It’s official: Koenning is at Illinois
(Updated 2:30 p.m.)
Athens — OK, you can officially remove another name from the list of candidates for Georgia’s open defensive-coordinator job: Vic Koenning was introduced as Illinois’ new defensive coordinator at a press conference in Champaign, Ill., this afternoon.
While Georgia discussed its DC job with Koenning, his reported salary with Illinois — $325,000 — would suggest UGA didn’t aggressively target him. That’s almost the same salary Willie Martinez was making ($325,815 plus bonuses), and indications are that Georgia is prepared to go well beyond that figure for the right hire.
“There was some dialogue [with Georgia],” Koenning said at today’s press conference, “and it made for an interesting last 16, 18 hours, you might say. But when push comes to shove, the character and the drive and the enthusiasm that [Illinois] coach [Ron] Zook exhibited makes sure there was no doubt in the outcome.”
A couple of hours before Illinois’ press conference, Georgia coach Mark Richt passed when asked to shed light on Georgia’a interest in Koenning.
“I think everything is just –- this whole search stuff -– I’ll just say there is nothing to shed,” Richt said. “I’ve got nothing to shed on it.”
Richt did not signal that his search is any closer to resolution than on Wednesday, when he said it might last into the new year. He noted that many prospective candidates are committed to completing the season with their current teams. That would apply to college coaches whose teams are in bowls, as well as to NFL coaches.
“It’s just a really crummy time of year to be trying to do what we’re doing here,” Richt said, “but that’s just part of it right now.”
He did say Georgia’s three staff openings are generating a lot of interest.
“I know I’ve got a stack of stuff [from] an awful lot of people,” he said. “It’s more than just the D-coordinator job too -– there are lot of position coaches looking –- but we’ve got to get the D-coordinator thing squared away before we move forward to anything else.”
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296 comments Add your comment
Kirby Smart
December 18th, 2009
1:56 pm
duh I am coming to UGA to be DC because that is where I went to school. duh I just luv Athens. duh All the good players come from there. duh My wife played bball there is she just can’t wait to get back duh Mr. Satan works to hard. duh I can come to UGA and have more time time with my family because CMR does not require all that preperation. duh duh I guess that is all duh duh
kdawg
December 18th, 2009
1:56 pm
the reason he said the first week of jan. is because the dirty burds season will be over and vangorder will be coming home!!!
BVG
December 18th, 2009
1:57 pm
I ain’t moving to no stupid Athens….
Mark PRicht
December 18th, 2009
1:59 pm
maybe Tebow could be our new DC. he know our D better than anybody
nickz
December 18th, 2009
2:00 pm
Why is nobody talking about the Robotic Bulldog set you replace UGA VII…I hear there almost done assembling it and it DOES come equipped with missle technology to destroy opposing team’s mascots. That’ll get the fans and the team fired up!
Since that’s the path we’re leaning towards, why not go with a Robotic D Coordinator modeled after Mike Ditka…
Mark PRicht
December 18th, 2009
2:01 pm
Starring Kam Fong as Chin Ho
1-o
Mark PRicht
December 18th, 2009
2:06 pm
I got it, Joe Cox can take the DC job, he spent this year training other defenses how to catch interceptions…lmao 7 and 5
Opinion
December 18th, 2009
2:09 pm
The last time they won anything was what…..1980??????? —-CPJ
AltamahaDawg
December 18th, 2009
2:12 pm
Althought, Saban and Brown both probably had already determined what they were going to do in the very likely event that their DC’s move on/move up. It could be they both have “DC-in waiting” on the current staff right now. That would answer my #2.
Opinion
December 18th, 2009
2:12 pm
How stupid UGA fans sound: example:
My brother might have won 4 National Championships to claim being the greatest player in the nation, but yeah…..I have a winning record against him 60-39…..so I’m good too.
You dawgies are idiots
Mark PRicht
December 18th, 2009
2:12 pm
see the below and apply at UGA, we are not so bad we did beat GT by 6 but it did help that Nesbitt was out that quarter
9/05 @ No. 9 Oklahoma State 0-1 (0-0) L 24-10
9/12 South Carolina 1-1 (1-0) W 41-37
9/19 @ Arkansas 2-1 (2-0) W 52-41
9/26 Arizona State 3-1 (2-0) W 20-17
10/03 No. 4 LSU 3-2 (2-1) L 20-13
10/10 @ Tennessee 3-3 (2-2) L 45-19
10/17 @ Vanderbilt 4-3 (3-2) W 34-10
10/31 vs. No. 1 Florida 4-4 (3-3) L 41-17
11/07 Tennessee Tech 5-4 (3-3) W 38-0
11/14 Auburn 6-4 (4-3) W 31-24
11/21 Kentucky 6-5 (4-4) L 34-27
11/28 @ No. 7 Georgia Tech 7-5 (4-4) W 30-24
Dooley's Cardiologist
December 18th, 2009
2:13 pm
Like I said: TRAIN WRECK!
Opinion
December 18th, 2009
2:14 pm
How stupid UGA fans sound: example:
My brother might have won 4 National Championships to claim being the greatest player in the nation, but yeah…..I have a winning record against him 60-39 in one-on-one…..so I’m good too.
You dawgies are idiots
Alphare
December 18th, 2009
2:15 pm
Too those who keep bringing up Kirby Smart, are you really sure Kirby Smart is that good? Good as you think? Come on, people. Bama defense is good because Saban is there, not because Kirby Smart. Believe me, without Kirby Smart, Bama defense will still be good. Does that tell you something?
Not Vic
December 18th, 2009
2:15 pm
it’s not me..press release just issued
K. Smart
December 18th, 2009
2:16 pm
SCDawg, I have it on good authority that Kirby Smart reached out to Travis Jones about filling in Smart’s defensive staff if he took the UGA job. You MIGHT get both of them. They would have to talk to Kirby Smart, and if he is going to get paid to stay at BAMA where is the presser like Bud Foster killing the rumor. It ain’t there because Kirby Smart is the next DC at UGA.
Topp Dogg
December 18th, 2009
2:17 pm
ELLIS JOHNSON IS WHO WE NEED, THROW HIM SOME MONEYAND HE IS OURS!
smokie joe
December 18th, 2009
2:17 pm
Nobody knows what he is doing behind closed doors so just chill out. He’s handling it the right way as usual. We will get who we are supposed to get and things will work out like they are supposed too. He is the right man to lead this program for many years too come. Be patient we are going to be good for a long time!!!
PapaDawg
December 18th, 2009
2:19 pm
If Coach Richt is waiting to the first of the year maybe the coach will be from a BCS bowl team other than the orange bowl
kdawg
December 18th, 2009
2:20 pm
KIRBY IS NOT COMING TO UGA!!!!! It will be John Tenuta
Fleischman in Chi Towns Bed
December 18th, 2009
2:20 pm
Get a life you pathetic leg humpers. The only way Kirby would come to Athens is if he was the head coach!
Now go prepare for that all important Independence Bowl.
Helping my UGA friends
December 18th, 2009
2:20 pm
I know from the Tech game you guys have a hard time telling time (halftime and Gatorade bath at the end). I didn’t realize you didn’t understand the calendar too. If coach said it would be the 1st week of January, that actually eliminates Kirby Smart. You see, there are seven days in a week. Bama’s game is on the 7th. So, if Smart were to take the job then it would be the second week of January. Now, you could say that would fall into the first FULL week of January. Granted, but, wouldn’t the headline SMART DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR be an oxymoron when talking about UGA?
bob dylan
December 18th, 2009
2:21 pm
KEVIN GREENe FOR DC….. he is an animal
kdawg
December 18th, 2009
2:21 pm
NOT that im a tenuta fan. i love my dawgs but thats who i really think it will be!!
Mark PRicht
December 18th, 2009
2:22 pm
KY is state champs
kdawg
December 18th, 2009
2:22 pm
Not bad on the thoughts of Kevin Greene
SuperDawgie
December 18th, 2009
2:23 pm
Done deal, my friends uncles cousin just told me Kirby is in Athens today picking his house out.
Opinion
December 18th, 2009
2:23 pm
How stupid UGA fans sound: example:
My brother might have won 4 National Championships to claim being the greatest player in the nation, but yeah…..I have a winning record against him 60-39 in one-on-one…..so I’m good too.
You dawgies are idiots.
kdawg
December 18th, 2009
2:23 pm
Or maybe Chuck Amato!!!! LMAO
Glenn
December 18th, 2009
2:24 pm
All of you “I have this inside contact” that says it’s going to be…B!!! None of you have a clue so stop your rumor mongering. You’re all acting like a bunch of school girls.
Why would Mushamp or Smart want to ever come back to UGA? They both left for good reasons and NOTHING has changed since they left. More money? Pulease. Ask John Bond how things worked out for him when he went over to GA Tech as their Offensive Coordinator for Chan Gailey. One year on the job, Gailey got fired and then Bond was on the street looking for work. If Mark Richt doesn’t get his act together, the new defensive coordinator might be in that same position in just a couple of years, and Muschamp and Smart have both already seen the politics at UGA from the inside.
kdawg
December 18th, 2009
2:25 pm
OK YOU HAVE GIVEN THAT “OPINION” ALREADY!!!!!!!!!!!!
kdawg
December 18th, 2009
2:26 pm
WHAT ABOUT DICK BUMPAS
SuperDawgie
December 18th, 2009
2:27 pm
Glenn
I know this is true. Please believe me. We are Georgia. We are entitled to whoever we want. Or at least that is what my daddy told me when i was growing up.
Joe Lee Dunn
December 18th, 2009
2:28 pm
Koenning to Illinois!!! Fine with me, Texas Tech and Texas A&M hung 66 and 62 on him respectively. If he was that good of a dc, why did Clemson not keep him. Call Chavis!!!
SuperDawgie
December 18th, 2009
2:28 pm
Everyone got their tickets to Shreveport? I hear the fried possum is spectacular this time of year.
kdawg
December 18th, 2009
2:29 pm
YOU are right superdawgie!!! i heard earlier today that we will contact John Chavis
VININGS DAWG
December 18th, 2009
2:29 pm
Please stop with the Muschamp stuff. He is not coming, there is no deal to bring him. He interviewed for four Head Coaching Jobs last year including Auburn (turned them down) and he has it better in Austin. No chance of him in Athens.
Dick Bumpas maybe the DC at TCU but he does not call the D, Patterson does that.
It will be an up and comer.
kdawg
December 18th, 2009
2:30 pm
but would chavis go from lsu to ga. after being there a year
AltamahaDawg
December 18th, 2009
2:30 pm
Thansk for the helping hand, But that was a lot of trouble when you started out getting the quote wrong from the onset.
kdawg
December 18th, 2009
2:31 pm
there is no chance we get muschamp or smart
AltamahaDawg
December 18th, 2009
2:32 pm
Gleen I assume Smart left for a promotion. Muschamp left because his scholarship ran out. He was never a coach here.
kdawg
December 18th, 2009
2:33 pm
what about a quote???
Floundering Fox Hounds Batman!
December 18th, 2009
2:33 pm
cmr IS GOING TO HIRE A GUY FROM THE MOUTAIN WEST CONFERENCE.! ITS A DONE DEAL….
SuperDawgie
December 18th, 2009
2:33 pm
What about Pollack? Maybe he didn’t pawn his SEC championship ring and it can help to recruit some good talent…..
kdawg
December 18th, 2009
2:34 pm
i do not want an up and comer!!!!!
kdawg
December 18th, 2009
2:35 pm
we need a bonafied DC
Opinion
December 18th, 2009
2:35 pm
sorry it was so good I had to repeat it
Floundering Fox Hounds Batman!
December 18th, 2009
2:36 pm
CMR really should hire the JOKER from Kentucky because a good offense is a good defense.
gdawginkalamazoo
December 18th, 2009
2:36 pm
Why don’t we just wait and see who he hires? Rumors and speculation crack me up. The man said it may last into January. So what if we miss a couple of recruits, might do us some good.
Regardless if somebody has the opportunity to come to UGA and coach in the SEC or go to the Big Ten and be DC that’s a no brainer. The Big Ten is the easier job by far. You only have to face Ohio State in that conference. Maybe Penn State if they are up.
thomas
December 18th, 2009
2:37 pm
GO COACH RICHT! GO DAWGS! WE WILL BE BACK IN THE TOP 10 NEXT YEAR – TAKE IT TO THE BANK! http://www.wedgeorgia.com