UGA hires Grantham for $750,000 per year
(Updated 7 p.m.)
Athens – He last coached on the college level in 1998. He’ll make more money than Georgia has ever paid an assistant coach. He’ll change the Bulldogs’ defensive alignment to a 3-4.
He is Todd Grantham, and he is the answer to the question that dogged Georgia fans for 43 days: Who would coach Mark Richt hire as defensive coordinator?
“We have our man,” Richt said Friday as he named Grantham, the Dallas Cowboys’ defensive line coach, to fill the job that had been open since the Dec. 2 firing of Willie Martinez.
Grantham was known to have been on Richt’s radar for weeks, but at least three other candidates declined the job before it was offered to him. On Thursday night, Grantham accepted the same deal that Alabama defensive coordinator and former Georgia player Kirby Smart rejected three days earlier: a three-year, $750,000-per-year contract.
That salary will make Grantham the third highest-paid defensive coordinator in college football, behind only USC’s Monte Kiffin ($1.2 million plus a $300,000 bonus last season at Tennessee) and Texas’ Will Muschamp ($900,000). Georgia’s highest-paid assistants in 2009, Martinez and offensive coordinator Mike Bobo, made $325,000 each, plus bonuses.
Grantham, 43, was an assistant coach at Virginia Tech and Michigan State in the 1990s but has spent the past 11 seasons in the NFL, including the past two with Dallas. His only previous experience as a coordinator was with the Cleveland Browns from 2005-07.
Grantham will begin work at Georgia when Dallas’ season ends. The Cowboys play Sunday at Minnesota in an NFL playoff game.
By phone from Dallas late Friday afternoon, Grantham took a break from preparing for the Vikings to discuss his new job and new team.
He said Georgia will switch from its traditional 4-3 base defense to the 3-4, meaning three linemen and four linebackers rather than vice versa.
“We’re going to an aggressive style 3-4,” he said.
He said two outside linebackers “are going to be coming … are going to be developed as pass rushers.” Two inside linebackers, he said, are “going to be downhill guys to the ball.”
Although the 3-4 will become the base defense, Grantham said the Dogs will use “multiple” defenses “to have the ability to match [the offense's] personnel.”
The end result, he said, will be “an aggressive, physical, attacking-style defense.”
Grantham, who has coached the defensive line for most of his career, said he’ll work instead with the linebackers at Georgia. He said that’s a good role for a coordinator because the linebackers coach spends time on the practice field with both the line and the secondary, depending on the drill.
The only holdover on Georgia’s defensive coaching staff is line coach Rodney Garner. Grantham said they have not met, but “I have heard good things about him, and I expect to be meeting him shortly.”
Two openings remain on the defensive staff — Richt fired three coaches last month — but Grantham said no decisions have been made on who will be hired for those spots.
“Coach Richt and I will be working this weekend and next week to try to iron some of those things out,” he said.
Grantham’s hire capped an arduous process in which Richt was rejected by three highly respected defensive coordinators: Virginia Tech’s Bud Foster, LSU’s John Chavis and Smart. Richt said Grantham, whom he did not know when the search began, was recommended highly by many other coaches during the protracted process. One known to have recommended him was Foster.
After Smart turned down the job Monday, Richt turned the focus to Grantham.
“The overriding factor throughout the entire process is I was very prayerful that in the end we got the right man for the job. And that’s exactly what happened,” Richt said. “It was not something I was trying to do at breakneck speed.
“Sometimes it’s easy to just get a person who is willing to come at the drop of a hat, but when you’re looking at the quality we were looking for, such as Todd, it doesn’t always happen overnight. I’m just thankful we stayed the course and ended up where we ended up.
“I really feel like we hit the jackpot,” he added.
Richt’s six-week search for a defensive coordinator generated extraordinary interest among Georgia fans who have been concerned about the play of the Bulldogs’ defense the past two years. The Bulldogs allowed 34 or more points in 10 of 26 games over those seasons — a culture shock for a program once known for stout defense.
“I think … we can get the defense back to the way it has been in the past,” Grantham said.
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
793 comments Add your comment
$750K
January 15th, 2010
11:56 am
$750,000 for an nfl linebacker coach? Where’s UGA getting all that bling?
PappyHappy
January 15th, 2010
11:58 am
Good hire if Richt will stay out of his business!
Felix the Cat
January 15th, 2010
12:00 pm
Great hire. Beat Tech 10 more years in a row…!!!
Insider
January 15th, 2010
12:01 pm
Trust me folks Grantham can coach.
Dawgs on Top
January 15th, 2010
12:02 pm
The Dawg hire was much better than Tech’s. Grantham’s aggressive, young and will be at UGA for years, building the best D in the SEC. Groh? The dude’s in his 60s and ready for the old folks home any day now. He’ll have a tough time recruiting at that age.
Bama in Atlanta
January 15th, 2010
12:03 pm
Congrats on you new DC Dawgs! It’s a good choice for no other reason than his last name is not Kiffin or Petrino…..
Pete
January 15th, 2010
12:04 pm
Tech got a Lexus, UGA a Ford…………..as DC’s.
Sorry Richt, it is what it is.
Todd Grantham Hired as Defensive Coordinator - UGA News
January 15th, 2010
12:06 pm
[...] is coverage from the AJC (and Mark Bradley says UGA made a better DC hire than Georgia Tech), AJC UGA blog, ABH, ESPN, R&B (their site seems to be down), and the Georgia Sports [...]
Bill the wonder Dawg
January 15th, 2010
12:07 pm
I think Bean Anderson should get a look at nose tackle.He has all the physical gifts but he doesn’t have the concentration for OL.
TXDawg
January 15th, 2010
12:09 pm
Phone call just returned from the Fort-Worth Star Telegram……it’s official….now I can rejoice!!
Great hire UGA!!
Go DAWGS!!!!
gss303
January 15th, 2010
12:10 pm
Great hire….
NFL background….
Saban would have hired him if Kirby Smart had come to UGA….
Ought to be a big asset in recruiting as well.
TXDawg
January 15th, 2010
12:12 pm
The Cowboys beat writers are at Valley Ranch now taking statements. More articles will start to surface today.
Independent Thinker
January 15th, 2010
12:13 pm
The third pick and he gets 750K per year….and the university system is laying off employees, furloughing, and subsidizing athletics….go figure.
FinanceBuzz
January 15th, 2010
12:14 pm
I love it…Tech has shown up UGAg again! They have to go four deep in the wishlist to hire some guy that most people have never heard of. Tech gets it’s first choice. Yeah, you won this year, but you know that the landscape is not the same as when you won when Chan was here. Case in point – how was Shreveport? Miami was frigid but a lot of sights to see and the Atlantic was gorgeous.
And brucemac…ummm…don’t think anyone is scared of Grantham. He may turn out just fine, but you did not exactly hire a top flight guy that everyone fears coming in. No, we find it amusing given that all you UGA fans tell us what a prime coaching destination Athens is…BWAHAHAHA!!!
TXDawg
January 15th, 2010
12:14 pm
Hey Pete….I think Tech got more like a Packard or that Model T (old and outdated) you guys drive around on game day. UGA might have a Ford but last I heard, they were built tough…..just what a Defense needs….toughness!!
Dawgie Bowser
January 15th, 2010
12:16 pm
Enter your comments here
WPWW
January 15th, 2010
12:20 pm
He seems to have a solid background. We’ll see if he’ll man up and instill some discipline into the thug “afroletes” on defense!
http://www.castefootball.us
DawgBuzz
January 15th, 2010
12:22 pm
Now I know why Tech got the first guy they looked at….
Groh, fired following the Cavaliers’ 3-9 season, replaces Dave Wommack, who was dismissed last week after two seasons under coach Paul Johnson. Groh, 65, has not been an assistant since 1988, when he was the offensive coordinator at South Carolina. Groh was 59-53 in nine years at Virginia.
Floats like a Butter Fly Stings like a bee...
January 15th, 2010
12:22 pm
Love CPJ and I don’t hate Tech, but the Tech fans will always be ranked # 1. In regards to a delusional fan base. Tech will win 7 games every year with CPJ, and they will beat UGA once every 10 years. So, Let’s just say ” Floats like Butter Fly and drinks UGA’s peeeeee”.
Dawgie Bowser
January 15th, 2010
12:22 pm
Whoops! Sorry. I’m pretty excited about Grantie but have to say these saleries are gettin’ crazy. I’ll be waiting in front of the stadium at the first game to get his autograph and speak to him. I’m going to position myself where his limo pulls in.
CvilleDawg
January 15th, 2010
12:24 pm
http://sports.espn.go.com/dallas/ncf/news/story?id=4828695 its done people quit freaking out.
Racine Dawg
January 15th, 2010
12:25 pm
Ga hit a grand slam with that hire—the best they could have found!! His D will take over the SEC using NFL style reads, blitzes, etc. Tech will be looking for another coach next year, when Groh’s D doesn’t show up in the big games. He’s too old to coach D.
Bo Williams
January 15th, 2010
12:26 pm
“UGa cuts English Department funds to up ante for DC”. I’d prefer they make the English Department Head the DC. Neither program would suffer.
Terry
January 15th, 2010
12:26 pm
Coach Saban tried to hire Todd Grantham so he must have a good Defensive mind.
tom
January 15th, 2010
12:28 pm
all you morons that are saying GT won this battle of the DC search need to wait a year and see whose D plays better. Right now all they are is a new hire. I wont rejoice until I see us winning games 17-10 instead of 45-42
west rome dawg
January 15th, 2010
12:29 pm
not a tech fan but, i do know that the ‘ramblin wreck” is a MODEL A… goes to show you how old i am.. today is my birthday…… grest present CMR
Vince Dooley
January 15th, 2010
12:32 pm
Well looks like CMR has made me to look like a “Little Kirby” again!
GT is now a 6TH RATE HIGH SCHOOL TEAM
January 15th, 2010
12:33 pm
THE JELLO JOCKITCH SHOULD BE SHAKING IN THEIR LAVATORIES NOW. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHHAHAHHA
Kirby "The Weasal" Smart
January 15th, 2010
12:33 pm
Well, at least I got a raise out of this …. until Saban figures out I’m doing nothing.
Coach Bobo
January 15th, 2010
12:34 pm
Guess this makes me the new scapegoat.
Logic
January 15th, 2010
12:34 pm
Are any of you morons that are totally consumed with this issue worry about what Obama is doing to our country?
GT is now a 6TH RATE HIGH SCHOOL TEAM
January 15th, 2010
12:35 pm
THE JELLO JOCKITCH WILL BE A WRECK AGAIN THIS SEASON. HAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA FOREVER AND EVER.
TXDawg
January 15th, 2010
12:37 pm
ESPN is reporting it on the bottom line….I guess it’s official now that the SEC(ESPN) network says so….lol
TXDawg
January 15th, 2010
12:39 pm
I just heard Vince Dooley, Jr (Derek) is a candidate for the Tennessee job…..ewwww!!
Andre
January 15th, 2010
12:39 pm
Finally.Good hire CMR.
Who?
January 15th, 2010
12:40 pm
I’ve never heard of this guy that Ga hired! They should have hired a big name instead for that kind of money ($750,000)!
Technophobia
January 15th, 2010
12:40 pm
What’s the difference between a UGA divorce and a tornado?
I don’t know but somebody’s gonna lose a trailer.
TXDawg
January 15th, 2010
12:41 pm
I wonder how the recruiting is going to be affected >>>
From the Fort-Worth Star Telegram:
“The Cowboys hired Paul Pasqualoni almost immediately after finding out that Grantham was taking Georgia’s offer to become the Bulldogs defensive coordinator. Pasqualoni is at Valley Ranch, working with Grantham and the defensive linemen. Grantham will remain here with the Cowboys until the end of the season.”
DawgBuzz
January 15th, 2010
12:43 pm
Maybe if I can sing the words to ‘Rocky Top’ maybe AD Hamilton will hire me for the job at UT. I also have an unproven coaching record to match.
jay
January 15th, 2010
12:43 pm
If Richt had hired Grantham on day 1 after Willie Martinez was dismissed, this same paper would be saying, “Why didn’t he at least
try to hire some big names.”
Tom
January 15th, 2010
12:44 pm
too much $, so he better produce
Ernest T Bass
January 15th, 2010
12:47 pm
Way to go Richt!
Welcome Coach Grantham
Yippi Yahoo
gdawginkalamazoo
January 15th, 2010
12:48 pm
Independent Thinker, yes I am pi$$ed off too about that much money going to a defensive coordinator for a football team. Pi$$ed at my parents for not telling me that I could make that much for just coaching football.
coach smith
January 15th, 2010
12:48 pm
GaGator
give it up….i undestand your fear that UGA finally has a real defensive coordinator again BUT there are statements from GRANTHAM himself
Mark
January 15th, 2010
12:51 pm
Wonder how Rodney Garner feels……..
TXDawg
January 15th, 2010
12:52 pm
“According to one report, he will be the third-highest paid assistant in college football. Texas’ Will Muschamp is second at $900,000 at year.”
“He can really dissect the offenses,” Bowen said earlier in the week. “He really shows you how to do your job but it’s not like you have to play like a robot where you have to do this and have to do that. He brings a lot of confidence to the group.”
gdawginkalamazoo
January 15th, 2010
12:53 pm
TXDawg, should help recruiting for DL’s. Especially if you are a DT or NG in high school looking to make an immediate impact in college. I would hope that Grantham comes in and evaluates the talent before throwing the older guys on the field. UGA does have a ton of talent too. Now it will be utilized.
Alabama Dog
January 15th, 2010
12:53 pm
Finance Buzz: How has tech shown up UGA? They CERTAINLY didn’t do it on the football field-WHERE IT COUNTS!!!!! 30-24 says it all. CASE CLOSED!!!!!
Barkin'Dog
January 15th, 2010
12:57 pm
Grantham to finish season for Cowboys
IRVING, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys didn’t take long to hire Paul Pasqualoni as their new defensive line coach. It actually took a matter of minutes.
The University of Georgia announced the hiring of Todd Grantham as its defensive coordinator Friday, and shortly thereafter, the Cowboys announced it had hired Pasqualoni to replace him.
http://sports.espn.go.com/dallas/nfl/news/story?id=4828825
TXDawg
January 15th, 2010
12:59 pm
Barkin’Dog….are you mocking my posts? I already posted that info.