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.
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308 comments Add your comment
46 & 39
January 18th, 2010
6:02 pm
Georgia owns Florida 46 wins and 39 losses.
Bobo has sent multiple QB’s to the NFL, including a #1 draft pick. Meyer hasn’t EVER had a #1 draft QB.
Georgia OWNS Florida in QB’s too, glad you brought it up hosehead.
JESUP
January 18th, 2010
6:03 pm
This is my point on Bobo, He needs to be multiple—we need more pre-snap motion—every now and then let 4 receivers go out for a pass, roll the QB out. Run more draws—-MIS-DIRECTION…steal plays that are successful, like they do in the NFL, you cant over power every team you play, u have to keep Defenses honest… the screens GA. runs are sloppy and are most always read, most screens this year went to fullbacks(not the most nifty in the open field) Brandon Smith needs more touches..Green needs to run combo routes deep..If they double him it will leave the other rec. one on one. I think Mark Richt has seen the light….Defense will be strong the 3-4 devense is multiple, one down you are rushing 3 next rushing 5 O line has to guess…….GO DAWGS..
The Grinch
January 18th, 2010
6:15 pm
So when are we going to get the last of the new assistant coaches. I’ve heard we have interest in Travis Jones.
Jona
January 18th, 2010
6:20 pm
As far as I know Georgia only has one more position to fill. Travis Jones has been thrown around but the Saints are a little busy right now.
What??
January 18th, 2010
6:27 pm
I do not have any gripes with the job Bobo has been doing for us. His play calling has been effective considering the level of actual game time the running backs and qb had this past season. Once the bakcs started getting experience AND the O line started blocking the right players on the opposing teams.
SOS Dawg
January 18th, 2010
6:33 pm
Its never too late to replace anyone blind homers… UGA.s offense was dead last in red zone attempts last year. Key word here is attempts not percentage which is deceiving. UGa also had too many three and outs and still is pathetic in short yardage situations .Please dont use the excuse UGA had injuries along the offensive line because both youth and injuries were used the year before as we all know. All other teams deal with the injury bug why cant UGA. Boo Boo is a clown. It took 4 years till you homers realized Willie was a goofball so I guess it will be two more for you all to recognize Boo Boo fits the same mold.
2007 was an illusion (Football & Basketball)
January 18th, 2010
6:39 pm
Too bad that Richt didnt make some changes on the offensive side of the ball. Boo BOO runs hot and cold and his offensive schemes is so boring and predictable. Someone mentioned that he needs more misdirection, more motion in the offense and get the TE’s more involved which I agree.
NC DAWG
January 18th, 2010
6:43 pm
Travis Jones would be a great hire….he has coached olb’s before…he played at uga and from what I hear is a great recruiter……….Get it done Richt and Grantham….Welcome Lakatos, I am looking forward to seeing more interceptions this year!
NC DAWG
January 18th, 2010
6:44 pm
Jona:
Grantham was hired when the Cowboys were still in the playoffs….so UGA can make the hire….if both sides agree
gss303
January 18th, 2010
6:46 pm
IF our defense had been up to par this year…..our offense would have been pretty good.
NOt many 3 and outs per our defense. THis upcoming season will be a big improvement.
Buckhead Bulldog
January 18th, 2010
6:46 pm
SOS Dawg
January 18th, 2010
6:33 pm
I totally agree with you on BimBobo….seems like he is “training” on the job. His play calling is so predictable…I can figure out what his next play is going to be, and that ain’t good.
Weird how I can always recognize when Richt is calling in the plays.
gatorman
January 18th, 2010
6:48 pm
46 & 39, you are correct over the course of the series, however I was born in 1952 and UF owns UGA since then. If you don’t believe it research the records. That noise coming up behind you are the Gators and they are catching up fast. For recent facts, even Ron Zook had a winning record against UGA.
NC DAWG
January 18th, 2010
6:55 pm
I think UGA will be ok on offense, every lineman back, all the playmakers back……..If the QB (who ever it is) protects the ball and manages the game…it will be ok….UGA has to address the turnovers’ and pentalties’ problem…..Hopefully the new defensive scheme will address the turnover problem……..and pentalties that falls on Richt…maybe this year it will change
Buckhead Bulldog
January 18th, 2010
6:57 pm
Good God…The Gators have totally dominated UGA for the past twenty years. It sux but face the facts and move on. Sheesh! Hopefully, the tide will turn sooner rather then later.
What??
January 18th, 2010
7:07 pm
UGA scored enough points in the games last season to win them all.
The offense did comit turnovers that placed the defense in short field situations, but more times than not, the defense just did not stop the other teams.
Blind homers….. what rock have you been under??
Defense and kicking game killed the Dawgs this past season, not the offense.
Buckhead Bulldog
January 18th, 2010
7:11 pm
What??
January 18th, 2010
7:07 pm
Lets just agree there was room for improvement on both sides of the ball? : )
The Tech game gave me some hope that there is still some fire in the belly.
What??
January 18th, 2010
7:13 pm
Agreed
Jax Head Gator
January 18th, 2010
7:15 pm
Holy mackeral, Georgia has dominated Florida in the series 46 wins to 30 losses. It hurts, but it’s true. Hopefully, in 10 or 20 years we’ll tie the series up.
Hate ALL you want...
January 18th, 2010
7:21 pm
It will do you NO GOOD. Results speak for themselves, this new coach produced a top 10 team in the nation against pass defense is music to our ears. SURE, It was not a S.E.C. school he came from, but they did beat south carolina in the bowl game. I am anxious to see how this all pans out, can’t be any worse than the bafoons we have had to deal with the past 4 or 5 years.. so, HATE ALL YOU WANT TECH NERDS and the rest of you haters, we are on the right track.. What was the score of the last UGA vs Tech game? HA HA HA !! Tennessee is for losers.
Santa Cruz CA Dawg
January 18th, 2010
7:23 pm
Yes; UGA is known as a National Power in football. A lot of people out here, on the West Coast see all of the players that we have, in the NFL. Plus all of the high rankings, of the last ten years.
I have many friends who can’t understand why College Football is so big, in the South. They are more into the PROs and just don’t understand. Although they do have some good programs out here.
Gaytors Blow
January 18th, 2010
7:24 pm
Bet you didnt know UF lost to UGA 72-0 in 1942 and the first game UGA blowed out UF again 37-0. Don’t worry, with our new studs coming in to coach, the past is going to be the future very shortly. With or without T-BLOW, DAWGS ARE BACK!!
Bobo can Coach
January 18th, 2010
7:29 pm
Let’s compare Tebow and Stafford as Juniors to see if Bobo can coach.
Stafford won and finished #1.
http://espn.go.com/ncf/conferences/sortables?stat=pass&sort=passyds&year=2008&confId=8
So, if Bobo beat Meyer, and Bobo can’t coach, I guess that means Meyer can’t coach QB’s MUCH worse than Bobo.
Tailback U
January 18th, 2010
7:29 pm
What??
I have similar thoughts on Bobo. I can’t totally fault Bobo but for
a little different raesoning. The fact is as much as I am glad
CMR is our HC there is a flaw in his offensive philosophy when it comes
to our running philosophy particularly as iyt relates to competing in
the SEC. I kinda agree with dawgfan in his assessment that our game
is somewhat soft. What I mean by that is our system is particularly
quarterback driven in that the QB ultimately decides whether a play
is going to be a pass or run based strictly by counting the number
of defenders in the box. In essecence it is the QB looking for the
path of least resistance. It makes sense in a general way but I think
you would admit a better philosophy at times is ( especially in the red
zone ) we are going to run it down your throats so stop us if you can.
It is called dicatating to a defense instead of the other way around.
We saw that kind of game plan against Tech and you saw how that worked
out. It has always been a successful formula in the SEC and I believe
it always will be. But Richt’s specialty is developing QB’s so I don’t
expect a great deal of change in CMR’s style. But knowing this I can’t
put too much blame on Bobo since it is still CMR’s system and philosophy
that he is working under. I share a sense of frustration with many fans
who see plays run that have no real chance at success. But while I
think Bobo is deserving of some criticism it at times goes too far
and without a consideration of the system as it exists. I think the
bottom line is that expectations should always be primarily based on
quarterback play at Georgia. Just wish we could blend a little of CMR’s
style offense with the power attack of an Alabama. We know for
sure Georgia is not lacking for big time offensive talent.
Old Coach
January 18th, 2010
7:36 pm
I just love reading posts from people who do not have the first clue what they are talking about (our offensive play calling) One wants to run every down the next wants combo routes and then the mis-direction plays and the very best borrow playes from other teams. Unbeliveable!! Bobo coached up the freaking #1 NFL pick in 3 years and jokers want to complain. By all means run combo routes with AJ wouldn’t dream of using multiple sets to gain one on one coverage on him. Support the dawgs and support the coaches especially when you do not know your a$$ from 3rd base!!!
Georgia is QBU
January 18th, 2010
7:36 pm
Everybody knows Georgia is QBU. Richt got FSU to top 5 offense 5 times as OC, and got FSU to 5 Natl Champs as OC, and got 2 Hesiman trophies for his QB’s. At Georgia, Richt and Bobo have helped Green, Shokley, and Stafford get to the NFL. I like knowing Richt’s in charge versus Addazio for Florida who is untested as a college Head Coach.
JESUP
January 18th, 2010
7:38 pm
With a Erk Russell style defense…….. Bobos offense and the dawgs will win the national championship…
JESUP
January 18th, 2010
7:42 pm
I DONT GIVE A RATZ AZZ WHERE GEORGIA PLAYERS ARE DRAFTED….OR HOW MANY SUPER BOWL MVPS THEY HAVE…. I CARE ABOUT HANGIN 50 ON FLORIDA AND WINNING GAMES……..SO DONT ARGUE ABOUT DRAFTED PLAYERS, THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH OFFENSIVE PLAYCALLING OR GAME PLANNING….AND I AM A COACH…
Tailback U
January 18th, 2010
7:45 pm
Jesup
I hope that is what we are about to have. I don’t care how it gets done.
Richt Got This One Right
January 18th, 2010
7:45 pm
With these new d coaches, Richt has finally got it right…DEFENSE BABY.
Georgia usually gets about 30 point s a game on offense, so I’ll feel rpetty sure Grantham, Lakotas, and the gang, feel pretty sure they can hold the other guys to less than 20 points a game.
UNDEFEATED IN 2010–NATIONAL CHAMPS–GEORGIA BULLDOGS.
Hire Leavitt
January 18th, 2010
7:48 pm
Hire Jim Leavitt to be our last defense coach, show the world we are serious!!
Scott Lakotas Can Coach
January 18th, 2010
7:50 pm
What a great DB hire guys! Richt’s on a roll. First, steals Grantham from Saban, then grabs Lakotas form U Conn. Looking good guys, keep it up.
I’m not sure what I like about Lakotas MOST:
-#3 LEAST PENALIZED TEAM
-2 Top 10 finished in pass effiecincy defense 2007 & 2008
-1.8 takaways a game
-Coached up 2 of his DB’S to the NFL
-#13 in nation in FUMBLE RECOVERY %
Welcome aboard Scott. Let’s go get 3 Natl Champ’s over the next 5 years.
46 & 39
January 18th, 2010
7:52 pm
All that counts is wins Baby, and Georgia OWNS Florida, 46 wins and only 39 losses.
Georgia beat Florida 46 times so far.
Old Coach
January 18th, 2010
7:54 pm
JESUP…
You miss the whole point of my post, nobody wants to win more than I do, all I’m trying to get across is that GA has a very good OC and execution is what wins on the O side of the ball. By the way I do not know a REAL coach who only wants to hang 50 on FLA. And further more I guess players just come to school and then on to the NFL without being coached up! Get real COACH!!!
GT IS STILL A 4TH RATE HIGH SCHOOL TEAM
January 18th, 2010
7:59 pm
I SURE HOPE HE KNOWS AND REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT HE IS GETTING INTO. HAHAHHHHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHA
DILLIGAF
January 18th, 2010
8:00 pm
Lakotas said the South’s “passion for football” is “very exciting to me.”
Coming from UCONN whose stadium seats 40,000 and and standing on the sidelines of Sanford stadium and listening to 93,000 faithful, brethren roar will be mindnumbing for this guy. He will be like a nine year old who has been sneaking glimpses in the lingerie section of the Sear’s catalog and then finding one of his dad’s Hustler magazines.
Big John
January 18th, 2010
8:01 pm
Look, lots of people died before 1990. They don’t care what happened between Georgia and Florida after 1990. All they care about is what happened to Florida BEFORE 1990, and Florida has just been dominated in the series over pre 1990 like 43-20. Georgia has won like 125% more of the games than Florida, it’s really not even close.
Richt Got This One Right
January 18th, 2010
8:04 pm
If you look at the wins and losses in the SEC, it’s about 1 thing:
DEFENSIVE SCORING.
Now, Georgia has the guy Saban wanted as its DC.
Goodbye Florida and Bama.
It’s ON!!!!!!
Go DOGS
January 18th, 2010
8:06 pm
Okay…change my mind about Bobo, and don’t give me the old “he put up 30 points against so and so” stuff. Those defenses he racked the points on were worse then our D.
Seriously, for the pro Bobo people, what do y’all see that I’m not seeing. I almost put a couple beer bottles through my TV last year because of some of the plays he called.
17 OUT OF 20 WAS AN ILLUSION
January 18th, 2010
8:07 pm
Pre 1990, Georgia’s record is 43-20.
That’s all I see.
PT
January 18th, 2010
8:23 pm
Santa Cruz CA – You are right. I had to spent a week in CA for my employer. I talked to the people there and high school football on friday night is not a big deal to them. Here it is whats happening in every town big and small from Texas to Flordia. They have no idea about Natl. Signing Day, thus college football.
JESUP
January 18th, 2010
8:27 pm
I know we are getting top talent and Bobo has done a great job of coaching individual talent, talent has never been the problem at Georgia. It is scheme and game planning that concerns me, also I support Richt 100% and would not trade him for Meyer or Saban, I Just think Bobo is young and still is learning and i hope that he continues to grow……………Go Dawgs…….I am ready for kickoff NOW…
PT
January 18th, 2010
8:28 pm
I saw Mike Bobo take Bud Foster to school in the 2nd half of the Chick-fil-A bowl!
Big John
January 18th, 2010
8:31 pm
Wow, what a defense!!!
This is what I’m talkin’ about.
Sic em’.
Richt Got This One Right
January 18th, 2010
8:32 pm
So glad Richt now has the #1 DC staff in the SEC. He deserves it. The rest is history.
Big John
January 18th, 2010
8:33 pm
Wonder who the next defensive hire will be?
What position?
Any names? Sources?
Old Coach
January 18th, 2010
8:47 pm
JESUP
I think all of the true DAWGS just want UGA to get back to the top of the SEC!!! I think we have had 2 GREAT additions to the staff and I am sure CMR will add another quality coach. The only bad thing I see coming is its a long time until we tee it up again!!! GO DOGS!!!!
Hairy's Balls
January 18th, 2010
8:49 pm
January 18, 2010
Mike Huguenin
Rivals.com College Football Editor
http://collegefootball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1040920
“Georgia’s Mark Richt is squarely on the hot seat going into the 2010 season. He has overhauled his defensive staff, and will be breaking in a new quarterback for the second season in a row. “
Hairy's Balls
January 18th, 2010
8:55 pm
One more thing,
Alabama fans, shut the f_ up. McCoy doesn’t go down, you get blown out in the title game.
You’ve been terrible for the past 15 years. You are not “back” because you won a title. Just ask BCS champs Tennessee, Miami and Florida State.
PT
January 18th, 2010
9:03 pm
Alabama has lost two games in two years, I’d say they are in pretty good shape!
SEC
January 18th, 2010
9:17 pm
Bama has a BCS Title, Florida has two, LSU has two, and the Vols have one. Dawgs have 0, Dawgs have 0, Dawgs have 0, Dawgs have 0, Dawgs have 0, Dawgs have 0, Goose Egg. 41-17