaw State teams and Southern Polytechnic State University teams because we help fund the school. We should have much more ties to all of our college teams in Georgia than our professional teams. Yet we all say things such as “I hope the Braves do well this year. We look good on paper.” When, in reality, they don’t belong to us half as much as these college teams do. We don’t own an ounce of the Hawks, Falcons, or Braves (unless we are stockholders of the conglomerate that owns the Braves) but all of us who pay taxes have contributed a little piece to every state school in Georgia.