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
Since Vince
January 15th, 2010
10:01 am
DGGD… Yes IM a huge fan of UGA Im just not a blind homer like yourself.
Jona
January 15th, 2010
10:01 am
Flushed out of the pocket
If you look at Georgia before Richt compared to the Richt era you’d see he did get them over the hump. As far as a NC being the only measure of success goes, I guess about 97% of college coaches are failures.
Saint Augustine
January 15th, 2010
10:02 am
Joana,
You’re welcome!
Ron,
Go back to your other dogs dude
Lake Hartwell Dawg
January 15th, 2010
10:02 am
Hey Will, Richt does not have a house on Lake Oconee. Richt’s house is on Lake Hartwell.
coach smith
January 15th, 2010
10:02 am
He’ll bring a hybrid 3-4 / 4-3 attacking aggressive style defense with multiple blitzes (and I mean all kinds of blitzes) NFL style combo covereage in the secondary AND he will be able to tell recruits that he has been an NFL coordinator and coached the Dallas Cowboy’s defense….
What is not to love?
Here is something that will make you like him better, Saban tried to hire him to be Miami’s d-coordinator and he turned him down!!!!!!!! that gets him more points in my book
NCDAWG
January 15th, 2010
10:05 am
If Travis Jones does come with Grantham (as some reports say), That means 3 of UGA Defensive Coaches were DL position coaches this past year. I wonder where these leaves Garner? I think Jones could coach linebackers…not sure about Grantham ant the secondary…?
NCDAWG
January 15th, 2010
10:05 am
*and
coach smith
January 15th, 2010
10:07 am
I really hope that Tech gets Groh….talk about over the hill and never accomplishing anything…Remind me agian how good has Virginia or their defense been? LOL
I kinda feel bad for TENNESSEE, in 48 hours they have had their coach and his staff run out on them and try to take players and they have been turned down by the Coaches of AIR FORCE (Calhoun) and DUKE (Cutcliff)!!!!!!!!!!! And Muschamp and Gruden. Not to mention ESPN’s Schad just s said Randy Edsell is not interested!!!!!!!!
WOW that is 5 NOs to UT in a short amount of time
FLA DAWG
January 15th, 2010
10:07 am
If I’m a Blue Chip Defensive Recruit looking for the best chance to get to The NFL I’m going to UGA if this news is true!
collegeballfan
January 15th, 2010
10:07 am
The Grinch January 15th, 2010 9:12 am
Has Garner ever coached a 3-4? I believe the coaching assignments in a 3-4 are DL, ILB, outside OLB and DB. Am I correct?
coach smith
January 15th, 2010
10:08 am
Travis Jones would be great to bring along I hope that happens
Flushed out of the pocket
January 15th, 2010
10:08 am
Hey Jona not 97 % coaches in SEC are not failures, Spurrier, Saban, Meyer, Miles.
DirtyDawg
January 15th, 2010
10:10 am
Just wonder how my Tennessee fans will react to a ‘Dooley’ as their new head football coach? And on which side of the stadium Daddy and Momma Dooley will sit at Ga/UT games?
WonderDawg
January 15th, 2010
10:11 am
You’re so right Ugaly Truth, Richt is such a dumba$$. Terrible coach, worse man. But we keep him cause he can kick Tech’s butt 8 out of every 9 years. Oh, and he can also win bowl games.
UGA FAN IN ALANAMA
January 15th, 2010
10:11 am
So i am atarting to think this isnt good!!! Richt please help!!! Why is David P the only guy reportig his??? As for TECH, great hire, i hope Al is good for you…. Just would be a little scepticel about the hiresat UGA and TECH!!!! Les go DAWGS no matter who we hire!!!
DawgBite
January 15th, 2010
10:11 am
I am delighted we finally have a DC for recruiting purposes but quite honestly think we have overpaid by about double! What has he ever accomplished to prove his worth? He was fired at Cleveland after his only year as a DC!!! So now he is good enough for UGA? He has done an admirable job as the Dallas D line coach but we are talking about a leader for the entire D….Hope I am proven wrong but on the surface this looks worse than keeping Martinez.
1eyedJack
January 15th, 2010
10:11 am
Now you may call it an unreasoning optimism. You may call it obtuse. But the plain fact is, judging from the pictures and mixaphorically speaking, ourn could beat up yourn….and probably edge him out in a foot race to boot.
DirtyDawg
January 15th, 2010
10:12 am
…make that ‘friends’…
Flushed out of the pocket
January 15th, 2010
10:12 am
hey Jona …..UGA is also the top revenue producers in the SEC and 3rd nation wide but cant get a indoor practice facility, build a new coliseum for BB. UGA does well in golf,Gym and maybe underwater basket weaving. Seems like a bunch of clowns running around in Athens.
Saint Augustine
January 15th, 2010
10:13 am
coach smith,
Tech ALREADY has Groh. He’s old but he’s not playing, he’s coaching. He’s got another 10 great years in him. And he has never acomplished anything defensively (1 super bowl win with Giants and 1 super bowl loss with New England-LOL)?
Tech Sucks
January 15th, 2010
10:14 am
Incredible pickup. Will be huge for UGA. A guy with a lot of NFL experience coming to coach a bunch of soon to be NFL players.
TheAntiMe
January 15th, 2010
10:14 am
If Grantham accepting the UGA DC position is actually untrue then I hear that Conan O’Brien may be available very soon to fill the Dawgs DC slot.
Since Vince
January 15th, 2010
10:16 am
Hey Flushed……..The problem at UGA is Michael Adams with the puppet Mr. Damon.
Jona
January 15th, 2010
10:16 am
Flushed out of the pocket
And your school would be?
georgiaman24
January 15th, 2010
10:16 am
It’s OFFICIAL!!! gadawgs.com
Since Vince
January 15th, 2010
10:17 am
Flushed you did leave out baseball and Tennis…. just saying
Jona
January 15th, 2010
10:18 am
Groh is old as h_ll and was out of work. Guess techs job beats being a wal-mart greeter. barely. Good pickup techies.
Flushed out of the pocket
January 15th, 2010
10:19 am
Eagle guy here jona Home of the man who als turned down UGA.
Saint Augustine
January 15th, 2010
10:19 am
Dear dog nation,
Get used to this name! Throughout his career, Groh has been a friend and protégé of Bill Parcells, working with him for over 13 years in both collegiate and professional positions. Groh was an assistant under Parcells in two Super Bowls, including a 1990 Super Bowl XXV victory with the New York Giants and a 1996 loss in Super Bowl XXXI with the New England Patriots.
BigDawg
January 15th, 2010
10:19 am
I bet Garner is gone after recruiting signing day! Maybe back to UT? Not sure who would want to go back to that mess of a program right now?
Flushed out of the pocket
January 15th, 2010
10:19 am
also
Russ, the Temporary Mascot
January 15th, 2010
10:21 am
I hope he got a “don’t paint my a$$” clause in his contract.
Saint Augustine
January 15th, 2010
10:21 am
Dear dog nation,
Put this in your snuff can and dip it. Throughout his career, Groh has been a friend and protégé of Bill Parcells, working with him for over 13 years in both collegiate and professional positions. Groh was an assistant under Parcells in two Super Bowls, including a 1990 Super Bowl XXV victory with the New York Giants and a 1996 loss in Super Bowl XXXI with the New England Patriots.
Milburn Drysdale
January 15th, 2010
10:21 am
Haven’t we heard this before? This same paper lead us to believe Cutcliffe was going to UT just yesterday, and it’s not happening. Same as the Furcal fiasco last spring.
Since Vince
January 15th, 2010
10:21 am
Wouldnt hurt my feelings if garner wasnt our recruiting coordinator.
Saint Augustine
January 15th, 2010
10:22 am
Dear dog nation,
Put this in your PBR and drink it. Throughout his career, Groh has been a friend and protégé of Bill Parcells, working with him for over 13 years in both collegiate and professional positions. Groh was an assistant under Parcells in two Super Bowls, including a 1990 Super Bowl XXV victory with the New York Giants and a 1996 loss in Super Bowl XXXI with the New England Patriots.
Ratsnake
January 15th, 2010
10:22 am
Saint Augustine, aren’t you missing a tickle pile appointment?
Duke vs UT and fried program and Al Gore
January 15th, 2010
10:22 am
When a former UT coach passes on the HC job at UT for fricking Duke, you know that your program is fried. Dead on arrival. Cutcliff said “I’ll pay you a million per year to NOT CALL me.
UT has seen Fulmer, Muschamp, Smart, Calhoun and Peterson and Cutcliff and one or two others say “hell no, I won’t go to UT”. Burn some more furniture up there hill billys.
DOA they are and it will take 4 or 5 years to rebuild it ………IF………….IF…………IF they are not on double, secret triple probation with the NCAA.
Suckered like Jethro Clampett and the used car salesman, Louie Nye. Where is uncle Jed when you need him, Hmmm??? SUCKERED by a west coast twirp. Al Gore is from Tennessee, so maybe it is not surprising ………………..HAHAHAHAHAHA
Go Dogs.
Stop jerking the Vols
January 15th, 2010
10:24 am
Amid reports that he was a candidate for the opening at Tennessee, Cutcliffe said Friday he would remain with the Blue Devils because “Duke is the place for our family.”
1eyedJack
January 15th, 2010
10:24 am
Augustina, Al has forgot everything he learned from Bill Parcells…why just this morning he forgot his wife’s name.
WTF?
January 15th, 2010
10:24 am
Everybody wants to get on Richt like he is some sort of failure but he has won 90 games in 9 years including 2 SEC Championships and played for another. Granted, we have not won a NC yet but I think we will. Heck, it took Joe Paterno 17 years to win one, Bobby Bowden 18 years, Bear Bryant 16 and Steve Spurrier 10. Give the man a break folks. We got rid of sorry a** Willie Martinez and now we have a DC in there who hopefully will exihibit some discipline and fire. If everybody wants to go back to the days of Goff (6-6 every year) or Donnan (8-4 with no hope of ever getting better), then so be it. But we have a good coach and a good man running our program and we are one of the lucky few. Feel free to keep running off at the mouth about how sorry he is but just remember what it was like sitting in Sanford Stadium around 1994 and feeling completely lost and KNOWINg we did not have a shot in the world of getting better.
Tech Land
January 15th, 2010
10:25 am
Groh >>> Grantham
Saint Augustine
January 15th, 2010
10:25 am
Dear dog nation,
THIS JUST IN
Throughout his career, Al Groh has been a friend and protégé of Bill Parcells, working with him for over 13 years in both collegiate and professional positions. Groh was an assistant under Parcells in two Super Bowls, including a 1990 Super Bowl XXV victory with the New York Giants and a 1996 loss in Super Bowl XXXI with the New England Patriots.
toph
January 15th, 2010
10:27 am
You’ve got to be kidding me Tech Land. That’s funny.
NCDAWG
January 15th, 2010
10:28 am
http://georgiadogs.com/
gatechfan
January 15th, 2010
10:28 am
You UGA fans never cease to amaze me. “great hire”…he was your 5th or 6th choice. He knows nothing about college recruiting. Sure, he defense in Dallas is good, look at the talent. It may suprise some of you in Athens, but the talent in Athens is even less than in Cleveland. The guy may know X’s and O’s as good as anyone, but the college environment is light years different than the NFL. That adjustment is what will determine his success. When is the last time he had to sit in a living room and beg some premadonna to come play for him….I hope he turns out well for you guys, it is just comical that the perennial “this is the year” followed by “wait til next year” has started again. For the record, while you guys have one, I mean won(sorry Pollack) 30 consectutive Preseason National Championships….it has been 30 years since you have won one that counted. Temper the enthusiam….
Saint Augustine
January 15th, 2010
10:28 am
Hope Dallas goes all the way to the super bowl to keep you AH dogs in suspense. And then see Grantham take the DC position at Tennessee the next day. Ohahahahahahahahahahaha
WTF?
January 15th, 2010
10:28 am
Dear Saint Augustine, THIS JUST IN—The last time Groh was a coordinator at the college ranks he was the OFFENSIVE coordinator at South Carolina in 1988.
TheAntiMe
January 15th, 2010
10:28 am
Yes, it’s just been confirmed by the AJC that Conan O’Brien has just been named the new DC for the Georgia Bulldogs. It does make sense when you consider that O’Brien often had the “For me to poop on” Dawg as a regular guest on his Late Night show. Congratulations Coach Richt on a very savvy hire.
DirtyDawg
January 15th, 2010
10:29 am
I don’t know if this is accurate or not, but don’t you think it’s time that David Pollack started to make something of himself, other than a preening, on-camera, zoot-suiter, that does nothing but ‘talk’ football and start planning on a coaching career? I mean just how long will his ’signing bonus’ money hold out? Of course he’ll have to actually go to work someplace – say as a D-line coach – and show that he can inspire and ‘coach-up’ kids…and get along with other coaches, of course. But do something. This show-biz life won’t last much longer – plus it’s only good during football season.