Contract extension likely for Mark Richt, but what about Todd Grantham?
Georgia head coach Mark Richt (L) and defensive coordinator Todd Grantham have proven to be a pretty effective tandem for the Bulldogs this season. (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
ATHENS — It’s reasonable to assume — and we have to assume since Athletic Director Greg McGarity is reserving comment — that Georgia will extend the contract of head coach Mark Richt after the season if the Bulldogs get past Kentucky on Saturday to secure a spot in the SEC Championship Game.
Richt has only two years remaining on his agreement following this season and it would only seem logical that UGA would lengthen that by at least three or four years sometime after the season.
But there’s another contract matter with which the 15th-ranked Bulldogs are going to have to deal if the season continues to progress as it has.
The three-year contract that Todd Grantham signed to come to Georgia to coach its defense expires on Jan. 31, 2013. And while that’s still 14 months away, what the Bulldogs’ defensive coordinator has done on his side of the ball in Year Two has made him a pretty hot commodity.
So says Grantham’s agent, at least. Michael Harrison, an attorney out of Stevenson Ranch, Calif., said he has already “gotten inquiries” from some NFL teams about the possibility of his client returning to that league as a coordinator. Harrison also said he has “gotten feelers” indirectly from colleges gauging Grantham’s interest in becoming a head coach.
Grantham came to UGA from the Dallas Cowboys, where he coached linebackers, and he was a defensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns before that. It’s Grantham’s stated desire to one day become a head coach — the buyout in his contract is waived if he does — and several college positions have already opened up. More will surely become available at the conclusion of the regular season, and Harrison expects Grantham to be a part of those conversations.
“Todd wants to be at Georgia, though,” Harrison insisted. “But we’d like to get an extension.”
Here’s the rub: McGarity is not likely to be keen on providing multi-year deals for assistant coaches. It’s something he never did in 18 years as Jeremy Foley’s right-hand man at Florida.
Georgia’s multi-year contract for Grantham was executed by former UGA Athletic Director Damon Evans, who previously also had not offered extended deals for assistants. Grantham is the among the top three highest-paid coordinators in college football at $750,000 a year, according to a survey by USA Today, and the only UGA assistant coach with a multi-year deal.
How McGarity might actually feel about the situation we have no way of knowing because he’s not willing to comment on it at this point.
“We don’t talk about anything like that during the season,” McGarity said Monday, referring to both Richt and Grantham. “Our full focus is on our players and our opponent and right now that is Kentucky. We’ll deal with all that after the season.”
Asked whether the decision on Grantham would ultimately be his, McGarity said, “the head coach makes decisions on his staff.” But you can be sure McGarity will have input.
This much is also certain: Georgia’s defense has looked a lot better under Grantham’s guidance. After Georgia’s 45-7 win over No. 20 Auburn this past Saturday, the Bulldogs (8-2, 6-1 SEC) moved up to No. 4 in the nation in total defense. They’re also No. 5 against the run, No. 5 against the pass and they lead the SEC in quarterback sacks and tackles for loss. The TD it allowed in the first quarter against the Tigers was just the ninth in the last eight games against the defense.
In fact, Georgia’s defense has improved significantly in national ranking in every category kept in Year Two of Grantham’s leadership.
2010—-Defensive category—–2011
24————-Total————-4
27————-Rush————-5
72———–Pass Eff. ———–5
34————Passing———-15
40————Scoring———-12
51————-TFLs———–10
52————-Sacks———–25
The improvement over 2009, before Grantham was defensive coordinator, is even more significant.
Of course, Grantham does not come without faults. He was roundly criticized for making choke signs at a Florida kicker as he prepared to make the game-winning kick against Georgia in overtime in 2010. And Grantham ended up in a shouting match with Vanderbilt head coach James Franklin at the end of the Vanderbilt game last month. Both incidents resulted in internal reprimands from UGA and certainly could be a factor in any job considerations going forward.
Harrison said he does not believe it will be an issue. “A lot of people want a coach with Todd’s fire and passion for the game,” he said.
Certainly it would be in Richt’s best interest to keep Grantham. Richt has spoken glowingly recently of his defense and its coordinator.
“It’s a lot more fun to coach when you’ve got a good defense and the guys are playing the way our guys are playing,” Richt said Saturday. “It makes up for a lot of deficiencies. It just kind of helps you iron some things out sometimes. . . . Todd studies defenses and offenses as well as anybody I’ve been around. He will have a plan and he will understand what needs to be done. But then he’ll try to make it as simple as possible for our guys. He understands tendencies, he understands formations and groups and when different guys are in the game. He knows the percentages and he’s got fire in his belly. He’s really doing a great job.”
So I put the question to you. Should the Bulldogs move to lock up Grantham as soon as they can for as long as they can? Or should Georgia remain guarded in their approach to long-term contracts?
– Chip Towers
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882 comments Add your comment
Win The SEC Crown
November 14th, 2011
6:29 pm
Then reward the coaches.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
November 14th, 2011
6:32 pm
Someone mentioned the words prolific bloggers. Well we have a couple who are such ardent anti Richt/Bobo guys that this 8 game winning streak and SECCG matchup with LSU does not fit into there agenda. These prolific bloggers understand the corner they have painted themselves in and also should understand that if this team is legit moving forward the rest of ‘11 and onward they will no longer be welcome here with all the hate they have spewed. That is the reality certain bloggers have found themselves in.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
November 14th, 2011
6:34 pm
Say What
I still havent changed my thoughts. Im still waiting for next seasons results before I will say whether he needs an extension or not
Dawg48
November 14th, 2011
6:38 pm
@ lowcountry @ altamahadawg
I agree with y’all
They are starting to get thirsty and are about to order a glass of KOOL – AID!
danny
November 14th, 2011
6:38 pm
PPPLLLEEEAAASSSEEEE give him an extension…………..
JB
November 14th, 2011
6:41 pm
Flat tire………..This team could win 11 games next year. Fla and Tenn and AU and Tech will still be a mess…and looks like our game with Bama is being to Missouri to play them instead. Dawgs should have 16 starters back, One of the Top Qb’s in the country, depth galore except the OL and another top 5 class coming in. I really like our chances
Russ
November 14th, 2011
6:45 pm
Please don’t paint my ass again.
I’m serious.
AltamahaDawg
November 14th, 2011
6:48 pm
I’ll take a shot Lowcountry. Freshmen WR don;t have the timing for that back shoulder pass thier first few games. Freshmen RB don’t have the experience to follow a pulling center up the field for 8 yrd, in thier first few games. The thing I have felt all year about (all sophomore QB in general) is that it still take while to match up thier freshman ability with the expanded role they are expected to cover. i think we arent dealing with those things quite as much right now.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
November 14th, 2011
6:50 pm
JB
I totally agree that this team should win 11 games next year and really and trully I believe we should win the SEC conference outright
But and theres a BUT
I not going to be surprised at all to watch us implode in 2 games we should not lose to.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
November 14th, 2011
6:52 pm
Don’t forget how difficult Altamaha how difficult it will be for our short QB to even connect on those backshoulder passes much less effectively hand the ball off properly due to his diminutive stature.
JB
November 14th, 2011
6:53 pm
AltamahaDawg………….True…and Florida will be feeling that youth for a while. They have a spread offense roster and need a QB,FB,RB,TE and WR’s…..They have none coming back to help…and freshman need time to adapt and develop…..See Crowell and Drew for us as examples. I hate they took the redshirt off Drew and not playing him……He must be a project…or what’s in front of him is that good. Florida is in trouble, they just don’t know it. Foley will want to give Muschamp time to retool the roster…..The inmates are PO’ed already.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
November 14th, 2011
6:57 pm
Lowcountry Bulldawg
Hey Im sorry to hear about your daughter being arrested last week in the UGA dorms for selling drugs
Maybe with another 4 years of Obama you might get that economic stimulus plan your hoping for.
Dawg48
November 14th, 2011
6:57 pm
Flat tire
I know your a dawg fan and we disagree on stuff……….but man have faith in your team…….. The highs and lows is what it’s all about being a fan!
Johnny D. Medley
November 14th, 2011
6:58 pm
Granthams defensive coaching has certainly saved Georgia’s season and possibly Richt’s job. The Book says “give credit where credit is due.” Give the man an increase in pay and a job extension.
If he can better himself by leaving or if he would be better satisfied to coach somewhere else for goodness sake don’t let it be said that Georgia didn’t do its part in trying to keep him.
Idiot Dawg
November 14th, 2011
7:03 pm
Even a idiot like me can see they is way too much bs here. I wished just some of the real dawg fans and other nice visitors would write. Cause the rest of you are just like a vacuum kleaner, you suck!
Dawg48
November 14th, 2011
7:03 pm
@JB
I think you will see drew at DE next year…….
That’s my thinking and trying to put the puzzle together about what I saw the coaches were telling
This Jordan Jenkins kid that was on campus sat about playing time…..
That’s just a thought though…..
cattle dawg
November 14th, 2011
7:08 pm
CTG likes it here, he has a house on lake oconee. He will only leave for a head job as long as he is respected and gets his contract extended. Honestly, I think him being a little crazy as hell is a good thing. He can get away with that stuff as a dc but not a head coach so I dont see him taking a head job for a few years.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
November 14th, 2011
7:09 pm
Dawg48
“The highs and lows is what it’s all about being a fan!”
I agree with that statement
I just get tired of UGA fans coming on this blog running off at the mouth like they do
After a nice win against Auburn people on here wanting Richt to get a 10 yr contract.
Trash talk about beating LSU in 3 weeks
Trash talk like we have just owned FL after finally beating them sorry as they were
and fans saying 2013 we will win the national title
Good grief
Im just tired of UGA playing sloppy one game; great another; then act like they never played football in another.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
November 14th, 2011
7:12 pm
Dawg48
Im happy to see what Grantham has done. Cant wait to see what we look like on D next year
My complaint is Bobo and his play calling for years. Saturday you saw what UGA can be with good play calling
He calls a game like that we will beat Tech by 17 points
Lowcountry Bulldawg
November 14th, 2011
7:13 pm
Well,well didn’t take you long to toss out a insult did it. When logic and reason fail within your arguement the insults begin. You epitomize my point just moments earlier.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
November 14th, 2011
7:19 pm
“You get tired of UGA fans running off at the mouth like they do.”
No way in hell did you just say that. You are delusional you have the nastiest opinions about whats going on in Athens than 90% of the fanbase-while we are on a 8 game winning streak!
Dawg48
November 14th, 2011
7:19 pm
Flat
Agree play calling was good
But I’m going back to what I said the other day
The O line is playing at a diff level now then at the start of the season uo till the past few games
Maybe around the ole miss game it started to show
If the line can’t block you can’t call the plays like we did against auburn.
A lot of murrays passes were down field and timing routs and you have to pass protect well to run those plays and attack the corners.
dogdawg
November 14th, 2011
7:20 pm
KEEP TODD GRATHAM!!!!!!!!!!!
bitter trolls
November 14th, 2011
7:22 pm
GRANTHAM AND HIS fine young daws———————–RULE
——————————loooooser trolls————what say you——-TURD ROLL
James
November 14th, 2011
7:22 pm
Get it done!!
bitter trolls
November 14th, 2011
7:27 pm
YOUR TIRES went flat on I-95 after that a$$ whoppin g _yturds took this year,
—————————–grantham rules—————–michael adams still lame, pu$$y
SBC Pastor
November 14th, 2011
7:27 pm
My vote is that we give Grantham the extension, but include a buyout even if he gets an offer for a head coach position. He has demonstrated that he is more than capable, but if he wants UGA to show him some loyalty he needs to return the favor.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
November 14th, 2011
7:28 pm
Lowcountry
Take a joke
You know you had that one coming. Come on
Dawg
November 14th, 2011
7:29 pm
If McGarity does nothing else, He better damn well give Grantham a multi year contract! By the way what the heck has McGarity done anyway? Evans may have had a few and some panties but he did amazing things while at UGA. Just look at the colisium and the money he made for UGA and the great job allowing CMR to sign Grantham to a multi year contract. If McGarity screws this up he needs to be FIRED!
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
November 14th, 2011
7:30 pm
Lowcountry
What are my nasty opinions
Lets here this
War Cam Eagle
November 14th, 2011
7:30 pm
DawginLex:
Just because you post a lot doesn’t mean you know what the hell you are talking about
Where is the Beef?
November 14th, 2011
7:35 pm
CPJ told us two years and one month ago that AL Groh with his NFL contacts and his wealth of NFL / Head Coaching talnet would turn Gt into a D powerhouse. Well, um, ah, where is the beef?
Meanwhile, over at UGA their D, after nearly two complete years has arrived in the Top 5 of all important D categories due to Coach T. Granthom AND AS A DIRECT RESULT >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>UGA will be on world wide stage competing for the SEC title in THE DOME. THERE IS THE BEEF.
Al Groh’s mom even refuses to call him. Sad. GT in 1955 or was it 56, WAS IN a major bowl ( Sugar?) but has only been in two since then, 67 and 09 Urange Bowl stompings.
UGA is rolling and GT, regardless of their latest, greatest coach is sliding into oblivion AGAIN !!! 35 to 40 years between major bowls is abusive to your alumni base, GT.
West Coast Dawg
November 14th, 2011
7:40 pm
If CMR deserves a raise for this year, then he needs to refund his pay for year 2007 – 2011. It would be totally poor business judgment to raise this coach who sat on his arse while the program disintegrated around him. Towers must be on CMR’s payroll. Leave the contract alone. He has two years to go and if significant progress continues to be made (like playing in the BCS title game), then I’m fine with a raise. Extending the contract with a raise is ludicrous because for one, we have four games to go and we might be embarrassed in the last two. Then what? After all, the only ranked team we beat was Auburn. At the time we played the SEC teams, they all were below water.
This is way too premature and it certainly takes the shine off its offer, Chip Towers. He should be embarrassed by asserting such a dim-witted proposition.
Micheal
November 14th, 2011
7:42 pm
People..! Wake up do you guys watch UGA football? Yes Uga is playing well. Yes the staff should stay together. Here’s the real question? Next year games 1-4 will tell if CMR and staff is serious about their jobs. Right now they are playing for their jobs. This is a what have you done for me lately world. CMR has to motivate and inspire the team every game. I said every game! Not just Florida or Auburn. When CMR has a team down he always calls off the dogs. This year against Auburn he keep pouring it on. That’s the kinda coach we need at UGA. This is a BCS polls league. You can still win with class and be a hard nose coach.
angry mangy mutt
November 14th, 2011
7:46 pm
Once again, Murray’s height has nothing to do with much of anything. It is not ideal, but his inconsistent play has been because of comfort level.
Has mentioned multiple times by multiple posters, the O line has been the problem not Bobo. A great O line = great production when even having modest talent at the skill positions.
As for contract extensions, let CMR earn it with a NC. He has been here long enough, not more excuses. Grantham deserves everything is is getting then some. Soft schedule or not, improvement is obvious.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
November 14th, 2011
7:48 pm
West Coast Dawg
Watch out;
with a comment like that you are liable to get a glass of kool-aid thrown in your face by the Occupy UGA Crowd
TECH IS OVERRATED
November 14th, 2011
7:49 pm
GTBob,
come noon on the 26th techies are going down, UGA will still beat your overrated team!
Spike 80DF
November 14th, 2011
7:57 pm
Mark’s waiting for a contract extension so he can buy another lake house and relax a bit. This hot seat stuff is tiring I bet, he wants to get back to just going thru the motions…..
OklahomaDawg
November 14th, 2011
7:58 pm
Give me a break.Pay the man and give him an extension and hope he doesn’t bail out to some other SEC team and come back and kick our ass.This man is the real deal, pay up or somebody else will.GATA!!!!!!!!!!
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
November 14th, 2011
8:03 pm
Anyone heard from GT Joe?
Dawg48
November 14th, 2011
8:04 pm
Flat
He is on the tech blog talking to himself!
Northsider
November 14th, 2011
8:10 pm
If they don’t sign Grantham, no need to give additional years to Richt. Dawgs will need Todd to cover up for Bobo’s deficiencies.
SEC Observer
November 14th, 2011
8:13 pm
6 weeks ago most of you were wanting to run Richt out of town. Now you want to give him an extension. Sure the Dawgs have won 8 in a row but you should have. You were favored in all of the games.
I do think Richt’s should get credit for keeping the team from falling apart. But I think it would be wise to see what Richt does next season before extending his contract.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
November 14th, 2011
8:16 pm
How about TrishaDishaWarEagle
Havent heard from that Waffle House Dish Washer yet
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
November 14th, 2011
8:21 pm
Dawg48
I want to make myself clear since we have some people on here that need Hooked on Phonics
I like Richt; I hope he succeeds: Ive just been dumbfounded at the decisions he has made
Im not sold on Bobo being an OC at this level of a program. Thats been my problem as well as putting teams away
Saturday I enjoyed that we kept trying to score. Why cant we do that more often
Put teams away. But again its a wait and see after next season before Im buying this stock again
Dawg48
November 14th, 2011
8:29 pm
Flat
I accept your thoughts and your opinion even though we disagree and if I ever came across as a jerk to you I apologize for that.
Go dawgs!
And by the way I would love to see ralf friedgen as our OC!
Like I said the other night I never like the idea of hiring a former player on the coaching staff cause if it does not pan out it’s to hard to part ways, and their is a since of loyalty you have to give the guy.
If that makes since.
Mad Dog One
November 14th, 2011
8:31 pm
Dam# boys I have just figured out what CMR can do to win all of his games just read these blogs. Get over your self you can’t coach a Pee Wee team and you get on here and try to tell a man “with the last 30 years living collage football” how to coach sheeeeeesh. As always GO DOGS & GATA
UGA grad 90
November 14th, 2011
8:31 pm
Weakest SEC East I can ever remember. We’ve beaten NOONE this year.
I say we win out the rest of this season, win the SEC Championship Game, Win our BCS Game against a Top 10 opponent, then give Richt an extenstion.
Oh wait, that ain’t gonna happen. So let’s just give him one for being 8-2 after a losing season and 5 miserable years. Thats makes a lot of sense.
Mr. SEC
November 14th, 2011
8:32 pm
To: DawginLex
I like your way of thinking, I’ve been saying this all along!
Sharkman
November 14th, 2011
8:33 pm
ARE WE INSANE??? Give him the EXACT same contract Richt gets. Without Grantham, I’m sure our record wouldn’t be near as good this year. SERIOUSLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!