Lakatos ‘mystery’ unraveled; UPDATED with contract info
(Updated 3:30 p.m.)
Georgia’s football program continued to rebuild its defensive staff today, hiring a veteran assistant coach who will be making a major geographic shift in his career.
Scott Lakatos, hired as Georgia’s defensive-backs coach, has been on the staff at seven other colleges, all in his native Northeast. He was the secondary coach at Connecticut the past six seasons and previously worked at Rutgers, Maine, New Haven, Syracuse, Boston University and Western Connecticut State, his alma mater.
So, you ask, what was the connection that led him from the Northeast to UGA?
“I’m sure there was a little bit of a mystery for everybody to figure that out,” Lakatos said this afternoon.
The answer: a long friendship with Todd Grantham, hired Friday as the Bulldogs’ new defensive coordinator.
Lakatos said he and Grantham have been good friends for more than 15 years, meeting when Lakatos was a graduate assistant at Syracuse and Grantham a young coach at Virginia Tech.
“Over time, we’ve always stayed in contact,” Lakatos said. “We have similar philosophies and similar ideas defensively and finally have an opportunity to work together. I’m pretty excited about it.”
Grantham recommended Lakatos to Georgia coach Mark Richt, who had never met Lakatos until this past weekend. By Monday morning, Richt had offered –- and Lakatos had accepted -– a job as the Bulldogs’ defensive-backs coach. He’ll work under a one-year contract and be paid a salary of $180,000.
That represents a $50,000 raise from what Lakatos made at Connecticut last year, according to USA Today’s database of coaches’ salaries. In 2009, a $180,000 salary would have ranked sixth highest among Georgia’s nine assistant coaches.
Lakatos (pronounced LACK-ah-tose) had more than Grantham to recommend him for the job. He also had some impressive results as Connecticut’s defensive-backs coach.
The Huskies ranked in the nation’s top 10 in pass-efficiency defense in three of the past five seasons, although they fell to 85th in 2009 after losing two starters in the secondary to the NFL. A starting cornerback, Jasper Howard, was stabbed to death on campus in October.
In what turned out to be Lakatos’ last game on the Connecticut staff, the Huskies defeated an SEC team -– South Carolina –- 20-7 in the Papajohn’s.com Bowl, holding Gamecocks quarterback Stephen Garcia to 16 completions in 38 attempts for 129 yards passing.
Although Lakatos, 44, has never lived or worked outside the Northeast, he said he jumped at the Georgia offer.
“Being a football coach, I think we’d all like to have opportunities to get ourselves involved in what could be considered the best programs, where we have an opportunity to compete against the best people and get in the best conference and recruit the best players,” he said. “I mean, that’s what we all try to do. So when this opportunity came up, there really wasn’t any hesitation at all.”
He said the South’s “passion for football” is “very exciting to me.”
Lakatos has “an outstanding resume of success” and “will bring a great deal of experience and expertise” to Georgia’s staff, Richt said in a statement.
The hires of Grantham and Lakatos leave one opening on Georgia’s defensive staff. Richt fired three defensive coaches in December.
While Grantham replaced the fired Willie Martinez as defensive coordinator, Grantham replaces Martinez as defensive-backs coach. Grantham will work with linebackers. It is not clear how Richt will define the duties of the final hire.
Other than Richt, whom he just met, and Grantham, Lakatos doesn’t know any of the coaches on Georgia’s staff.
“I’m definitely the new guy,” he said.
And please click here and follow me on Twitter for the latest UGA news and notes.
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
308 comments Add your comment
vOL mAN
January 18th, 2010
1:32 pm
THIRTY 30, 30 THERTY, 30, THURTY years since the dawgs won a natty title. bwhahahahahahahaha and you rednecks think your an elit program. lololololol
Old Coach
January 18th, 2010
1:33 pm
Ga. just hired a very good DC and secondary coach! Why in the world would some moron from another school get on this site and rant about their school? Get a life! What kind of job if any, do you think these loons might have?
vOL mAN
January 18th, 2010
1:34 pm
thats what you thought when you hired the last bunch of clowns
Jona
January 18th, 2010
1:35 pm
vOL mAN
Are you really retarded or just pretending? Just asking.
vOL mAN
January 18th, 2010
1:36 pm
jona, 30 years and counting, bwahahahahahaha
Jona
January 18th, 2010
1:36 pm
So you’re a 30 year old retard?
eriecliper
January 18th, 2010
1:37 pm
vOL mAN:
That statement from someone from Tennessee. That has to be a joke! You people would not even recognize proper English. You still have to use cow bells and “Hog Calls” to get you to dinner.
vOL mAN
January 18th, 2010
1:38 pm
i coach the ugag buldawgs. woof woof woof woof woof………red neck hell athens ga
Jona
January 18th, 2010
1:40 pm
eriecliper
Shhhhhh. We need to be nice at least till his mama gets home and gets him off the computer.
Vol Boy
January 18th, 2010
1:40 pm
You got turned down by Air Force…
BDAWG
January 18th, 2010
1:40 pm
I do agree with the fact that BoBo’s playcalling is very suspect. It will tell within the first four games. His 3rd down playcalling is horrible and very predictable. Richt really needs to ride him a little harder. With playing great defenses in the SEC, execution on offense is a top priority. The UGA offense needs to look like a fine tuned machine not like a mass cluster. Hopefully with having a better quarterback that will a end. If we don’t put up at least 60 points in the first game, we are in trouble. With all the talent on offense there will be no reason for excuses like” it’s my faught we were not ready”. If that happens BoBo has to go. If someone gets hurt there should be another guy ready to step in and continue . there should be no let downs on the offensive line. The line will have been together at least 3 yrs come next season, so everyone should be able to step into a position without any problems.
vOL mAN
January 18th, 2010
1:44 pm
D. Dooley > M. Richt………wait and see rednecks, wait and see!
emorydawg
January 18th, 2010
1:45 pm
Who’s delusional? SI has Ga. the third best behind FLA, LSU. no delusions here.
Ranking the SEC programs, 2000-2009
Team Total W-L W-L vs SEC W-L vs Top 25 Bowl W-L Top 25 finish Top 10 finish SEC title games SEC titles Nat’l titles
Florida 99-30 64-20 35-21 4-5 9 4 4 3 2
LSU 99-30 58-26 31-20 7-2 7 5 4 3 2
Georgia 97-31 57-26 30-22 7-2 9 6 3 2 0
Auburn 87-39 53-29 22-21 5-3 6 2 2 1 0
Tennessee 83-43 51-32 18-28 3-4 6 1 3 0 0
Alabama 78-48 47-35 19-27 3-3 3 2 2 1 0
Arkansas 70-54 37-45 15-32 1-5 1 0 2 0 0
S. Carolina 68-53 37-43 14-29 3-2 2 0 0 0 0
Ole Miss 62-58 33-47 11-22 3-1 2 0 0 0 0
Miss. State 42-76 20-60 7-30 2-0 1 0 0 0 0
Kentucky 50-69 20-60 3-35 3-0 0 0 0 0 0
Vanderbilt 34-83 13-67 5-34 1-0 0 0 0 0 0
vOL mAN
January 18th, 2010
1:49 pm
emorydawg, you dip. look at that list and tell me how many teams in the top 6 have won a national championship and the one that went undefeated and got screwed out of their shot and then the one who AINT MAN ENOUGH TO DO IT??????? the lil ole pups, thats who!!!!!! rotflmao
Jona
January 18th, 2010
1:49 pm
emorydawg
On this blog you’re only allowed to bring up the last 2 years. Don’t you know?
1eyedJack
January 18th, 2010
1:51 pm
It would be nice to win a National Championship on the 30th anniversary of the last. Go Dawgs!!!
dawgbark
January 18th, 2010
1:51 pm
Now all you whiners out there can quit your whining. Please find something else to focus on now. CMR is the right man at the right time at the right school.
emorydawg
January 18th, 2010
1:53 pm
emorydawg
On this blog you’re only allowed to bring up the last 2 years. Don’t you know?
My mistake, I forgot that there were mental midgets here that had no clue about history and tradition. Thank you for helping me remember that. Vols and bammers tend to be a tad slow.
Alabamadawg, who's never eating at the Outback Resturant again !!
January 18th, 2010
1:54 pm
takedowndawg, I’m glad someone besides me remembers who the heck Carlton Thomas is !! Really wish he’d get some more carries…
Old Coach
January 18th, 2010
1:55 pm
BDAWG… Looks like you have all the answers as to how to win the NC. Maybe YOU need to apply for a coaching position, ever had a whistle in your mouth? Or do you just know haw to prepare a team to play EVERY week in the SEC!!!
vOL mAN
January 18th, 2010
1:56 pm
oh crap I’m laughing now, you want to compare your history to the Vols and Bammers, there is tad slow and then there is downright stupid emorydummydawg.
tell me the dawgs vaunted history compared to the others? lol
Will
January 18th, 2010
1:56 pm
UGA will be better this year. It’s simply addition by subtraction; No Joe Cox or Willie Martinez.
Another thing to point out is that UGA has a much easier schedule this year than they have the last 2 years, they play 2 cupcakes and they play Arkansas and Miss State instead of LSU and Alabama.
emorydawg
January 18th, 2010
1:58 pm
volman,
No time for flamers. Your dismissed
Swampdawg
January 18th, 2010
1:58 pm
Coach, here is the problem with the DAWGS!
Too many kids at UGA running around showboating and beating chest and dancing on the sideline even when losing! Not enough strong and intelligent men! UGA will never be a Conistent Top Elite Team like Ohio St.,Michigan, Penn St. Iowa, BYU, etc. if they keep getting these type players. Too many players running around on the field making foolish mistakes and showboating. Need more intelligent and strong MEN on team! NOW FIX IT!
vOL mAN
January 18th, 2010
1:59 pm
thats the only way the dawgs ever do good, pansy scheduling is the way to go!!! sissies
Hokie James
January 18th, 2010
1:59 pm
vOL mAN, I wouldn’t be trashing UGA so soon. How about the beating Va Tech put on your boys in the bowl game? Also, Monte Kiffin is gone, so you guys are looking at another 6 loss season.
vOL mAN
January 18th, 2010
2:00 pm
timeout for me?
Preston
January 18th, 2010
2:00 pm
Arkansas and MSU will give Bama and LSU all they want in the West this year. Wait and see.
vOL mAN
January 18th, 2010
2:02 pm
swampdawg, actually they do remind me of michigan
Swampdawg
January 18th, 2010
2:03 pm
Read between the lines in my last post.
Blade
January 18th, 2010
2:04 pm
You do realize we have no control over our SEC schedule, right? We always play every east team, and the west teams rotate. And please don’t talk about our schedule. Every single team does the same exact thing.
killerJ
January 18th, 2010
2:04 pm
Did anyone see the bowl ratings?ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha,convict nation!!!! ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha,big bad georgia!!!! ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha nobody cares!!!ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha i love this game!!!!!!!ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha !!!!!!
Blade??
January 18th, 2010
2:04 pm
By the way, that comment was directed towards Blade. He is not talking.
Swampdawg
January 18th, 2010
2:05 pm
Need more men with UPPER BODY STRENGTH!
BAMA STAN
January 18th, 2010
2:06 pm
13 NATIONAL TITLES – 22 SEC TITLES!!!
blade – interesting post – and welcome to understanding football.
I would be interested to find out which team you root for – and look at their OOC schedule over the last few years.
Here is the deal – It’s not just about the wins – it is totally about the losses:
1. FOCUS on your conference schedule – it is critical to play in the conference title game and win – or win your conference through course of conference play (B10/P10 etc). Win your conference – and avoid LOSSES- it is how the system is set up.
2. Look at the rankings – it is about LOSSES – not wins – and people forget about your OOC schedule – because winning your conference is ALL that matters – and avoiding LOSSES.
Many schools will play ONE major D1 OOC team – but remember – Florida and Georgia have FSU/GT built in. Most teams DO NOT have a HEATED RIVAL that is OOC.
Notable 2009 OOC schedules:
Boise STATE – Oregon first game, MiamiOH, Bowling Green, CalDavis.
TCU- Virginia, TX STATE, Clemson, SMU.
Penn State – Akron, Syracuse, Temple, E. IL
Texas – LA Monroe, Wyoming, TX ElPaso, Cent. FL
Alabama – VaTech, FL Int, N. TX, TN Chatt
AUB – La Tech, W. VA, Ball STATE, Furman
Florida – Charleston Southern, Troy, FL Int, FSU
GT – Jax ST, MS ST, Vandy, UGA
Get the picture? many schools will play at least ONE respectable OOC team – many do not – look at TEXAS and PENN STATE in 2009 and you are picking on UGA for their OOC 2010 – which includes GT?
AGAIN – blade – which team do you root for? Let’s look at their OOC schedule. Do not focus so much on OOC – it is not how the system works – it’s all about winning your conference – and avoiding LOSSES.
ROLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL TIDE!!!
1eyedJack
January 18th, 2010
2:06 pm
These guys are gonna have the DAWGS defense ready to stradle razor wire while whippin’ gators to death with live rattlesnakes!!!
Think maybe Grantham would like to stick his nose in the Mat Drills?
Swampdawg
January 18th, 2010
2:06 pm
# 60 and # 61 are great looking players!
Blade??
January 18th, 2010
2:07 pm
Oh, and I find it hilarious that VolMan is calling someone a redneck. Really? Have you seen Knoxville? I could take the money from my part-time on-campus job and buy the city.
Blade??
January 18th, 2010
2:09 pm
Thank you Bama Stan.
Swampdawg
January 18th, 2010
2:09 pm
Dawgs need more players like #60 and #61!
yogi2
January 18th, 2010
2:19 pm
it’s never too late to replace BOBO. The sooner the better. FIRE the jerk!
NC DAWG
January 18th, 2010
2:24 pm
Hire Travis Jones as OLB coach
Swampdawg
January 18th, 2010
2:25 pm
Refreshing to see teams like BYU and Iowa win!
Swampdawg
January 18th, 2010
2:39 pm
As it stands the Dawgs are a Top 12 Team. They will never be in that top 5 consistently. Not with the type recruits they have been getting!
Too many boys and not enough men!
ugaaccountant
January 18th, 2010
2:42 pm
Time to settle…
January 18th, 2010
12:37 pm
So why is the 4th choice hire a good one now that you’re stuck with him? A week ago it was Brian VG/ K Smart or bust……
You’ve been reading the moron sports writers at the AJC haven’t you? Those guys are never right about anything.
We didn’t offer Brian Van Gorder and it’s not like Smart is in some different league than Grantham. Plenty of informed people would argue the opposite, that he is far more of a proven coach than Smart. But keep reading Mark Bradley, a columnist paid to stir up trouble, and thinking that you are informed.
Hat turnt sideways
January 18th, 2010
2:43 pm
As Pants on the Ground says, “Grantham is a Big Mistake for UGA”. What will he do when Paul Johnson’s triple option puts up 500+ total yards and 50 pts. on his defense this November? Grantham could be the final nail in Mark Richt’s coffin. The only possible saving grace is the weakest schedule in the south. Other than GT, who do they play? Nobody, absolutely nobody.
Go DOGS
January 18th, 2010
2:43 pm
Old Coach
January 18th, 2010
1:24 pm
FYI – Alabama Jack is a Tech redneck who used to pick up the trash around Bobby Dodd/Grant Field. He injured his back picking up Coke cans, and receives a small disability check. Hence, he now lives in a trailer in Alabama so he $250/mo house on wheels payment.
dawgcrzy
January 18th, 2010
2:44 pm
to Volman….pants on tha ground,pants on tha ground,lookin like a fool with yo pants on tha ground
Old Coach
January 18th, 2010
2:48 pm
Go DOGS It all makes sense now!!!
Jona
January 18th, 2010
2:50 pm
Hat turnt sideways
Too early to be that drunk dude