It’s official: UGA’s Mark Richt is the World’s Greatest Boss
Deep pockets and a big heart: Some combination, eh? (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
Were I Georgia, I wouldn’t just “self-report” this “secondary violation.” I’d shout it from the mountaintops. I’d make it the first sentence in Mark Richt’s official bio, which would now read:
“Mark Richt, in his 11th season of coaching the Bulldogs, stamped himself the World’s Greatest Boss by paying staffers OUT OF HIS OWN POCKET!”
Excuse the capital letters, but sometimes major emphasis is required. This is one such moment. Some football coaches pay recruits. Georgia’s football coach dips into his personal finances to reward the guys who’ve worked for him. He committed a violation, all right. He showed the rest of us what it means to put (literal) money where your mouth is.
In so doing, Richt just made Georgia — unwittingly, but even unwitting actions have consequences — the program of choice should the Bulldogs ever have another opening for an assistant coach or a office go-fer. Richt felt so bad about firing Jon Fabris, a member of the defensive staff jettisoned in December 2009, that he gave Fabris $6,000 when he couldn’t find another job. Who does such a thing in this economy? Who does such a thing in any economy?
Some coaches have the reputation of being difficult to serve under. Richt just stamped himself as the coach you want to work for. We all knew he was a good guy, but this borders on sainthood. (”St. Mark of Athens, driver of Ford trucks and benefactor to unsung associates.”)
OK, it was technically a violation — a violation in the way that jaywalking to push somebody clear of a runaway bus is a legal misdemeanor. I think everyone can agree to let this one slide without penalty. Me, I’d consider giving Richt a raise for philanthropy, but that would kind of defeat the purpose, would it not?
By Mark Bradley
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268 comments Add your comment
But Seriously
December 21st, 2011
7:05 am
I’m just glad to know he’s good at something…
Spike
December 21st, 2011
7:13 am
GT Bob.. He sure is not very compassionate on your sorry ass team every year.
JARVIS JONES
December 21st, 2011
7:35 am
thats why i returned
Scrooge
December 21st, 2011
7:39 am
If he didn’t demand such a high salary ($3 mill +), then UGA would have more money to pay those coaches to begin with.
jbeggs
December 21st, 2011
8:04 am
Frank Lane – it’s not that this never happens. It’s just that when it happens at a location like UGA it’s a good story. It’s the type story that’s hardly ever printed. If you feel left out then send in a story about yourself to your hometown paper. This is a huge story in the context of big-bucks America! It rally pisses me off that you would try to minimize it!
Sloan
December 21st, 2011
8:12 am
The coolest thing about GTBob’s hatred for everything UGA and Coach Richt is that it wouldn’t matter one bit to Mark Richt, the Christian man. What would matter to him is that GTBob is a lost soul, and in spite of GTBob’s vitriol, Mark Richt would pray fervently for GTBob’s salvation and would give him money if he needed it. How do I know this? Because Mark Richt’s heart is full of the love of Christ, and Coach Richt wants everyone to know Jesus as their Savior.
CMR, HC
December 21st, 2011
8:19 am
I got the mug to prove it!!
Mike G
December 21st, 2011
8:20 am
Blessed be our 2012 Season!! Happy Holidays Mark and the entire Bulldawg nation!!
1980 was so long ago
December 21st, 2011
8:25 am
Yawn…zzzzzzzzzzzzz
1980 was so long ago
December 21st, 2011
8:25 am
Enter your comments here
Top Recruit
December 21st, 2011
8:34 am
Coach Mark Richt…a man for all seasons…just not football season.
You are the best Coach Richt. We are blessed to have him not only as our football coach, but a part of the University of Georgia family. Truly an amazing man who is kind and willing to share his blessings with others. A true inspiration to us all.
This reporting is a great story for this Christmas season in the great state of Georgia.
Vince Doodly
December 21st, 2011
8:42 am
Dont get gushy bradley. This is more of an indictment of the UGA administration and a coping strategy by Coach Richt than anything else. yes, he is clearly shown to be a fair and decent boss, something we all pray for. However, The school administration HR department should have prevented this from happening because it blows up salary levels and also causes these individuals tax withholding issues. I guarantee you none of these folks claimed that income. Wonder if the IRS is reading this?
Earl
December 21st, 2011
8:43 am
Read the article in the recent issue of Atlantic Magazine about the NCAA. Then tell the NCAA to shove it.
Georgia Sam
December 21st, 2011
8:47 am
GT Bob,
Go change your diaper. It is just like the rest of you, full of it.
schmeckdawg
December 21st, 2011
8:58 am
You know Mark, you write a wonderful article about an obviously wonderful man, and still you get the jack legs that get on here and want to smear coach Richt and turn this into something unethical.
What a bunch of jerks!
Happy Holidays to you and your entire family Mark!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ed
December 21st, 2011
8:58 am
I smell income tax evasion all over this one. More than 10 coaches paid “under the table?” Richt asks the university to pay them more. When denied, he decides “to pay them himself.” Plus, the NCAA calls it “supplemental pay.” If this isn’t a nifty way to avoid paying Uncle Sam, I don’t knwo what is. I don’t think the IRS will view these transactiosn as “gifts.” Dig deeper AJC.
SugarHillDawg
December 21st, 2011
8:59 am
I’d be even better if he was the world’s best coach.
MCDAVIDDAWG
December 21st, 2011
9:00 am
ALL SOUNDS GOOD, BUT JUST WISH HE WAS A GOOD COACH.
» SEC: UT women lose, but men’s hoops goes 4-for-4 John Clay's Sidelines
December 21st, 2011
9:00 am
[...] Mark Bradley: It’s official, Mark Richt is world’s best boss [...]
Ed
December 21st, 2011
9:01 am
I’m telling you, there is a long pattern of income tax evasion here. This story isn’t over, Mr. McGarity. We can’t move on just yet.
Ed
December 21st, 2011
9:03 am
Somebody needs to ask the tough questions. What federal income laws have been broken, for years, through this behavior?
Biblical Scholar
December 21st, 2011
9:04 am
Comparisons of Richt to Jesus? I don’t recall a desciple being arrested for drunk driving, theft, violence against women, or suspended for dope smoking.
Newman
December 21st, 2011
9:06 am
Damon Evans was AD when this transpired, not Greg McGarity.
Ed
December 21st, 2011
9:08 am
This story is just beginning. There was a lot of “supplemental pay” given to Georgia coaches and Uncle Sam didn’t get his share of the pie. How convenient.
Ed
December 21st, 2011
9:14 am
I don’t hear much woofing out of the Jo-Ja nation today. I wonder if Chip Towers will follow this income tax evasion line of questioning, or if he’ll keep playing the homer for UGA.
Wow!
December 21st, 2011
9:17 am
I wish I could say that this makes up for all the times he gave raises to poor performing coaches out of UGA’s coffers. It does not.
It is a nice story–but as much praise as he shoudl receive for handing out what is really a drop in the bucket to him…he should receive equal if not greater criticism for increasing assistant coach’s pay every year after increasingly disappointng results.
I do find it ironic that in a world where THE Ohio State gets a slap on the wrist for pervasive cheating and Auburn has become so good at cheating that they are now above punishment; that the NCAA actually takes the time to look into such a positive gesture. Wow!
Face it...
December 21st, 2011
9:18 am
It is amazing that there are Grinches on here who are screaming bah humbug about Coach Richt. I hope Santa rewards them with what they deserve this year, continued miserable life of negativity.
Ed
December 21st, 2011
9:24 am
I’m having way too much fun with this. My Jo-Ja friends are really squirming here at the office.
mashdog
December 21st, 2011
9:29 am
booyah why do u think we won the east? this man we r talking about right now. GO DAWGS!
Cheaters
December 21st, 2011
9:29 am
The real question is, were taxes ever paid on this money? More than likely the only reason Richt gave this money to these assistants is because he was reimbursing them for funds that they gave to recruits. Richt puts on a good front but is nothing more than a cheater. Even with the cheating, uga still can a title under Richt. Sad.
cocheese
December 21st, 2011
9:31 am
This goes back to maknig a conscious decision to violate NCAA rules. He obviously knows the rules. He chose to violate them. It is cut and dry. What would all you sychophants say if he had given money to a recruit’s family because they were poor? The same probably, i.e. “What a great guy! He knew it was a violation but the family was hungry. He has his priorities in order. What a man of character, etc.” In my book honesty is more impt. than charity. A man of true character would be able to be charitable without resorting to dishonesty. Note-If for some crazy reason Richt was not aware that such gifts, given in the manner he gave them, were improper, than my comments are retracted.
RxDawg
December 21st, 2011
9:32 am
We field a very competetive football team, and we appear to have one heck of a man doing it for us in Mark Richt. Quit using that beauty pagent of the BCS champ game as a measuring stick. UGA has had plenty of BCS caliber seasons. Lady luck and ESPN just didn’t deem it so, so screw em. What we have done is won 2 SEC’s outright and 4 SEC easts with a handful of ties. Quit hating you pesimistic fans out there and realize what a great coach we actually have. Go Dawgs and Go Richt!
Sorry Program
December 21st, 2011
9:37 am
RxDawg -We field a very competetive football team, and we appear to have one heck of a man doing it for us in Mark Richt. Quit using that beauty pagent of the BCS champ game as a measuring stick. UGA has had plenty of BCS caliber seasons. Lady luck and ESPN just didn’t deem it so, so screw em. What we have done is won 2 SEC’s outright and 4 SEC easts with a handful of ties. Quit hating you pesimistic fans out there and realize what a great coach we actually have. Go Dawgs and Go Richt!
_______________________________________________________________________________
This is why uga will never have one of the top 10 programs in the country. Your fans are happy with being only a top 15-20 program. When was last time you guys won a title? 30 years ago? Even Ga. Tech has won a title more recently than uga. And that’s just said. Get ready for another 8-10 win season and hopes of maybe making it to a bcs bowl. uga won’t win a title for at least 20 years.
robodawg
December 21st, 2011
9:44 am
The Richts have a separate bank account just for giving money away! Some people have so much money they don’t know what to do with it. But CMR is putting his money to good use. Kudos.
cocheese
December 21st, 2011
9:47 am
This is a cut and dry issue. Of course Richt new it was a violation to give his ex-coaches gifts in this manner. What would all you sychophants say if Richt had given money to the family of a recruit because they were poor? Probably, “What a saint he is. He knew it was wrong but he has his priorities in order. He knew it was a violation but he thought them having food was more impt. than
any NCAA violation. He should be a dawg for life. What a great man of character, etc.” I suppose
charity trumps dishonesty and character only matters when weighing the outcomes of decisions made? Character is absolute. A person has it or doesn’t and a person with true character doesn’t let the ends justify the means. In fact, the ends should never even come into play. The only thing that matters character-wise is if something is right or wrong. There is something very similar here to the televangelists who started off doing the right thing but took a wrong turn when they believed that they
should no longer have to answer to the flock if they wanted to do something they believed in, regardless of the legality of it or whether they had the approval of it from those who had to approve it. Note-If Richt somehow did not know that the gifts, given in the manner he gave them, were an NCAA violation, I retract these comments. I guess we will never know?
Spike
December 21st, 2011
9:53 am
Some of you pitiful idiots bitchin’ about this have really run out of something to complain about.
seabass
December 21st, 2011
9:56 am
True UGA fans already new this to be true!
Ranger Jacket
December 21st, 2011
10:00 am
As a Jacket fan, I would love to hate all things UGA. It’s just too hard with a class act like Mark in Athens. The man has proven time and again that he truly cares about the people in his organization. I know myself and most other folks can only dream of working for a man like that.
Alabama | MrSEC.com
December 21st, 2011
10:01 am
[...] Mickey Marotti to Ohio State was a big, big blow to some Gators.15. Move over, Micheal Scott. Georgia’s Mark Richt is the World’s Greatest Boss.16. UGA has more questions at the quarterback position than you might think.17. Samford’s [...]
Heels Rock and Rule
December 21st, 2011
10:06 am
There have been many instances of coaches giving money to “poor athletes who didn’t have money to buy a coke”. These coaches were then labeled as “cheaters”. Why is CMR being Canonized for paying coaches in violation of NCAA rules. Is this less than Greene selling his jersey to get a few bucks so that he could have some money in his pocket? What is the difference?
RCB
December 21st, 2011
10:18 am
Just maybe he shouldn’t have been fired after the first 2 games.
Whiskey Breath
December 21st, 2011
10:21 am
So you are basically condoning CMR’s blantant disregard for NCAA rules? You do know he makes around 5 million a year and 25k ain’t going to hurt the bottom line? And what the hell are we teaching the kids when a coach thumbs his nose consistently to the NCAA ? “My compliance dept said I could get away with it and at the same time look like a good guy” . What kind of compliance dept do they have going on at Ga? You make butt kissing a new art. Who’s next Buck Bulue?
frank
December 21st, 2011
10:26 am
at first i thought this was a great thing, but the more I think about it it shows weakness.
This is the same kind of thing that kept Willie Martinez around stealing paychecks for years.
1eyedJack
December 21st, 2011
10:27 am
Whiskey Breath, take a double shot, get really drunk, and eat a ham sandwich.
kevin n afghanistan
December 21st, 2011
10:40 am
Did anyone pay taxes on the money passed around? No not beford Richt did. After, he handed it out….
kevin n afghanistan
December 21st, 2011
10:43 am
I want him to give me money because I am in the military, in Afghanistan trying to make a buck to buy a new vehicle. I bet he wont do it…
Spike
December 21st, 2011
10:49 am
Kevin.. I think I speak for everbody on here. Shut up.
kevin n afghanistan
December 21st, 2011
10:53 am
pu ss y
RxDawg
December 21st, 2011
11:03 am
@ Sorry Program
We DO have a top 10 program ya big dummy.
Joey
December 21st, 2011
11:07 am
Love Coach Richt. Proud in every way. Some of you need a life! Its way to short to let a crystal football dictate it….