The Richt contract extension: What’s the magic number?
Checking to see how many more seasons he has in his pocket. (AJC photo by Jason Getz)
Georgia wants to keep Mark Richt and Richt wants to stay. What’s left are details. But details are important, contractually speaking.
Richt’s existing contract runs through 2013, so it isn’t as if he’s a free-agent-to-be. Presumably AD Greg McGarity will offer a raise and an extension, which brings us to the heart of those details. How many more years?
This is a concern not without nuance. Too short an extension sends one message; too long sends another. Here would seem the alternatives:
One more year: This wouldn’t so much be an extension as a very gentle pat on the back. It essentially would say, “We like what you did this season, but we want to see more.” Outsiders would interpret this as McGarity feeling the rise to 10-3 from 6-7 was less a function of coaching than scheduling. A one-year extension won’t happen because it would undercut Richt almost as much as no extension.
Two more years: This would push Richt’s deal through the 2015 season, which is a good ways off and, for recruiting purposes, would allow him to assure current recruits he has a measure of job security through their college careers. Unless, that is, they redshirt. And if they’re not good enough to plays as freshmen, who wants them? (Kidding!)
Three more years: This is the most-rumored extension, and it would make some sense. Five-year contracts are the industry standard. (Even Paul Hewitt had a five-year contract, the difference being that his never stopped being a five-year contract.) This would be a virtual mandate for Richt, but a virtual mandate might be overdoing it. Does one bounceback season override two lesser ones? Will a different schedule — Georgia is scheduled to play at South Carolina and Alabama next season, though speculation holds that SEC newbie Missouri will take the Tide’s place — yield a less desirable result? Is McGarity, who hasn’t negotiated with Richt before, prepared to make the statement: “This is the only coach we want or are ever going to want”?
Four more years or beyond: Too long for any coach, even one who has won his division four times in 11 seasons. Skeptics among us — and they still exist — would note that Richt hasn’t won the SEC since 2005 and has never taken his team to the BCS title game. (Got close a couple of times, though.)
Were I McGarity, I’d open with a two-year offer but count on settling for three. Richt is still a handsome commodity in an industry where big-name schools have been reduced to hiring the likes of Jim Mora (UCLA) and Charlie Weis (Kansas). There’s no reason to tick off such a bird in hand.
By opening with a two-year bid, McGarity would make the point that Georgia likes and supports this coach but wants him to consolidate the gains made in 2011 and have even bigger seasons soon. By settling for three, McGarity comes off as erring on the side of his coach, which is the side an AD needs to choose unless he’s about to fire him.
Georgia fans could and should be enthused by the developments of the past four months. A team that was losing almost every in-doubt game found ways to win 10 times running. That said, the Bulldogs did lose to the three best teams they played, and only one of those losses wound up being close. For as far as Georgia came in 2011, there’s still a ways to go.
The good news is that Georgia again has reason to believe Richt is the man to take it there. He deserves a reward. But a reward isn’t the same as a lifetime contract. The aforementioned Hewitt got one of those, and seven years later Georgia Tech had to pay dearly to make him go away.
By Mark Bradley
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
561 comments Add your comment
harold
December 15th, 2011
2:37 pm
Give Grantham the head coach job, put Rick back on OC, and get Willie back for DC ha ha ha
AltamahaDawg
December 15th, 2011
2:39 pm
SSI, gonna cut and paste all your zingers on Chip’s blog tonight?
SSIgator
December 15th, 2011
2:41 pm
ARdawg -
“Mediocracy isn’t rewarded anywhere”
Really? Isn’t Mark “I can win games – just not the big games” Richt in contract extension talks with UGA right now? Or did I read the above article incorrectly?
JB
December 15th, 2011
2:41 pm
Great news about the vaccine being developed at UGA to cure some forms of cancer. Maybe when someone at Tech or their family or a love has their life spared with this new vaccine, they will get off their high horse about UGa folks working at Mcdonalds etc. Great work UGA.
WDE
December 15th, 2011
2:42 pm
@GTBob did you see how well his backup’s played ? If you did you know he was in for a reason, he was their best chance to win.
Gorilla Biscuit
December 15th, 2011
2:42 pm
GTBob, in light of the season you are “..an undigested bit of beef, a blot of mustard, a crumb of cheese, a fragment of an underdone potato.
Why surprised at 10 wins?
December 15th, 2011
2:42 pm
Some of you let your dislike of Georgia cloud your better judgement and act surprised that UGA won ten games. In 7 of 11 seasons, Richt has double digit victory totals. The 6 win season was the anomaly, and many non-Dog posters acted like it would be the norm. Sorry to disappoint you, but the Dogs are back on the national stage, much to your dismay.
G-Dawg
December 15th, 2011
2:42 pm
Harold…please dont mention that name around here..Willie!! LOL thats like nails on a chalkboard!!
Billy
December 15th, 2011
2:44 pm
The difference is really simple. There are two sides, one group is so afraid that the program will suffer and we might have transition years where we win fewer games. Most of the CMR supporters admit that their main concern is their fear. Yes they are afraid. Then there is the other group that supports CMR as long as we are convenced he is capable of winning at a high level and also capable of biulding a program where reaching a national championship game is in reach. This group understands that one of our main concerns a year ago was that CMR had begun a trend where his record against quality football teams was starting to be consistantly poor. This season while the ten win run was nice, we actually worsened our record against quality football teams. It is too early for a big extension.
JB
December 15th, 2011
2:44 pm
SSIgator……….it’s tough on you being mediocre now isn’t it? You’re not handling what’s happening to your team very well are you? you think it’ll be better next year. Who do you have coming back to make your little team better? I don’t see it.
SAL
December 15th, 2011
2:45 pm
You are kidding about dropping Alabama for Missouri aren’t you????????
AltamahaDawg
December 15th, 2011
2:45 pm
Contract extension are not meant as “rewards”. So yes, you must have read the article incorrectly.
Billy
December 15th, 2011
2:45 pm
10 wins against poor teams hardly puts us back to the national stage
ARdawg
December 15th, 2011
2:47 pm
SSI
10 games off of a 6-7 season isn’t mediocracy. You would have given your left testicle for 10 Florida wins this year and you know it. 6-6 is mediocracy
Lakedawg
December 15th, 2011
2:47 pm
Billy—-Dawg fans don’t give a crap about what you think.
G-Dawg
December 15th, 2011
2:49 pm
Too bad Billy like to point fingers from behind closed doors. He doesnt want anyone to know what true colors he wears? Come out and play Billy, dont be scared!!
JB
December 15th, 2011
2:49 pm
Billy, Richt is the coach, not the schedule maker. All he can do is play who they tell him to play. I do remember this year quotes on here by the haters like ” ya’ll aren’t man enough to beat MSU…and Ya’ll have Auburn this week and finally some SEC players to go up against” etc. Then AFTER we won, we were told they weren’t any good anyway…..GEEZ.
PaulieOldSchool
December 15th, 2011
2:49 pm
Sorry, boys, can’t drink the Kool Aid anymore. One decent year does not wipe away the last 2 horrible years in my mind. And there is and has been no change in this person’s lack of control of his players’ conduct off the field. Any extension is too long for too much. But since I’m shouting against the wind, I extend thru 2015 but your OC has to go and DC has to make changes or is gone, too.
DerringDo
December 15th, 2011
2:49 pm
Todd Grantham should be the head coach at UGA..
SSIgator
December 15th, 2011
2:49 pm
Why surprised at 10 wins? -
“Sorry to disappoint you, but the Dogs are back on the national stage”
Yes, they sure are. And we all saw the results – 42-10. Kind of like the last “national stage” vs Alabama, at home no less, down 31-0 at the half. Yes sir, give that man a raise and an extension for great performances like those.
david
December 15th, 2011
2:50 pm
lol– figure how man points were scored ON the defense dork master– TG cant do much about kick returns and int’s for 6
WDE
December 15th, 2011
2:51 pm
@Billy who hit a little snag in your augment when you realize CMR is the most successful head coach to ever coach at UGA. And 2-3 years is not a Big extension but will give us the stability we need in recruiting.
DerringDo
December 15th, 2011
2:51 pm
Mark Richt would make a better head coach at a school where winning the NC is unimportant.
DawgDays
December 15th, 2011
2:51 pm
McGarity, in a recent Q&A, has already stated his position on this issue. He wants coaches, staff, et al to be a little edgy, and doesnt believe long term contracts provide the right kind of incentive to stay hungry and push for excellence. He said longer term contracts naturally breed a little contentment, which he wants to negate.
So if the contract extension isnt as long as people expect, dont read too many negatives into it, but rather understand McGarity’s philopsophy. Too bad Bradley couldn’t connect those dots….
G-Dawg
December 15th, 2011
2:53 pm
We’re definitely not on the national stage, but progress is beind made…and not regressing like some programs!! Not our fault they didnt prepare themselves in the long run.
Hammer
December 15th, 2011
2:53 pm
Make all negotiations contingent on FIRING MIKE BOBO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
JB
December 15th, 2011
2:53 pm
Gators,Auburn and Tenn all in a tail spin. gonna be awhile. The worm has turned and the lump in their throat is showing….. And why ANYBODY from TECH would be on here poking is beyond me. 10 of 11 and that will not change.We will always be to athletic to lose to Tech.
gomdawg
December 15th, 2011
2:56 pm
Billy, simple you know football you look at who Alabama played this year team for team there is not a lot of diff. you look at most teams LSU played more top 25 teams. that life so get over it.GO DAWGS WE ARE PROUD OF YOU
SSIgator
December 15th, 2011
2:56 pm
WDE -
Believe me, I am on your side with this contract extension business. I say sign him up for as long as you can. UF and the rest of the SEC football programs will send their thanks.
JB
December 15th, 2011
2:56 pm
Wonder what Bobo thinks about Clemson giving this OC 1.3 mil a year 3 years removed from the high school ranks? and multi year to I believe. YIKES !
ARdawg
December 15th, 2011
2:57 pm
Keeping a coach at a 4 year deal is the minimum in Div 1 even if he is perceived as on the hot seat. It’s all about image and projection. Like it or not that’s the way it is. You can blame sports management or your nieces aunt twice removed on their mothers side with the left handed lesbian girl friends, makes no matter.
DocDawg
December 15th, 2011
2:57 pm
I’m not sold. Schedule was easy and when we played good teams we got whupped. Next year, the schedule is also easy, as the Tide will be dropped for Missouri. We are in a sweet spot where winning the East is almost too easy. The Vols are in utter disarray. Florida is down. So we will appear to be good, until the moment of truth in the SEC Championship game.
Billy
December 15th, 2011
2:58 pm
And RE Bobo: To you all requesting that he be fired. Get THIS CMR likes Bobo, he supports him and thinks that he is doing a great job, so if you want Bobo gone which he should be CMR has to go. Another weakness of CMR is that he is poor at evaluating his players and coaches. Fans have been screaming since year one of Bobo that he is not a good OC. Everyone knows this except CMR. OK?
AltamahaDawg
December 15th, 2011
2:58 pm
Billy, the idea that “Most of the CMR supporters admit that their main concern is their fear”, is completely ridiculous. You base what “most” folks think on what exactly? I doubt even a small percentage of the Bulldawg nation, would list fear as their motive for supporting CMR, The only time I even see something mentioned about (unintended consequences of making a change) it is typically in response to the argument that anyone would be better, or some “latest name” love affair (IE Dan Mullen) is pushed out there.
SSIgator
December 15th, 2011
2:59 pm
AltamahaDawg -
Goood Lord man, Bradley wrote the article, not me. Go nit pick with him.
AltamahaDawg
December 15th, 2011
3:00 pm
Billy, the idea that “Most of the CMR supporters admit that their main concern is their fear” is completely ridiculous.
JB
December 15th, 2011
3:01 pm
Doc, agree to a point, but that first half against LSU gives me hope. That was no accident. Yes, the second half was surprising and unacceptable, but the ability of these players, with 17 coming back, is a million miles from the two previous years. Yes, next year looks promising, and we may feel what Auburn felt a few years ago. We may run the table next year and be told we are not worthy.
Billy
December 15th, 2011
3:01 pm
@DocDawg: I hope you are right, but it is possible that the next moments of truth ccould be Mich St and SC.
WDE
December 15th, 2011
3:02 pm
@SSIgator yep I’m for a 5 year extension for both of our head coaches.
AltamahaDawg
December 15th, 2011
3:03 pm
Well ok. Had he said that, I might. As it stands, I’ll just correct you.
JB
December 15th, 2011
3:03 pm
Billy, the only thing missing for Richt is a National title. He has a better winning percentage IN THE SEC than Miles or Saban. Look it up.
AltamahaDawg
December 15th, 2011
3:06 pm
Billy, the idea that “Most of the CMR supporters admit that their main concern is their fear” is just completely made up, not even close.
Bad Dawg
December 15th, 2011
3:06 pm
I say no extension, let him coach until 2013 and reevaluate his coaching performance then. He has done nothing worthy of a contract extension based on the last 4-5 years.
Billy
December 15th, 2011
3:07 pm
Ok Ok, I don’t suggest he be fired, I am just not ready to start funneling the kool aid yet.
SSIgator
December 15th, 2011
3:08 pm
AltamahaDawg -
Last paragraph. Second line from the end.
Bad Dawg
December 15th, 2011
3:09 pm
JB, who cares about winning percentages? What about bringing home the crystal ball to Athens? I as a dawg fan and future alumni take zero satisfaction in winning 9-10 games a year and being second tier to all the other elite SEC programs.
Tom
December 15th, 2011
3:10 pm
2 or 3 years at most!
DocDawg
December 15th, 2011
3:11 pm
Losing to Michigan State puts us right back where we were last season. They’re not UCF, but c’mon. We’ve got to handle SC. There is no excuse for ceding the East to them when Tenn and Fla are as down as they are. He needs to be fired immediately if he loses that game. This extension talk is absurd. He didn’t beat anybody good, and got blown out by LSU. Even Tech wins 8 games most years. Gawd.
Billy
December 15th, 2011
3:13 pm
Right on Bad Dawg. I had a good friend that was an NC State fan that used to try to talk all kinds of vague percentages on how his team was so great. When you don’t win or play for a NC you are reduced to trying to be creative to find clever percentages to discuss to try to make yourself feel better. I am tired of doing that.
jascon
December 15th, 2011
3:13 pm
NO EXTENSION. Wait to see what happens next year when UGA has a real schedule.