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
Tokyo jacket
January 9th, 2010
7:37 pm
Now, trash talking aside, I think that having Groh on the flats helps us beat at least one of Iowa, Miami, or UGA with the staff we had this year – maybe two or even all three. That means he makes us better. I believe that he will help develop our existing players into better players. Also, at his age, he’s probably not looking for another gig; so it will be coach as long as he wants to.
If we’re able to get Groh, I think it would almost offset the players we’re going to lose to the NFL this year. I really look forward to watching Tech next year.
With all the talk of DC, let’s not forget what CPJ did on O at Navy. From year one to year two, they scored 10 more ppg. From year two to year three, they scored 11 more ppg. GT scored 11 more ppg from year one to year two. Improving upon the nation’s #11 scoring offense slightly and improving our defense slightly could be the difference between 11-3 and 13-1 or 14-0. It keeps getting better for GT.
Bobbi Dud
January 9th, 2010
7:39 pm
Not a good hire!
alabama
January 9th, 2010
7:42 pm
ONLY TWO GOOD TEAMS IN THE SEC BAMA AND FLA. You bullpups can,t and won,t beat either of us.You spell loser GEORGIA BULLPUPS.yOU WILL NEVER BEAT BAMA AGAIN.Maybe you can keep beating vandy, maybe.
UGA A
January 9th, 2010
7:46 pm
Bill… you said that UGA fans were morons for believing that Smart was a good Def. Coord. at Alabama. You said that Saban coaches the defense. Bill are you on staff at Alabama?, are you on the team?, are you the P.R. man for Alabama?
So how do you know who coaches the defense! I do have a friend, Lance Thompson, that has coached with Saban at two schools. And that would be L.S.U. and Alabama before moving to UT this past year.In fact,he was recruiter coord. and LB coach. He has told me and other friends that Saban is in on the gameplan but lets his coaches coach! And that the def. coaches, primarly the def. coord., calls the plays. And if you watch the game you see Smart calling the plays!
So Bill I know techies are known for talking before they know the facts, but you look like the moron now! You would be better served to stick to whatever you do good! It cetainly is not football!
Staring Small Johnson and the Ga Tech WANNA BEEZ!!!
January 9th, 2010
7:48 pm
30-24 blah ha ha ha ha h
Next years national title contender blah ha ha ha ha ha ha h
IOWA spanking blah ha ha ha ha ha ha
Lost to UGA in basketball BLAHA HA HA HA HA
Tech a real sports program BLAH HA HAHA HA HA AH
TECH a WANNA BE MIT NOW THATS PRICELESS
Beef Cake
January 9th, 2010
7:48 pm
Ah hear David Green is now selling Avon products! So much for a uga education, he he he ha ha.
alabama
January 9th, 2010
7:48 pm
Come on dog fans tell us who you beat and where you finished in the rankings, oh forgot you didn,t make the top 25. BAMA NO. 1 HA, HA, HA, HA,.Losers ,tell us who you beat in the sec vandy, ha,ha,ha.you guys are really good,couldn,t even beat Kentucky.
Marks Richt
January 9th, 2010
7:48 pm
This is all very confusing.
The bugs are going after Groh.
I will just have to bring Willie back. My hairdresser said it was never Willie`s fault.
Oh dear.
McG
January 9th, 2010
7:48 pm
Via Twitter: BFeldmanESPN: RT @bulldogsblog UGA has made sizeable offer to #Bama’s Kirby Smart but neither uga nor kirby confirm. I’m told he has not yet accepted.
Al Groh to GT as DC - VolNation
January 9th, 2010
7:50 pm
[...] Groh to GT as DC Tech is close to a deal with Groh to coach its defense | Mark Bradley __________________ BEM "V-O-L-S Go Vols [...]
The Other St. Simons
January 9th, 2010
7:53 pm
I wonder if Groh is a better DC than head Coach. He has sucked everywhere.
30-24.
alabama
January 9th, 2010
7:58 pm
Beez tell us who you beat in the sec that was somebody, forgot you only beat the doormats in the conference brag when you do something in sec.And finish in the top ten ,you guys are donei ts BAMA baby no 1.Your not even in top 25 finished below gt your embarrassing the sec.
GT-Shizzle
January 9th, 2010
7:58 pm
I was talking to a Dallas Cowboys fan before Wommack got fired and was saying we definitely need to do something different on D. I even mentioned the 3-4 alignment. With TJ Barnes, Logan Wall, Jason Peters and JC Lanier at 3 positions then all those DE’s we recruited last year, Izaan Cross, E Dieke, Ebinewe etc.. to play the outside positions (kind of like Jason Taylor playing one of these spots on the Dolphins (he was a DE)). Then the middle will just be played by our normal LB’s. I like the alignment as a change of attitude and as a way to get more size on the field at one time to stop the run. Hopefully that will help our secondary.
dogfan
January 9th, 2010
8:00 pm
I hope Richt has someone on the radar. Need to know soon.
UGA A
January 9th, 2010
8:00 pm
With CPJ and Groh on the same staff it should make for a interesting press conference. They are both as dry as dust! And no I don’t think they know how to coach either! But as a UGA fan I love the techies choice! Hire him and whatever you do keep CPJ!!! Sadly, I don’t think anyone wants CPJ(aka Coach Susan) anyway!
alabama
January 9th, 2010
8:02 pm
Saint Simon you guys suck even worse he is losing with a recruiting class in 100,s you guys are losing with top ten classes so whos the real loser maybe uga, that would be right.
alabama
January 9th, 2010
8:10 pm
When you can beat a good sec team let me know, like BAMA, or FLA, brag about it do something in the sec.Spurrier is right you guys can,t coach talent top ten class every year but you don,t have a coach.CPJ already beat you once with Gaileys recruits imagine what he will do to you with his on ,i mean Gailey couldn,t beat you if that guy dosen,t drop the pass pt would have been two in a row.Stop embarrassing the sec.
Shawn
January 9th, 2010
8:14 pm
Pretty embarassing for uga to still not have a def coord while fla does and gt is about to get an excellent one.
Other posters are right. Saban runs that defense. Smart is just there for show. And if he does leave for a demotion, he’s a idiot.
UGA A
January 9th, 2010
8:14 pm
alabuma …. put your teeth in the jar and go to bed!!! nobody wants to hear your ignorance!!
UGA A
January 9th, 2010
8:16 pm
Shawn… where did you get your info.? thats right.. Saban calls you every week and “fills you in”
Shawn
January 9th, 2010
8:18 pm
No, it’s called watching the game dumazz.
UGA A
January 9th, 2010
8:20 pm
Your logic, and I really don’t think you have any, is that Smart should then go where he can run a defense! Nobody wants to be a puppet! Tell you what! Since you guys are so well connected call Saban and ask him!
I’m waiting!
UGA A
January 9th, 2010
8:21 pm
I watch the games and Smart clearly calls the plays! But maybe I get better reception than you do in the trailor park!
The Good Ol Blog » Blog Archive » AJC Says Groh Close To GT Deal
January 9th, 2010
8:22 pm
[...] blog that Al Groh is close to a deal to become Georgia Tech’s defensive coordinator. Read it here. Of course, in that same post it quotes GT coach Paul Johnson downplaying the Groh [...]
UGA A
January 9th, 2010
8:23 pm
Better things to do than talk to idiot bama fans! See you! I will go to the DAWG blog now where the IQ will immediately triple !!!!
SuperB
January 9th, 2010
8:24 pm
Better hope he can coach– ’cause he can’t recruit. I live in Virginia and Al ran the Cavaliers into the ground. VT has outrecruited him at every turn. Check out The Roanoke Times top 50 HS prospects to see what I mean.
Alabama Jack
January 9th, 2010
8:24 pm
The only thing dawgs run is their mouth and for that there is pepto-bismol.
Tired of BS
January 9th, 2010
8:26 pm
A new decade, a new DC, a new era in GT football. Go Jackets!
Alabama Jack
January 9th, 2010
8:27 pm
First ESPN 2010 rankings out – Tech is 13th, dawgs 23rd.
Get A Life
January 9th, 2010
8:28 pm
Didn’t GT win the National Championship in the 90’s? When was the last time UGA won it?
Who Cares!!
January 9th, 2010
8:28 pm
I don’t care who we hire. Our D can’t get any worse and new blood (whether its Groh) will spark new life into a pathetic D. And for those who say the option doesn’t work….GT adjusted and outgained Iowa by 180 yards in the 3rd quarter alone. GT had chances to win but didn’t get it done. It was NOT b/c of the option. It was b/c of poor execution and stupid penalties/turnovers/missed FG.
You are pathetic to think the option won’t work. An ACC title, BCS birth, and consecutive season where we rolled up 20 plus points on the VAUNTED UGA..and finished 2nd in total rushing offense in the NATION…I’d call that success. THose who say it won’t work have never played a down of football in your lives. PERIOD. GO back to wearing your walmart UGA jerseys you bunch of bandwagon armchair quarterbacks. You couldn’t make the varsity team so you contend with hanging on to phony hope that CPJ’s offense won’t work.
Alabama Jack
January 9th, 2010
8:29 pm
Former Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville has been named the next football coach at Texas Tech, the school announced Saturday.
His deal is for five years and in the range of $2 million a year, a source told ESPN.com’s Chris Low.
“It’s great to be back in the game again,” Tuberville told ESPN.com’s Ivan Maisel when reached on his cell phone in Auburn, Ala.
Texas Tech made the offer, and Tuberville accepted, a little before 2 p.m. EST.
UGAIsSoLastYear
January 9th, 2010
8:43 pm
Wonder what players from UVA will come to Tech with Groh!!?? Hopefully some gr8 defensive players! 9 wins in 2008, 11 in 2009 – 2010 is looking good!!!!
We Run This State
January 9th, 2010
8:44 pm
Who Cares, LSU, Miami, UGA, and Iowa proved that as long as you play assignment defense, the option just doesn’t cut it. With just this one factor, I bet the 2010 GSU Panthers could even beat Tech.
Right
January 9th, 2010
8:46 pm
We Run this state… You hit the nail on the head. Assignment football and good penetration by the defensive line and they are hopeless.
UGAIsSoLastYear
January 9th, 2010
8:47 pm
UGA and Miami games were both flukes as was the Iowa game. GT played horribly. Funny thing is as horrible as GT played in the UGA and Iowa games, we were still in a position to win it at the end. Says more about UGA and Iowa then it does about GT. Johnson’s 1st year was 9 wins. 2nd year waqs 11. You see the writing on the wall – that is why so many of you come in here to blog. You are all so transparent and you don’t even realize it.
FartsALotDawg
January 9th, 2010
8:48 pm
Anybody hungry?
Right
January 9th, 2010
8:49 pm
The only chance tech is going to have will be by having a shutout defense. CPJ, you might just want to sneak an extra player or two on defense because your offense is going to be your downfall.
FartsALotDawg
January 9th, 2010
8:49 pm
I make a mean chili pie.
Right
January 9th, 2010
8:51 pm
UGAissolastyear, are you serious? Tech had Duke (may as well be a bye), a bye week, and still couldn’t stop UGA at HOME. Tech played how many teams with a winning record this year??
UGAIsSoLastYear
January 9th, 2010
8:53 pm
We played enough teams to be ranked the 13th best team overall whereas UGA was not ranked. U sorry ass!!!
YellowJacket
January 9th, 2010
8:54 pm
Either your team is ranked or it isn’t. It’s that simple. If your team isn’t ranked you should probably shut your ignorant hillbilly mouth and go practice some more.
Not a good choice
January 9th, 2010
8:54 pm
I am a Tech fan through and through and I do agree that the more teams that see this offense the easier it will be to stop. Look how many teams are running it now. I say forget the DC and get a new head coach… Even Jim Mora Jr
Right
January 9th, 2010
8:56 pm
Try playing in a tough conference and see how YOU would fare… 4 national titles in a row. Where are you ACC? Nuff said about your sub .500 teams tech played.
YellowJacket
January 9th, 2010
8:57 pm
@Not a good choice,
You’re not a Tech fan you’re an ignorant leg humper.
Right
January 9th, 2010
8:57 pm
How about 30-24 in Bobby Dodd stadium as our ranking hahahahaha
YellowJacket
January 9th, 2010
8:58 pm
@Right,
Your team isn’t ranked, we don’t care what you think, why don’t you go sniff the Gym Dawgs
UGAIsSoLastYear
January 9th, 2010
8:58 pm
Not a good choice. . . U are not a Tech fan. We won 9 in 2008, 11 in 2009. We won 7 every year with Chan. Johnson is doing great with players who were recruited by Chan to play a totally different offense. Wait until his recruits start maturing. 12 or 13 wins a year is highly likely.
Tokyo jacket
January 9th, 2010
9:00 pm
blazerdawg, great comment. I really would like to see an 11-0 vs 11-0 matchup two days after thanksgiving from time to time….you know ESPN is going to cover the red river shootout regardless of how good those teams are, because of tradition. I think if we could get to the point where COFH was the game day game year in and year out, both of our programs would be in good shape.
For that to happen though, you guys are going to have to beat UF from time to time and we’re going to have to win bowl games.
UGAIsSoLastYear
January 9th, 2010
9:00 pm
GT is ranked! UGA is just rank! PS UGA: will be looking for you in next week’s basketball rankings too.