Georgia confirms hire of Olivadotti as inside linebackers coach
Georgia made it official Friday morning, naming Washington Redskins assistant coach Kirk Olivadotti as the Bulldogs’ new inside linebackers coach.
The hire had been expected for a couple of days, pending the completion of a pre-employment background check.
“In hiring an assistant, we look for someone who first is at the top level in football knowledge and competency,” Georgia coach Mark Richt said in a statement announcing the hire. “Then we want someone who is a teacher of the game, [will] be an example for young men, and can serve as a mentor for our student-athletes. We found all those qualities in Kirk.”
Olivadotti called the opportunity “exciting” and thanked Richt “for his confidence in what I can hopefully bring to the program.”
He replaces Warren Belin on the Georgia staff. Belin left two weeks ago to become the Carolina Panthers’ linebackers coach.
Olivadotti had been the longest-tenured member of the Redskins’ coaching staff, which he joined in 2000. At various times since then, he served as a defensive quality control coach, helped coach the special-teams units, the defensive backs and the defensive line, and more recently served as linebackers coach (2007-09) and defensive assistant (2010).
Olivadotti, 37, began his coaching career on the college level at Maine Maritime in 1997. He was an assistant coach at Indiana State in 1998-99.
He has undergraduate and master’s degrees in education and education administration, respectively, from Purdue, where he played wide receiver from 1993-96. His father is Tom Olivadotti, a long-time NFL defensive coach with the Cleveland Browns, Miami Dolphins, Minnesota Vikings, New York Giants and Houston Texans.
Olivadotti is the second assistant hired by Richt this month. Will Friend, formerly at UAB, was hired as offensive line coach, replacing Stacy Searels, who left for Texas.
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193 comments Add your comment
ClinchCountyCanine
February 18th, 2011
11:57 am
toilet roll
Richt may not get all the in state linemen, but he does get some great out of state ones. Brent Benedict, Austin Long, and Ben Jones come to mind.
Flatwoods Dawg
February 18th, 2011
12:00 pm
tide roll
Any truth to the rumor that Saban and his dastardly crew of shrub assasins are recruiting Jeremy “Dozer” Daniels of Lanier County hot and heavy. The guy is 360 lbs of DOMINATION!!!
schmeckdawg
February 18th, 2011
12:10 pm
I sure hope Coach O can recruit!
One Hairy Dawg
February 18th, 2011
12:10 pm
Tide Hole- Interesting how you talk about Florida but not about Bama’s record against CMR
hmmm?
February 18th, 2011
12:12 pm
Richt said “In hiring an assistant, we look for someone who first is at the top level in football knowledge and competency.” What were the requirements for Bobo and this no name guy from UAB?
Dog Fan #23
February 18th, 2011
12:17 pm
Yeah, where’s Mic1, havn’t heard from him today?
Mic1
February 18th, 2011
12:18 pm
Why can’t Mark Richt figure out how to get more wins that the year before?
LagDawg
February 18th, 2011
12:21 pm
Hopefully a good hire. Can he recruit? Defensive staff is looking pretty good. Now let’s get the Offensive staff in order. I know, I know. Hopefully playcalling will be a whole lot bette next season since Richt decided to keep Bobo.
Mic1
February 18th, 2011
12:22 pm
Wow, odds of several Alabama fans turning up on a blog about Georgia’s new LB coach? 100 million to 1.
Mic1
February 18th, 2011
12:23 pm
Lag’s the guy who posts dozens of times a day about Bobo needs to improve his playcalling, nice fake name today there Lag.
Flatwoods Dawg
February 18th, 2011
12:31 pm
Dog Fan #23= Mic1
tide roll
February 18th, 2011
12:38 pm
Hey Clinch Co. You’ve got to be kidding me! BEN JONES. But for the attitude I’m talking about and that you’re displaying right now, Chris Burnette would have started ahead of that blubberball! Richt should have been in Antonio Richardson’s kitchen the same day Jujuan James committed to Tennessee LAST YEAR, not two weeks before signing day THIS YEAR! This is why you lose and will continue to lose. It’s the attitude of Richt and Bobo as it relates to players like Richardson. They’re not inportant enough for Richt to get out of the tanning bed, get to Nashville, and get it done. This is why you consistantly lose to Florida. A kid like Richardson could have made a difference, although he probably would be stuck behind Watts Danzler his entire career. Bobo would see to that.
NC Dawg
February 18th, 2011
12:38 pm
Who will have Special Teams responsibility?
BIG JOE
February 18th, 2011
12:39 pm
Now all we need is a O-cord
UGAVIIII
February 18th, 2011
12:53 pm
@tide roll , Do you have information on Richt and BoBo and their attitude towards Richardson? Do you know know how much effort they put into his recruitment? Richt got out his tanning bed enough to sign a very good recruiting class, and Tide Roll Look over the past 10 years and see who has won more Alabama or UGA. And Richt has done it without being put on probation, being banned from post season play, or having to vacate 21 wins. Wasn’t Bama 3rd in the SEC west last year?forgot to mention you still on probation until 2012 and have been on probation all but 2 years since 2002.
woebegong
February 18th, 2011
12:58 pm
I am sure some of these folks have gone past their lunch hour at their jobs. You all should be back at work and not blogging on a UGA blog that has nothing that concerns you. Ummmm, skip the onions please.
GOOOOOO DAWGSSSSSSSSSSS
Jimmy
February 18th, 2011
1:00 pm
Flatwoods Dawg/UGAVIIII/Tide Roll = same person?
Apples II Oranges
February 18th, 2011
1:02 pm
Buckeye,
Real quick, watched the game Tuesday night, and have to say you have some very good points on Thompkins. On a previous blog I mentione how he was similar to Shareef Abdur-Rahim. Nice in the stat lines, but does not make your team exceptionally better where it matters most, in the wins/loss column. Not bailing on the guy or team, just curious on your take.
UGAVIIII
February 18th, 2011
1:07 pm
Jimmy did you read my post to Tide Roll? Been a Dawg my entire life and never have said anything detrimental towards Mark Richt.
Flatwoods Dawg
February 18th, 2011
1:17 pm
Jimmy=woebegong
DawginLex
February 18th, 2011
1:30 pm
tide roll is a racist troll.
Ever notice that all the OL players Richt supposedly “whiffed” on are black?
tide roll is the blog’s version of Rev Al and Jesse Jackson
441North
February 18th, 2011
1:31 pm
Can’t wait to see how he molds Samuel and Jones at inside LB.
Bucket
February 18th, 2011
1:35 pm
Great point 441North! As I said yesterday, the only people that can possibly see this as a negative are haters. Go Dawgs!
59bulldawg
February 18th, 2011
1:38 pm
@Schemeckdawg @ 11:37. Why do you say that? I really don’t know much about the guy but what I’ve heard is good. Was hoping for Friedgen but I’m willing to give Friend a chance. He could be great! We’ll just have to wait and see. I just know it was time for Searels to go!
nerds! nerds! nerds!
February 18th, 2011
1:38 pm
there are some sad, sad trolls on here.
Go Dawgs! WIN WITH RICHT!
Columbus
February 18th, 2011
1:43 pm
CAn we BAN Trey from commenting on UGA? Is he a former player who got kicked off the team or something? BTW UGA nor it’s fans have thought they had the MAGIC PIECE the last 3 years and specifically not the last 2 which included Cox at QB one of them and a freshman QB and new defense the other!…..
schmeckdawg
February 18th, 2011
1:46 pm
@59bulldawg, Just a thought I had. I was hoping for Friedgen as well but we got who we got. I too am willing to give Coach Friend a chance; however, I felt a storied program such as The UGA could have gone out and got a big time OL coach. Who knows, Friend may be the guy. I truly hope he is!! I also know that CMR is about out of wiggle room so I hope he has a lot of confidence in his hire.
Go DAWGS!!!!!!!!!!
Flatwoods Dawg
February 18th, 2011
1:47 pm
Trey is a disgruntled Auburn student. He applied to UGA and was rejected. Had to selltle for Auburn and now he is bitter and jealous.
MD
February 18th, 2011
1:47 pm
If we don’t honor “fans” of other teams a response on the UGA blog, eventually they’ll quit coming around. It is open to anyone and they can come and go as the please but quit giving them the satisfaction of a response.
They are still fuming
February 18th, 2011
1:47 pm
UGA haters are exactly like the NBC news broadcasters that hate and hate and hate anything connected to a conservative idea. They despise any and everything that UGA does. They live to hate. Why?
Both liberal newscaters and UGA haters hate themselves first. Failures at like they are.
The UGA frosh class of 2011 brought them out like never before. If UGA does win say 9 or 10 games …………….. they likely will open a vein. Sort of like the obamarons when they saw last Novemeber’s election results. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA
Goooooooooooooooooooooooooo Dogs.
AU and Bama kids from my hood
February 18th, 2011
1:51 pm
I have lived in my north Fulton hood for about 16 years. I have watched kids grow up and move on. About 98% are great young kids.
The ones that go over to Alabama or AU or to SC or to Ole Miss cannot gain acceptance to either UGA or to GT ……………..so, they take seconds. Their parents do eventually act like they invented Bama or AU, or Ole Miss but at first, they are embarrased that their kids go to college in state of Alabama or in Mississippi. This says it all.
Go Dogs.
Passion
February 18th, 2011
1:57 pm
D coaches need to inspire attitude and passion. Most of the kids can run and develop the tools of the trade after a year or two.
If the new D coach can inspire passion, then great.
Steve Spurrier was an minor understudy coach for Pepper Rodgers over at GT for awhile. This path is the absolute NORMAL progression for a young coach. True too for now departed coach Blevins.
Go Dogs.
Mike
February 18th, 2011
2:16 pm
I don’t complain much, but let’s examine the records … for 2010, UGA, well, sucked in football with a complete lack of effort in the usual Toilet Bowl we are assigned to play. Central Florida? Come ‘on, man!
In Baseball, we were even worse. Losing season and sixth in the SEC. Basketball for 2010-2011? Improved, but not nationally ranked and middle-of-the-pack in the SEC. So we go out and hire some new coaches. Anybody ever heard of these guys? Point is, we aren’t exactly hiring the big names. Problem with that is, UGA is the second most profitable and flush athletic department in the country … I said, in the country! Why can’t we hire bigger names with proven track records – we obviously have the money to hire anyone we want. Why can’t we win in any major sport? Why do I continue to buy season tickets year after year for over 30 years, now? Well. I still love my Dawgs, but I am sure tired of losing …
Carlton
February 18th, 2011
2:17 pm
Everyone’s looking at the first two games as being make or break, and they are..
But don’t forget, Boise is basically a home game-we’ll have a much improved running game due to a new O-line coach, new strength and conditioning, and those fumbling and uncommitted clowns King and Ealey sitting (at this point, I’d take unproven Malcolme and Crowell over them any day). Also-our receivers will be much better without AJ there-our offense won’t have to solely rely on #8 this year (just look at the records with/without AJ last year as proof). Also, Kellen Moore lost some big weapons last year-that’s not going to help.
South Carolina will be tricky again but with our improved offense AND defense, we should be fine. The only reason UGA lost that game last year was because of Lattimore and a highly costly fumble by Ealey at the very end of the game. Lattimore’s no secret anymore for teams facing him now, and with the edition of John Jenkins, our defense against the run should be greatly improved (not to mention 3rd year man Jarvis Jones now playing for Justin Houston’s departure). We also have experienced defensive ends and have depth there. Steven Garcia makes mistakes regularly, and Alshon Jeffrey is really they’re only big threat (you can bet he’ll be treated like AJ Green next year-double covered regularly).
Other than that-Murray threw for over 3,000 yards in his redshirt freshman season. 24 touchdowns to 8 interceptions (four coming at Florida alone-another game we almost won). He also ran for 160+ yards-most of the time scrambling for first downs. He’ll be back and very, very good.
AND UGA’s schedule is very favorable. Look it up. And new strength and conditioning is already kicking players butts. Should be a great 2011! GO DAWGS!!
Terry
February 18th, 2011
2:29 pm
Don’t know if this will turn out the way I wanted it to? But, here goes.
From left to Right is how many points each SEC Team put up against
their rivals.
———–GA —SC—-AR—-MSST—TN—VANDY—KY—FL—-AUB
GA——–N——6——24——12——-41——-43——-44—-31—–31
SC——–17—-N——20——-N——-38——-21——–28—-36—–27
AR———31—41—–N——-38——-N——-49———N—–N——43
MSST—-24—-N—–31——-N——–N——–N——–24—–10—-14
TN———14—24—–N——–N——–N——-24——–24—–17—–N
VANDY–0—–7——14——N——–10——-N———20—-14——N
KY——–31—31—–N——-17——-14——-38———N—–17—–34
FL——–34—-14——N——-7——–31——55———48—–N——N
AUB—–49—-35—–65——-17——-N——-N———-37—–N—–N
AL——–N—–21—–24——-30——41——N———–N—–31—-27
LSU——N—–N——23——-29——16——27———-N—–33—-17
MS——-N—–N——24——-23——14——14———-42—–N—-31
———–AL—LSU—MS
GA——-N——N——N
SC——-35—–N——N
AR——-20—–31—–38
MSST–10——7——31
TN——-10—–14——52
VANDY-N——3——-28
KY——–N——N——-35
FL———6——29——-N
AUB—–28—–24——-51
AL——–N——21——-23
LSU——24—–N——–43
MS——-10—–36——–N
My Question to you? Could Bo Bo’s offense have won
more games had our defense held the rivals to less
points? Just looking at the other rivals scores, makes
me think with a better defense this year, we win
most of those games we lost last year.
Flatwoods Dawg
February 18th, 2011
2:35 pm
Terry
I predict that if our defense under Grantham holds the other teams offense to fewer points than the Dawgs score on offense, then we should have a great year. But, if you use last years statistics on 3rd efficiency and obvious passing downs, then my point is still moot.
UGAVIIII
February 18th, 2011
2:39 pm
Mike , get over 2010 . it was a bad year, the ususal toilet bowl? Please , we have played in 3 bcs bowls since Richts arrival, last time being 2007 Sugar , 2008 Cap one, 2006 Chik Filet , 2005 Sugar. 1 off year , 1 bad year. It happens to every program.
RHALL55
February 18th, 2011
2:40 pm
1) Is UGA going to hire a Special Teams Coach or is that going to be someone from within?
2) When is UGA going to offer Mike Davis (RB) or James DeLoach (LB / DE)? Everyone else has!!
3) Is UGA going to hire a Full Time Nutritionist?
@ Flatwoods Dawg
February 18th, 2011
2:41 pm
Since Trey is so full of $#!+, I’m guessing his father is the traveling fertilizer salesman.
Truly study the game of football, the trends, and what's going on
February 18th, 2011
2:45 pm
Out of the 32 NFL teams,
the Washington Redskin defense was # 31 against the pass and # 26 against the run.
That is not good.
Reversion to the mean
February 18th, 2011
3:04 pm
Don’t think Trey went to Tech or he would be aware of something called reversion to the mean or regression to the mean. Mark Richt has averaged 9.6 wins per year over a ten year period, which is forever in college coaching circles. That suggests that statistically, the odds are great that Georgia will move back toward the 10 win mark that has characterized the Richt tenure. On the other hand, on the lesser chance he doesn’t UGA will likely have a new coach in 2012.
Either way, you will not be able to keep the Dogs down for long.
UGAVIIII
February 18th, 2011
3:06 pm
@truly study , UGA hired him as a linebackers coach, in 2010 he was a defensive assistant. Hi number when he was a linebackers coach look pretty good. I suppose upou have to look at trends and not 1 year.
In 2009, Olivadotti tutored a pair of linebackers to their first Pro Bowl: 12-year veteran London Fletcher and rookie Brian Orakpo. In 2008, Olivadotti’s linebackers played a pivotal role in Washington ranking fourth overall in yards allowed per game (288.8), sixth overall in points allowed per game (18.5) and eighth overall in rushing yards allowed per game (95.4 yards).
The previous year, in Olivadotti’s first season as linebackers coach, the Redskins finished eighth in the NFL in overall defense (305.3 yards per game) and fourth in the league in overall rush defense (91.3 yards per game).
DawgByte
February 18th, 2011
3:10 pm
I like the fact Richt & Grantham dipped their toes back into the NFL waters… good move. I think this hire will work out well.
how2fish
February 18th, 2011
3:18 pm
Welcome to the Bull dog Nation Coach O…don’t let the turkeys and the trolls get you down. Go Dawgs!
Lagdawg
February 18th, 2011
3:52 pm
Great news. Welcome aboard. Hope he can recruit and coach these kids up. Only question I have is, are we recruiting for 2012. I see Fla. St. UA, Fla. and Miami already have some big time verbals. We need to get the ball rolling with some big lineman, WRs and some more RBs. 2011 class is in the books and now we need to work on the next class.
Buckeye
February 18th, 2011
3:59 pm
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/stewart_mandel/02/17/alabama.auburn/index.html?eref=sihp
I’m sure most decent minded fans have already read or would come around to read si.com’s Stewart Mandel on the Tommers debacle.
Dawg
February 18th, 2011
4:05 pm
The sad thing about this, the same people bad mouthing Georgia now will be on the band wagon when they start winning. Either you’re a true fan who sticks with your team through good times and bad times; you cannot have it both ways.
Dawghater
February 18th, 2011
4:18 pm
Vegas has UGA’s 2011 arrest count posted at 12+!
Derek
February 18th, 2011
4:18 pm
Trey-
Great stuff. Like you, I’m not happy with my dogs. Likie you, I’ll not sit around with my mouth shut while the dogs get worse every year. Like you, I’ll speak my mind and let others know how I feel about when the team keeps losing more games every season. Surprised so many fans are happy with this. It’s an outrage to me. So thanks for your rare perspective, a true fan, with an eye towards improvement.
ez
February 18th, 2011
4:25 pm
i perfer on Museum across from Bailey Towers …
)