New LB coach ‘looking forward to’ competing ‘for SEC and national championships’
Warren Belin
The Georgia football team’s defensive coaching staff is whole again.
The final opening on the staff was filled this afternoon, when UGA coach Mark Richt hired Warren Belin from Vanderbilt as a linebackers coach.
The addition of Belin, following last month’s hires of Todd Grantham from the Dallas Cowboys as defensive coordinator and Scott Lakatos from Connecticut as defensive-backs coach, completed the makeover of a defensive staff that was decimated by Richt’s Dec. 2 firing of three assistants.
Belin is a 20-year coaching veteran who spent the past eight seasons as Vanderbilt’s linebackers coach. He also was Vandy’s recruiting coordinator the past two years and special-teams coordinator in 2006-07.
“I’m looking forward to the next step in my career with Coach Richt and the opportunity to compete for SEC and national championships,” Belin said in a statement late this afternoon.
A former Wake Forest football player (1987-90), Belin coached at SMU, William & Mary, Cornell and East Tennessee State before going to Vanderbilt, where his work drew Richt’s attention.
“Warren has had some of the best linebackers and tacklers in the league for years,” Richt said in a statement.
Richt added that when he and Grantham interviewed Belin, “we were very impressed with his knowledge of the game, schemes and fundamentals. He’s going to be a perfect mentor for our players as well.”
Belin will share the linebacker-coaching duties with Grantham, who plans to convert Georgia’s defensive alignment from a 4-3 to a 3-4, meaning three linemen and four linebackers rather than vice versa.
Grantham said last month that he will coach either the inside or outside linebackers with the final hire –- Belin -– coaching the other. Georgia didn’t announce their specific assignments today.
The linebacker position added a player earlier this week when Richt confirmed that Richard Samuel will move there in spring practice. Samuel was Georgia’s starting taiback at the start of last season but had fallen well behind Caleb King and Washaun Ealey at the position by season’s end.
Grantham, Lakatos and Belin join the only holdover on Georgia’s defensive staff, Rodney Garner, who will coach the linemen. Garner also is the recruiting coordinator.
“I look forward to working with Coach Grantham, Coach Garner and Coach Lakatos in installing the new defensive package,” Belin said. “My wife and family are excited about the opportunity to become part of the Athens community, Bulldog Nation and the great tradition at UGA.”
Belin and his wife, Yolanda, have three daughters: 7-year-old Camryn and 4-year-old twins Morgan and MacKenzi.
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503 comments Add your comment
PaPa Pooooooooop
February 6th, 2010
9:34 am
Boy, thanks to Champ Bailey giving the dog faithful more encuraging news. Pretty bad when you can’t be positive.
Little Timmie Neblo
February 6th, 2010
9:35 am
Ican come to athens and help get you up.
Defense Wins Championships
February 6th, 2010
9:37 am
Nice hire. Belin’s LB’s were tops in the SEC in tackles.
His LB’s have made all-SEC almost every year.
Belin has proven he can compete in the SEC out beat guys like Smart and Strong in stats.
Love the hire.
Very strong defense.
Defense wins championships.
Georgia will win every game in 2010 & 2011.
Never been stronger.
Wramblin Wreck has Taken Over
February 6th, 2010
9:44 am
DO NOT ADJUST YOUR COMPUTER SCREEN=================
WE HAVE TAKEN OVER THIS SITE————————————————-
COME OUT WITH YOUR MOUSES UP ************************************
DROP YOUR LITTLE BONE ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
PAW’S BEHIND YOUR BACK__________________________________
I’M GONNA SAY WHAT I WANNA SAY +++++++++++++++++++++++
And a hell of an ENGINEER !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Not so fast my friend..
February 6th, 2010
9:47 am
Before all the naysayers start pi$$in’ and moaning about him coming from Vandy, go back and look at film from the past several years and notice that they gave our running game fits.Besides, true UGA fans know CMR knows what he is doing, so let ’s just sit back and give the new staff time to implement the new system before trying to undermine his hiring choices. GO DAWGS!!!!!
1eyedJack
February 6th, 2010
9:48 am
Toot…Tooooooooooottttttt!!!
4WhatIt'sWorth
February 6th, 2010
9:49 am
A softer schedule, an improved offense, improved special teams, and a more fundamentally sound defense that is in transition equals a minimum of 2 more wins. That will put Georgia back to its 10 win average. 2011 will be a championship year … BOOK IT!
Clemson Directional
February 6th, 2010
10:01 am
Tried to lure Kevin Steele from us (rejected)
Tried to hire Chavis (rejected)
Tried to convince Muschamp (rejected)
Tried to Get Smart (rejected)
Looked in Dallas, U conn, and Vanderbilt trash heaps and low and behold a dynasty is on the horizon.
And tell Hershel Walker he needs to give it up.
You never SNIFFED our endzone.
LOOK IT UP.
murray county mystic
February 6th, 2010
10:03 am
how can you UGA fans speak of your football program and championships in the same sentence? Bama, LSU, Florida…they are teams with championship lineage. Georgia hasn’t competed for a championship since Barack Carter was in office. Forget championships, just try to finish above 4th in the east. Leave the trophy’s to the big boys…
Is Urban Meyer a Good Coach?
February 6th, 2010
10:03 am
We will find out in 2010. How will he do without Percy Harvin or Charlie Strong.
How will meyer do in a rebuilding year where he lost 5 starters on offense, 6 starters ond efense, 5 Juniors quit and left for the NFL, and 5 coaches quit?
If Meyer wins a National Championship in 2010, we’ll agree it’s him.
If he doesn’t, we’ll know he got lucky.
He’ll need to beat in 2010 on his schedule:
Bama, Georgia, LSU, FSU, South Carolina, & Tenn
Florida Dawg
February 6th, 2010
10:06 am
Don’t you have to be smart to coach at Vandy? I think his recruiting expertise will be awesome for UGA.
ga gator
February 6th, 2010
10:07 am
This is a good hire. When you consider the atheletes that he has had to work with at Vandy, they over acheived, which is something that is needed in Athens.
4WhatIt'sWorth
February 6th, 2010
10:11 am
murray county mystic,
You need to trade in your magic ball and your fortune cookies … the ball is broke and the cookies are filled with roach crap. Let me know who your team is if you are that confident! If there is a silver lining in a bad 2009 season, it will be the new resolve from coaches and players. Mark my words …
10 wins in 2010!
In 2011, Georgia wins the East! … BOOK IT!
Clemson Disfuntional
February 6th, 2010
10:11 am
THE LAST WE HEARD FROM YOU CLOWNS YOU WERE BEING THROTTLED BY THE LOWLY geeks.
AND THE LAST 2 TIMES WE MEET YOU WE KICKED THE TIGER OUT OF YOUR ARSE’S.
DID WE NOT?
GO BACK TO DANNYVILLE AND HARASS STEVE SUPERIOR, YOU MAKE US PUKE.
ga gator
February 6th, 2010
10:13 am
Is Urban Meyer a Good Coach?
If he wins the SEC East after those losses, I would say it is him.
Papadawg
February 6th, 2010
10:15 am
Since when did Clemson have any roon to talk about good football teams
4WhatIt'sWorth
February 6th, 2010
10:15 am
Hey Clemson Directional,
When was the last time Clemson beat UGA. The only reason they were Bowl Eligible was they were playing in the ACC. You can’t even beat Maryland.
Oh … Bye the Way – Purple and Orange are ugly colors!
GO DAWGS!
Is Urban Meyer a Good Coach?
February 6th, 2010
10:17 am
Meyer can’t use the excuse, “I don’t have any players”, Meyer finished #1 in recruiting.
Problem is also an inexperienced QB, on top of losing 5 starters of offense, 6 on defense, 5 jrs who quit for the NFL, and 5 coaches who quit.
So if they don’t win the Natl Champ in 2010, with the best players, it’s Meyer’s coaching.
Here’s the Gators schedule for 2010:
Miami of Ohio
USF
Tenn (at Tenn)
Kent
Bama (at Bama)
LSU
Miss St.
Georgia
Vanderbilt
South Carolina
Appalachian St.
Florida St. (at FSU)
Predictions?
5 SEC Losses to Bama, LSU, Georgia, South Carolina, Tenn or Miss St.
Loss to FSU
Upset Loss to Appalachian St. (played in National Champ in Division last year)
6-6 realistically in 2010, 7-5 with some luck, 8-4 with a lot of luck
Note:
Meyer goes 5-3 in the SEC 40% of his seasons
termigator
February 6th, 2010
10:19 am
Is Urban Meyer a Good Coach? The only one that is a sure win is UGA. Book it Zook losers.
ga gator
February 6th, 2010
10:19 am
I guess we will see, but I have been hearing the same comments from some UGA fans since I have lived here.
termigator
February 6th, 2010
10:21 am
I cant remember the last time we lost at home to Vandy and Ky, much less on the road losers.
4WhatIt'sWorth
February 6th, 2010
10:21 am
murray county mystic,
Are you and Clemson Directional one and the same! What do you mean we haven’t had a Championship team in years – We won the ACC in 2009.
2010 = 10 Wins
2011 = SEC East Title
BOOK IT!
ga gator
February 6th, 2010
10:22 am
See you in Jax, what ever your handle is.
murray county mystic
February 6th, 2010
10:23 am
sorry if I struck a nerve with 4whatit’sworth, but he/she is so very typical of the current UGA fan. The early 80’s are over. You cannot keep your best players in-state because of your redneck fan base (read into that whatever you want). Vince Dooley is now wearing orange boxers, Hershel is beating up 20-somethings, and the SEC just won it’s 5th BCS Championship trophy…and The University of Georgia is still living in the world of Jimmy and Roslyn, Rod Stewart disco albumn’s and Chevy Citation’s. Sad to be you, so sad…
4WhatIt'sWorth
February 6th, 2010
10:30 am
Is Urban Meyer a good Coach?
No, He is a Great Coach! However, so is Mark Richt!
The SEC is way too competitive for one team to stay dominate!
UF will not do it … Bama will not do it!
UGA will rebound with 10 wins in 2010.
SEC East Champs in 2011 … BOOK IT!
bamadawgfan
February 6th, 2010
10:30 am
Dudes, get real…we did not need a 5′8″ Nikell Robey in our secondary, PLEASE…so losing that 4 star was fine with me….and DaRickster would have been redshirted anyway, he knew he would be on the scout team his freshman year behind AJ and the other talent aka Marlon Brown…lost a 5 star we did not need anyway next year…Dawgs will be fine and dandy and win the SEC…go smoke on that!!!!!!!!
4WhatIt'sWorth
February 6th, 2010
10:35 am
murray county mystic,
No nerve struck here. I just find it funny that you enjoy trashing UGA, while refusing to reveal your true colors! This leads me to believe you are affiliated with some school that has a losing record with UGA. Could it be GT?
2010 = 10 wins … and one will be against GT!
2011 = SEC East Title
BOOK IT!
murray county mystic
February 6th, 2010
10:35 am
correction…6th BCS Championship…still no contribution by UGA to the total of titles. And you get upset when you are comaired to UK, South Carolina, Vandy et al…you all have the same pedigree of mediocrity…but you did beat up a pretty fearsome Hawaii team a couple of years ago. Hope you saved the Mapquest print-out of direction to the stadium in Shreveport for next season’s battle against a strong, mid pack Big 12 opponent…
Papadawg
February 6th, 2010
10:36 am
With the talent the Gators get year in & out even Ray Goff could win championships
4WhatIt'sWorth
February 6th, 2010
10:37 am
murray county mystic,
If you must know … It’s Yes Sir to you.
GO DAWGS!
Steve
February 6th, 2010
10:42 am
Dogs still have plenty of players with lots of talent, which is all a star rating examines. Maybe they decided they needed more players with “heart” or “game” or “pride”, somethings VERY LACKING in the past few years, especially on D! I hope these are new hires are COACHES and not just recruiters, which was all WM obviously was, that and just a position coach not a DC!
4WhatIt'sWorth
February 6th, 2010
10:43 am
Come on murray county mystic … Do you have a self esteem issue?
Reveal to us your colors.
mike on lake hartwell
February 6th, 2010
10:46 am
outstanding hire. Welcome aboard.
GATA!
termigator
February 6th, 2010
10:48 am
Let CMR win a NC and then say he is a great coach. I wouldn’t say that anyone who has lost to Vandy and KY at home is a great coach.
ga gator
February 6th, 2010
10:49 am
Papadawg That is a bit of a strong statement. If anyone was a great recruiter but underacheiver it was Goff.
murray county mystic
February 6th, 2010
10:49 am
amen termigator, amen
cantondawg
February 6th, 2010
10:52 am
I’m sick of all the people criticizing UGA recruiting class…I feel good about the DL and Safeties that we got. We’ve recruited well enough the past few years that we can afford to be down a little on this class. Now, if we miss two classes in a row then i will get worried
Is Urban Meyer a Good Coach?
February 6th, 2010
11:02 am
So far, Meyer quits on a team during a rebuilding year. He’s never stayed in 1 place more than 5 years. Unlike Rcht, Meyer bolts when the going gets tough.
2010 will be the 1st time we REALLY see what kind of coach Urban Meyer is. First time he’s faced adversity.
Meyer couldn’t beat a SINGLE top 10 ranked team since 2008, even with Charlie Strong and 22 starters returning last year.
2010 will be a good test for Meyer, with HIS player,s not Zook’s. Meyer has never stayed in a place long enough to win with his own recruits. Never won a National Championship with his own recruits.
Meyer has the #1 recruiting class–it’s Meyer’s own recruits. He couldn’t beat a top 10 ranked team OR win the Natl Champ in 2009 with his own recruits (1st time in 24 years he had to play with his own recruits).
2010 will tell the world EVERYTHING it needs to know about Urban Meyer.
Georgia's Percy Harvin?
February 6th, 2010
11:17 am
Gonna be fun watching Branden Edwards this year assuming Bobo has the sense to give him more than 2 touches a game.
Edwards is a Percy type of guy, averages 13 yards a carry.
I’d like to see Edwards get 10 touches a game. 100 more yards of offense right there.
Georgia's Percy Harvin?
February 6th, 2010
11:20 am
Oops, meant to say Branden Smith, mus have had had George Edwards on my mind.
Large Orange
February 6th, 2010
11:29 am
LMAO…..lets see, Vandy did not win a SINGLE SEC game last year ( 0-8 ) and only won 2 regular season games to finish @ 2-10. Really good coaching pick-up Richt…….now you can be just like Vandy. Of course its not like you were not on your way already! Who wudda-thunk it? Georgia and Vandy tied for SEC East doormat. Rocky Top!!!!
Louie
February 6th, 2010
11:29 am
Well, where do I start.
Only have a few minutes to post,so i’ll make it short.
Also heard around town cmr had inquired about Florida DC just hired by none other than Coach Chan Gailey at Buffalo.
Humm,,,,
How many declinees does that make now???
CPJ landed his man on FIRST try.
The vibes at GT are really positive about Coach Groh and the defense in general.
Situations are differant ,I realize this.
Kind of funny though that we make immediate hire, take care of business QUICKLY not to disrupt CPJand the direction in which our program is headed.
VANDY ???
YES AS IN VANDERBILT…
POWERHOUSE OF THE suc.
Oh, and one more thing.
Will they let him bring the big star they have at Vandy (you know, the one the mutts like to jump up and down on).
STILL L M F A O
Clemson Defense To Hershel....
February 6th, 2010
11:32 am
YOU KEEP A KNOCKIN BUT YOU CAN’T COME IN !!
Clemson Defense To Hershel....
February 6th, 2010
11:34 am
GO BACK TO WRIGHTSVILLE, SON.
Clemson Defense To Hershel....
February 6th, 2010
11:36 am
YOU SHOULD HAVE LISTENED TO DANNY FORD AND SIGNED WITH THE TIGERS, SON.
PTC DAWG
February 6th, 2010
11:38 am
Why this board has to fill up with folks with 7 year old mentalities is beyond me.
ARTC
February 6th, 2010
11:38 am
Goldtimer
February 5th, 2010
5:25 pm
Is it getting that bad that Georgia has to take coaches from UConn and Vandy? Way to shoot for the stars with those hires mutts.
Too bad GT didn’t have the intelligence to hire a UConn caoch. Randy Edsel would be a much better long term solution than Paul Johnson. When Johnson bails on you guys…and he will you’ll be left with a bunch of worthless TO “talent” that the next poor coach will to try and win with. It’ll take Tech 10 years to recover from the personnel mess PJ will leave at GT.
JR
February 6th, 2010
11:39 am
I like the hire too. Having Belin and Garner on the recruiting program improves us immensely!
Larry Munson at Clemson/GA. GAME
February 6th, 2010
11:39 am
” THERE GOES HERSHEL ” !!!! !!! (NOT)
jaxdawg
February 6th, 2010
11:40 am
Why does a gator fan (gagator) know so much about our head coach?? Obsessed much? It’s kind of creepy.