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.
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793 comments Add your comment
UA Alum92
January 15th, 2010
8:11 am
Congrats, Dawgs. Hope it’s true. Sounds like a good hire with a nice pedigree. Roll Tide!
DogGoneGaDawg
January 15th, 2010
8:11 am
If our defense starts looking anything like the Dallas Cowboy’s we will be ok.
clemdudtlhopr
January 15th, 2010
8:13 am
I’ll wait until the fat lady sings! I believe our offense will be good. Haven’t checked on Grantham’s history yet. When and if he signs on the dotted line, then I’ll do the background checks and form my opinion. You know opinions are like A&&@#$%’s, everyone has one and they all stink!
DogGoneGaDawg
January 15th, 2010
8:16 am
If Grantham has a pulse and is capable of making any kind of defensive adjustments at all we will be ok. Having a pulse and making adjustments was something foreign to Martinez.
Jona
January 15th, 2010
8:18 am
dap01
It’s all they got…..have a little pity.
Since Vince
January 15th, 2010
8:18 am
yeah but what about an offense ? what about the Stupid play call on 3rd and long by Boo BOO ? what about the three and outs? Who is going to address those problems? Who is going to address the diet intake that was displayed by Jeff Owens tweets ? Who is going to address FOCUS and DISCIPLINE on the sidelines instead of thoughts of a rap concert at Sanford stadium ?????
BREED
January 15th, 2010
8:20 am
All the doubters can watch the Dallas D unleash on Favre and Peterson this weekend.
Flushed out of the pocket
January 15th, 2010
8:21 am
Darn even the punk Lame Kiffen punched Markie in the mouth on the football field. How embarrassing was that ?
DogGoneGaDawg
January 15th, 2010
8:21 am
Flushed out of the pocket: Since GT has not won in Athens since 1976 I do not think UGA “slip” (sic) up on anybody. And South Carolina also lost to Wofford–apparently the best team in two states.
Jona
January 15th, 2010
8:22 am
I don’t think we had much problem with the offense this year other than Cox giving it to the other team every 3rd or 4th series. Saban wanted this guy so that tells me his fundamentals are sound and he is NFL so when he talks to recruits, they can believe him.
Asheville Dawg
January 15th, 2010
8:24 am
Blah blah blah blah blah. This is really getting old. Hope CMR gets someone soon so we can rip’em to shreds.
GameTime
January 15th, 2010
8:24 am
Bullpups and Coach Sunshine must have been getting pretty desperate to throw those kind of dollars around for a coach who failed in his only other coordinator job. Guess the boys in Athens are feeling the heat and decided they’d pay whatever necessary to avoid another rejection. Good luck — this guy sure isn’t a Monte Kiffin.
Flushed out of the pocket
January 15th, 2010
8:24 am
DGGD….. South Carolina ???? you are kidding me right???? You comparing UGA to Chickens? Now that really takes the cake !!!!
DogGoneGaDawg
January 15th, 2010
8:24 am
Flushed out of the pocket: Why don’t you try being flushed down the toilet? But, then again, there are some things even a commode will not do.
gdawginkalamazoo
January 15th, 2010
8:25 am
UGAissolastdecade, how about #10 versus unranked this past year? That worked out well for the insects. Oh wait until basketball season ranked #17 versus unranked that has to turn out better doesn’t it?
Saint Augustine
January 15th, 2010
8:26 am
Hey Dip1,
What is sad is the delusional dog fans, of which you are a leading Koolaid server! That’s what is sad.
Lane Kiffin of Southern Cal
January 15th, 2010
8:27 am
Even I, a liar, cheater and backstabber, kicked Mark Richt’s azz before I put the screws to Tennessee!!! That has to really hurt all you redneck Dawg fans……huh?
Jona
January 15th, 2010
8:27 am
To all the haters on this blog.
bahahahahahahahahahha.
Now crawl back into the shadows and start shaking like a scared little girl. Georgia gets an actual defense and it’s game over.
DogGoneGaDawg
January 15th, 2010
8:27 am
I personally like what Fox is doing in Athens. Right now they are playing toe-to-toe with the big boys. Afterall, expectations for this season were not high–picked to finish last in the SEC East. That might still happen but not without a fight.
Since Vince
January 15th, 2010
8:28 am
Could be a good hire but what about the other problems that need to be addressed. Even Auburn is ahead of UGA in recruiting as we blog ….Im just sayin
Saint Augustine
January 15th, 2010
8:29 am
Asheville Dawg
“Hope CMR gets someone soon so we can rip’em to shreds”.
umm, pretty sure that’s why it has taken you SIX weeks and SEVEN candidtaes to get to this point. NO coach likes being micromanaged especially by anonymous AH fans that change their screen names daily.
georgia has the WORST fan base in the SEC and possibly the entire NCAA
DogGoneGaDawg
January 15th, 2010
8:30 am
Since Vince: What should we be concerned about Auburn? We have only beat them four straight years.
DogGoneGaDawg
January 15th, 2010
8:32 am
Saint Augustine: Apparently you have never been to Clemson.
Reality
January 15th, 2010
8:32 am
Do all the UGA fans really think that a defensive coordinator is going to solve their problems? A good DC will help, but CWM wasn’t the only reason for a miserable season. UGA still doesn’t possess the ability to “coach up” their players nor do they have the ability to instill the discipline needed to reach the top level of the SEC. If you disagree, just wait and see.
Flushed out of the pocket
January 15th, 2010
8:34 am
DGGD…..Yeah in football CMR plays toe to toe with the KYs, Vandys, Chickens and even a UAB. That includes the offense too. Yeah its Flushes the dawgs to Shreveport baby !
Report: Grantham Takes UGA Job | MrSEC.com
January 15th, 2010
8:35 am
[...] didn’t have to wait until the NFL season finished.According to Tom Dienhart of Rivals.com, “Georgia will hire Todd Grantham as defensive coordinator.” He also reported via Twitter: “Grantham’s deal is signed. It is for 3 years. He [...]
CLEVON LITTLE
January 15th, 2010
8:35 am
Not sure how good Grantham will work out at GEORGIA, but I think he will bring some fire to the Defense. He’s known for being a little ‘hot’headed, so we’ll see how he gets along w/ everyone. I will say this: While Kirby Smart may have been a sexier hire (and pissed of ALA fans) I’m still not convinced he would have made a good DC on his own, and regardless how good it would have seemed a few days ago, but I’m not so sure come the next season or two.
UA Alum92
January 15th, 2010
8:38 am
Once again, congrats Dawgs, but this whole process has me wondering. Why doesn’t Coach Richt have a stable of former coaches / players that he can use as a talent pool for such hires?
You hear about coaches being Carroll disciples or Brown or Saban or Beamer or even Tuberville, but not Richt. Is it because his coaching style / philosophy isn’t distinctive? Not throwing stones, just curious.
CLEVON LITTLE
January 15th, 2010
8:38 am
Reality, ALL the problems? No. Can Grantham be a piece in turning things around? Absolutely. One downfall of Martinez is observing & recruiting the correct talent, and that’s something that Grantham can correct.
The Other St. Simons
January 15th, 2010
8:39 am
Grantham reportedly would have signed sooner but was too busy laughing his arse off when he heard he had to play a high school offense every year.
The Other St. Simons
January 15th, 2010
8:40 am
UA Alum 92: Bobo, Martinez, Jancek, Fabris? That’s not a coaching tree, it’s toothpick. This dawg agrees.
Nick Saban
January 15th, 2010
8:40 am
Will Richt allow him to yell at the players and cuss? Hahaha. Also can he do flips like Richt does into the pool?
BG
January 15th, 2010
8:41 am
Awesome hire!!! I knew Coach Richt would bring in a first class DC.
CLEVON LITTLE
January 15th, 2010
8:41 am
UA Alum92, with the exception of Beamer, the coaches Grantham worked under were Defensive coaches –and the point of Grantham working under Beamer was that he was really working with Bud Foster. Richt is an offensive mind, not defensive.
DDawgDavis
January 15th, 2010
8:41 am
Is it me or is it Pollack is angling for a coaching job?
Kennesaw Dawg
January 15th, 2010
8:42 am
Yet another reason to hope the Cowgirls lose to the Viks this weekend, so that we can get done with this hire. (As if you needed any more reason to hope bad for that team).
Rich
January 15th, 2010
8:42 am
This is the one we really wanted.
Amy
January 15th, 2010
8:42 am
David Pollack screwed up and reported wrong info on the Kirby Smart “hire”, so I no longer trust what he says! I will wait for confirmation from UGA before celebrating!
Saint Augustine
January 15th, 2010
8:43 am
HAHAHAHA. Don’t kid yourself, there are millions of dawg haters in the southeast. Don’t think it’s only the ones who take the time to post here.
Auburn (approx. 240,000)
Florida (approx. 280,000)
Tech (approx. 220,000)
Clemson (approx. 210,000)
Tennessee (approx. 270,000)
South Carolina (approx. 240,000)
Outback Bowl Committee (approx.
Referees (approx. 22)
Pollsters (approx. 47)
Game Day Hosts (approx 3 out of 4)
Play by play commentators (approx. 19)
The Grinch
January 15th, 2010
8:44 am
If what I heard last night is true (and brother I’ve heard some doozies), this will be a great hire because he is supposedly going to bring Travis Jones with him as a well paid positions coach.
This may all blow up in our faces, but after the call last night I was feeling pretty darn good.
The Other St. Simons
January 15th, 2010
8:44 am
Cutcliffe staying put. Hamilton interviewing Lovie Smith. Didn’t Dallas beat Chicago. Hope so.
The UGALY Truth
January 15th, 2010
8:45 am
BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Why read the comics when you can read the “Richt Will Hire ANYONE Who Will Accept” blogs every morning…Now you tell me…Does THAT sound like a sad life?
BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh man…..This Richt character….What a HOOT!
NCDAWG
January 15th, 2010
8:46 am
UGA fans have waited this long….why not wait some more….I agree with several other folks…….I believe this when I see a reliable source…..not a Tweet from David Pollack
Flushed out of the pocket
January 15th, 2010
8:47 am
Sounds like this could be another Glen Mason episode, Grantham may change his mind after he visits Athens….
DogGoneGaDawg
January 15th, 2010
8:47 am
Flushed out of the pocket: I can’t tell what your agenda is but let me provide you with some facts: First of all I find it fascinating that you think that, in two short years, UGA is suddenly a program in the pit of hell. 24 short months ago UGA finished #2 in the final AP poll. In 2008, the year with all the hype and expectations, UGA lost 18 roster players to season ending injuries–including both starting offensive tackles. And they still won 10 games! Stafford and Moreno leave early and Joe Cox just was not the trigger man the UGA needed to play at the highest level this past season. The season was disappointing since we only 8 games. And UGA has won eight games for the past 13 years straight–tops in the NCAA. So whatever your agenda is please go peddle it somewhere else.
Saint Augustine
January 15th, 2010
8:47 am
The Grinch,
“This may all blow up in our faces”
“Bank it”
Flushed out of the pocket
January 15th, 2010
8:48 am
Jeff Owens just tweeted he super sized at the Waffle House……
athenian
January 15th, 2010
8:48 am
This is really exciting…if true, georgia has signed their 4th or 5th choice and had to over pay to get him. WOW!
BobbyDawg
January 15th, 2010
8:48 am
This could be great for Bulldog Nation, except for the fact that the picture I saw of the guy showed him to be BAD out of shape with his big fat beer gut. I think all coaches should set an example by being in top shape themselves. The scoreboard as usual will tell the final story.
Gt4ever
January 15th, 2010
8:49 am
This is SO funny! The only guy that accepts the job, because everybody else REJECTS the job…….. I mean this guy is a great hire,,,, Yeah right!