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
pi$$onatechie
December 18th, 2009
3:34 pm
thank god Koenning is going to the zooker, man! Georgia can do much better than that. sure Georgia can interview him but I believe we never offered him the job! and if we did he will be legally insane not to come!
robodawg
December 18th, 2009
3:36 pm
SCDawg, I like your thinking. I would put Ellis Johnson higher on the list, based on how well he’s done with lesser talent at USC. But those are solid (and realistic) candidates you list. I like any up and comer with proven experience in both college and the NFL.
I seriously doubt Smart (or Muschamp) will be coming to Georgia. Their next jobs will be as head coaches somewhere. Good for them. That’s okay. Richt knows what to look for, and we will get someone who can coach championship defense.
wishful thinking
December 18th, 2009
3:36 pm
I have heard that McDonalds is about to unveil their new Government run happy meal. You step up to the counter at your local McDonalds, order whatever you would like and the person behind you has to pay for it! Go DAWGS and Merry Christmas!
SuperDawgie
December 18th, 2009
3:39 pm
Richt is done boys, mark it down. New HC in January…..
Will
December 18th, 2009
3:49 pm
SuperDawgie- Just Say No To Drugs.
The next hire for the UGA DC will be one of these fine coaches: Kirby Smart, Will Muschamp or BVG….. and I am betting on Kirby Smart.
haywood jablomey
December 18th, 2009
3:54 pm
alrite. now im nervous. if koenning isn’t lying, then we DID go
after him. so that means we don’t have smart and we aren’t
waiting for the MNC game to end.
richt says it may take that long b/c he doesnt have anyone
yet that has wanted the job. pathetic. and we were all going
nuts thinking smart was locked up. so it’s back to square one.
let’s just hope it’s someone decent.
damn.
Hayseeds
December 18th, 2009
3:59 pm
if Athens is such a metropolis city where it all happens and has got it going on, then why aren’t the rest of you living there? Thought so….
SOUTHGADAWG88
December 18th, 2009
4:01 pm
Smart is not the guy
just a fan
December 18th, 2009
4:04 pm
Joe Lee Dunn I feel the same way man fire the all repubs and dems worthless all of them.
Now back to football UGA needs to get Everett Withers North Carolina’s DC he would be a great fit at UGA
chDawg
December 18th, 2009
4:08 pm
The Koenning rumor was definatly bs. He is only going to be making $325,000 per @ Illinios. That is way below what UGA could have offered him if they wanted him. Was there some talk? Yes, UGA has nothing to lose bye keeping him on the line as a backup plan but there was never anything serious. Shad’s source was likely Koenning’s agent and his job is to get more money. No one in there right mind chooses Zook and lower money over Richt, more money, and better recruits.
My guess from how laid back Richt is, is that he’s already found his guy and there is reason he can’t let it out of the bag yet.
In the end Joe Shad is the one who will look like and idiot when it becomes obvious he got played by an agent. A good reporter filters out that trash.
D'ville Dawg
December 18th, 2009
4:11 pm
Bobby has a point……..sounds like Dawgs did go after Koenning and there is no way they would have done that if they thought they were landing Kirby Smart…….
Ted
December 18th, 2009
4:18 pm
Bear Bryant!!! Oh wait he’s on another team…very delusional dawgs.
4 Jacks
December 18th, 2009
4:21 pm
Just heard Buck say on 680 that Ala. gave Kirby $600G’s and he won’t be coming to Athens. Have always had faith in CMR, but if this is true, it is beginning to make me wonder what is going on? I really thought, he would have a deal 99% done with somone before he let the other coaches go. Maybe he still does, but it doesn’t feel that way anymore seeing that Foster used us for a bigger pay day, and now this if Buck’s info is correct, and it usually is pretty close.
Kirby Smart
December 18th, 2009
4:24 pm
Valdosta Dawg, that’s funny:)
Kirby Smart
December 18th, 2009
4:25 pm
Bremen Dawg , Jan 8th……..that’s Elvis’ Birthday!!!1
Keith
December 18th, 2009
4:26 pm
Mike Ditka or Bill Goldberg!
CLEVON LITTLE
December 18th, 2009
4:28 pm
wishful thinking, Now THAT is funny. True??
Without-a-clue
December 18th, 2009
4:31 pm
The most likely hire(although not necessarily the best)is Manny Diaz. His team plays Sunday night. As I said, he is not necessarily the best available or imaginable, but I would rather have him than Koenning or several others that appear to be on the blog’s shortlist.
chDawg
December 18th, 2009
4:33 pm
Not saying that Kirby is the next DC but until Kirby comes out and says that he definatly is not coming to GA I wouldn’t count it out. Also it would be unwise for Kirby to just use UGA as a tool to get more money. He has ties here and he would not be looked upon kindly if he used a uga offer to get more money somewhere else. Its ok to do that with other schools but just not right with you Alma Mater.
680 fan
December 18th, 2009
4:36 pm
Baaaaa Humbug! It’s gonna have to be Travis Jones. That means, we must wait till after NO wins the Super Bowl.
Mark PRicht
December 18th, 2009
4:42 pm
Actually, I’m sorry for coming over Dawg fans and talking so much smack. The truth is you guys beat us and was definitely the better team. I actually feel that it will be a long time before Tech has a chance to beat UGA again. Your entire OL returns and both RBs that ran for over 300 yards combined will be back next season along with the top WR in the nation (Green). Aaron Murray is a sure-fire star in the making at QB. I am sure you will get a top notch D coordinator and your D is sure to improve. It looks like you will be the Georgia state champs for a long time. Good luck in the Independance Bowl.
Weakly World News
December 18th, 2009
4:46 pm
I understand his dad was a player at UT…
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/2009/12/17/2009-12-17_tennessee_boy_4_steals_christmas_presents_with_beer_in_hand.html
SoCal Dawg
December 18th, 2009
5:02 pm
And Dawg Nation breathes a sigh of relief!
rrich
December 18th, 2009
5:13 pm
i would love for it be john chavis Tenn always had a great defense and look at the one year difference at lsu
SHUT UP ALREADY
December 18th, 2009
5:19 pm
HE WAS NEVER OFFERED THE JOB AT UGA!!!! NEVER, NOT ONCE.
As per Anthony Dasher with UGASports and his conversation with his counterpart at Orange&Blue (Illinois Rival site).
I just spoke to Jeff Johnson, the publisher for Orange&Blue, the Rivals site that covers Illinois…We’ve been trading info, sources, the past day and this is what we have ascertained about this entire Koenning mess.
A. All this stuff about Koenning, deciding between Georgia and Illinois..It’s BS….Jeff spoke with an assistant from K-State, who said all this about Georgia having interest in Koenning, came from Koenning’s agent. In essense, just to get $50,000 more from Illinois. There was absolutely NO truth to the suggestion that Koenning changed his mind two or three times.
B. According to this same K-State assistant, Koenning WAS NEVER offered the DC job at Georgia by Coach Richt. The agent WAS apparently called by CMR, to check on Koenning’s interest, but that WAS IT.
C. Contact was also made with Tulsa assistant Ron West, whose name had been linked as coming with Koenning. West said that he was disgusted with the way Koenning’s agent was speading rumors about VK.
D. According to the coaches at Kansas State, they are hearing that CMR is looking to hire a coach from the NFL, but did not know of any names.
SO LETS PLEASE SHUT UP ABOUT VK SPURNING UGA FOR ILLINOIS. ITS POUR JOURNALISM AT BEST TO SAY THE LEAST.
JRS "81"
December 18th, 2009
5:24 pm
As much as I hate to say it, No way Smart comes back to Athens…… Coach Richt had him there a few years back, and used him as a Running Back coach. With that being said, Smart will not work with or for CMR. Say hello to Bumpus your new DC.
FL Dawg
December 18th, 2009
5:27 pm
Bill Cowher and Tony Dungy are coming…book it….both are waiting to have contracts finalized. Both have extensive NFL experience, one has a lot of fire in his belly and the other is a defensive mastermind.
Without-a-clue
December 18th, 2009
5:30 pm
If it is true that Koenning was never offered the UGA position, I am glad to hear it. If he had been offered the job he might have taken it.
New subject: “ITS POUR JOURNALISM AT BEST TO SAY THE LEAST.” is one of the most interesting sentences I have read in sometime. Fortunately, I am not required to give it a grade.
FL Dawg
December 18th, 2009
5:32 pm
Seriously, we all just need to be patient. Richt has extensive contacts throughout the college and NFL ranks. He is taking this hire very seriously as he knows it is a very important step. I have confidence that he will make the right choice for the job.
Someone posted Richt doesn’t have the authority or power to keep things quiet in the AD. All he has to do is keep his conversations between himself, Evans and Adams. As long as neither of them speek, no one will be able to. Depending on what stage he is actually at, he may not even have to speak to them to keep it silent. Could it possibly be that Richt was given a cap to spend on the DC and he does not even need to consult either of them prior to making an offer.
big fan
December 18th, 2009
5:54 pm
I heard we’re talking to Womack??
Kirby Smart's the Guy
December 18th, 2009
6:10 pm
Tim-
I think some of these coaches contacted Richt and sent in a resume, others Richt might have talked to about one of the OTHER 2 positions other than DC currently open on the defensive side or Richt might have had a preiliminary call with some of these guys just to narrow the list of potential candidates.
I think these coaches, like Koenning and Foster, try and put out the perception that they are being offered the DC job, when Richt says he didn’t offer them the job.
superDawg
December 18th, 2009
6:38 pm
I would just like to say that stuperDawgie is not related at all to any thing UGA.When he grows a weinie he will hang out at tek and have a sore wrist,because he will jackit.
MUTTS CANT PAY ANY1 ENUF $ 2 COACH THEM
December 18th, 2009
6:47 pm
I WOULD HAVE NOT TAKEN THE JOB EITHER KOENNING! ORANGE BOWL HERE WE COME,SOUTH BEACH MIAMI IM CHILLIN WITH TAMMY(QUOTE LIL WAYNE)WHAT DOES ALABAMA,MIAMI,GEORGIA TECH HAS THAT UGAY DOES NOT? 4 OR MORE NATIONAL TITLES! MUTTS HAVE 2!
Pit Bull
December 18th, 2009
6:50 pm
Hey, I got a idea! Lets let Richt pick the DefC.
MUTTS CANT PAY ANY1 ENUF $ 2 COACH THEM
December 18th, 2009
6:51 pm
KOENNING YOU DID THE RIGHT THING BUDDY,THESE REDNECKS WOULD CURSE YOUR MAMA OUT! UGAY IS A SORRY EXCUSE FOR A FOOTBALL PROGRAM,TECH HAS 4 NATIONAL TITLES,WHILE THE EMBREDS HAVE 2 AT UGAY!
quaildawg
December 18th, 2009
6:53 pm
This just in…Marion Campbell turned down UGA for the D-Coordinator position.
Good ol’ A(tlanta) J(unk) & C (rap).
Don’t you guy’s feel guilty taking those checks each week when your employer is hemmoraging $$$???
Bride of Chucky Knapp
December 18th, 2009
6:55 pm
@ Paul’s Johnson: The answer is, Rev. Mike Adams is running the show–and a “show” is exactly how he views it. Once Adams finally leaves, UGA might have some hope for education and football.
Bride of Chucky Knapp
December 18th, 2009
6:57 pm
Lern 2 spel peeple!
Who writes some of these posts, the Chick-fil-A cows?
Football Fan
December 18th, 2009
6:58 pm
Georgia never offered him and his has been substantiated that his agent falsely perpetuated the fact that UGA wanted him to get extra money from Illinois. Would the AJC please stop posting stupid articles without having any facts?
mason
December 18th, 2009
7:07 pm
((( 30-24 )))
hahahahahahahahaaaaaaa!!
((( NO major bowl since 1966 for GT )))
hahahahhahahahaaaaaaaaaaa
So glad it STILL hurts so bad.
you aren't what you aren't
December 18th, 2009
7:16 pm
How bout them dawgs????? Nobody wants to coach at this shreveport bound program.
you aren't what you aren't
December 18th, 2009
7:18 pm
let superdawg be the DC. He’s pretty intelligent and would fit in with asll the other losers.
DAWG Fan
December 18th, 2009
7:22 pm
We should get the pick of all coaches in the US. We should have won the SEC because we are UGA. We should be playing in the NC game. We are a top tier program although we have not won the NC since 1980. We also beat a vastly superior GT team this year. Come on….give it to us because we are UGA!!!!
Chris Mortenson
December 18th, 2009
7:34 pm
I’d like to be the first to officially report that Vince Lombardi has turned down an offer to be the next Defensive Coordinator at the University of Georgia. You heard it hear first.
Keith Jackson
December 18th, 2009
7:38 pm
Coach Richt already has the DC signed, sealed and delivered. Right now, he’s just a getting a bunch of his coordinator friends some fat raises. He’s a giver.
Without-a-clue
December 18th, 2009
7:59 pm
Dear Santa,
Please bring these bloggers a spell checker. Getting them a GED world help, also.
Have a nice trip.
Without-a-clue
December 18th, 2009
8:02 pm
A new set of fingers to help me type “would” instead of “world” would be helpful too.
Thanks
AltamahaDawg
December 18th, 2009
8:49 pm
He would hope it wasn’t much past the first week of Jan is what he said, not it’s going to be then. That could have meant a number of things including the most simple explaination…….that he was just stating the fact. That timeframe is a number of things, not just the NC game. Or after the bowls. It’s also after all the holidays. That’s also a timeframe that is drawing closer to signing day. He’d hope it isnt much past then for a number of reasons. Doesn’t mean “and not a minute sooner.”
longDawg
December 18th, 2009
9:15 pm
Thank god Koenning was not offered DC he aint the man we need
AltamahaDawg
December 18th, 2009
9:17 pm
Fl Dawg I said that and if you read what I was refering to, it was in responce to the comment that “Richt made it know that anyone leaking it (done deal hiring of Smart) would be fired.”
In a case where only 3 people know, he wouldnt have to put that out there, which as I said, he doesn’t have the authority to do anyway.
The problem is that in order for the deal to be done, presumably it’s not a one way discussion. Just our 3 guys decided whats going to happen. I’m guessing Smart would have had to be at least consulted. And Saban. And some attorneys, and agents. I’d say for it to be a done deal no less than a dozen folks would have to know. not counting wives and administrative assistants.
There are too many grown ups involved to come up with: lets keep it secret for a month. The risk of it leaking , and then losing all control of how it has to be announced is not a professional plan. At best the old boss has asked for a delay so that he can get through the bulk of his bowl preparation without the distraction. And get his new DC up to speed.
I also think it’s a misconception, that they would just keep it secret for the sake of the bowl game. The guy leaving knows. Either his heart is into it or not. By the game the plan is in place, and the replacement, probbaly within the staff is as familiar with it any anyone. I dont see just trying to fool the team into thinking he isn’t leaving so they will play better. 2 plays into the game, that’s not going to matter. I have a hard time believing that Saban feels like he needs this to be a secret till after the game. But I can understand him wanting to get through the preparation.
(Not that I think it is K. Smart right now) It might End Up that way but I actually believe that Richt is telling the truth, as it stand at this point in time. But I do think he is getting very close.