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
Lowcountry Bulldawg, then THAT is saying that you DID POST all this crud about our team 2011
November 15th, 2011
1:30 am
You are TAKING UP FOR Aaron Murray ? Liar.
______________________________________________________
Lowcountry Bulldawg November 1st, 2011 7:40 am
“The execution on Murray’s part was what was off against Florida. We watched the game with another couple who are UT fans and he said the same.”
Lowcountry Bulldawg September 7th, 2011 10:56 am
“help Murray see the field better. Remember the other half of you moan and whine b/c our QB-1 is 6′ tall. So yeah we looked bad after one game apparently implementing the O”
_____________________________________________________
Remind me to never have you TAKE UP for me.
Lowcountry Bulldawg September 28th, 2011 10:05 am
“Heck watching the Ole Miss game offensively I came away with it very underwhelmed again.
Lowcountry Bulldawg, then THAT is saying that you DID POST all this crud about our team 2011
November 15th, 2011
1:31 am
Lowcountry Bulldawg September 28th, 2011 10:05 am
“Heck watching the Ole Miss game offensively I came away with it very underwhelmed again.
FryarTuk
November 15th, 2011
1:33 am
Saracan, soothsayer, homosapien, thespian. Camouflaged son of a goat herder! May your daughters run off with a camel of uncertain virtue. Let’s be more creative with the invective.
no, RED DOG 77 we won't do that
November 15th, 2011
1:34 am
We will lose Todd Grantham. Mark Richt is the complete opposite of Todd Grantham and has SPENT THIS ENTIRE SEASON making his case against Todd Grantham, who has by the way an OUT-CLAUSE we wrote into his contract. Now, when it is obvious without Todd Grantham, that Mark Richt would be GONE, what do we say this tennis player at UGA ?
Not making any contracts up during the season. When the season is over, we will discuss it.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
November 15th, 2011
1:34 am
So you take 5 posts after singular games where I give critique and like to say that is what I have done for the entire season? It just goes to show you how small minded you are. I have said all year let the seaon play out. Also note that I am entitled to give my perspective of how the games have unfolded. Week to week. You on the other hand have been blind to the 8 game winning streak. Only pursueing your view point of everyone must go.
Mathew Ciafaro…it is high time you left this blog. You are not welcome anylonger. UGA fans have put up with this for over 5 years and the masses have grown weary of your bs.
I am here and will always be here to call you out on it. So keep posting the same copy and paste stuff. It makes only sense to you. Just know that you will no longer be allowed to spew your venom without repercussion.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
November 15th, 2011
1:36 am
Ugh after watching the Ol Miss game who did not come away from it underwelmed retard? It was not a juggernaut of a performance.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
November 15th, 2011
1:38 am
Here is the thing no one needs to copy and paste little mattys posts because they are all the same. Poor little Matty has no friends on this blog so he copy and pastes.
REPERCUSSION ? What does that mean ?
November 15th, 2011
1:39 am
Some veiled threat ?
From a guy who ALL SEASON LONG has POSTED every word that I have posted. Every word.
FRAUD.
Still sitting there November 15 DEFENDING what you've said ALL SEASON LONG
November 15th, 2011
1:40 am
Negative Nancy Lowcountry Bulldawg
Lowcountry Bulldawg
November 15th, 2011
1:41 am
Fraud? Your damn right I post every word to make sure everyone knows how pathetic you are as a representative of UGA you are. I will continue to do so. You are a disgrace to the Bulldog Nation.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
November 15th, 2011
1:42 am
Hey Matty, I do not change my name after every other post. That alone speakes volumes as to my convictions.
This season has not unfolded as you would like for it to have, so now you want a CONTRACT EXTENSION, don't you ?
November 15th, 2011
1:43 am
Lowcountry Bulldawg August 31st, 2011 11:11 am
“Note not a single damn blogger can judge this current level of talent in Athens. To call it average is pure speculation as we have new RB’s,WR. LB,NG and other various positions. So how has anyone seen enough to justify it as average? Now give it five games and we sit at 3-2 or 2-3 then you have a point perhaps, but damn give the guys a shot at earning some bones before you prejudge them.”
Lowcountry Bulldawg
November 15th, 2011
1:44 am
Did you actually read that? Because if you did and still posted it it makes you look even dumber.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
November 15th, 2011
1:46 am
Go find the posts where I predicted a 9-3 regular season. O thats right it doesnt fit within your arguments. Yeah exactly….
Lowcountry Bulldawg RICHT-0-FILE Richt Apologist
November 15th, 2011
1:47 am
You have BLAMED THE PLAYERS all season long. All season. You have MADE UP EXCUSES for Mark Richt. You do not care about this football program nor the players in it. You only care about Mark Richt. That’s it. Nothing else.
Lowcountry Bulldawg picks on the players EVEN WHEN he says now he was DEFENDING THEM
November 15th, 2011
1:49 am
Your comments about Aaron Murray are not in the least construed as TAKING UP for Aaron Murray. Instead, by DIRECT CONTRAST, they are the most BITING BITTER POSTS about Aaron Murray FOUND on this blog.
Same goes for all the RB.
Same goes for all the WR.
It is what you do Lowcountry Bulldawg.
Isn’t it ?
Lowcountry Bulldawg
November 15th, 2011
1:55 am
You have serious mental issues little MATTY! If you read what you copy and pasted about what I said about AM you would obviously see thats not the truth idiot!
Lowcountry Bulldawg
November 15th, 2011
1:58 am
O hold on the troll is having to take a minute to research m posts….
DAWGMAN
November 15th, 2011
2:34 am
There is no long term stability in college football anymore.
You do win championships with defense.
Recruits don’t count on the head coach being there the whole time; their mothers do. Daddies know better.
You folks should just cool it. Take a chill pill. Don’t put out then tell the neighborhood you thought y’all was going steady.
No contract extension for CMR. He hosed us last year. He hosed us again at the beginning of this year.’Winning football’ is not even in his top five of favorite things. He is not intimidated by failure. Ya wins some; ya loses some…then you go to gimmicks, gosh awfully ugly uniforms, and tacky stunts that are just plain mortifying. Things are not going to get easier in SEC Football. CMR has not even the glimmer of a spark in his belly for it anymore.
Heck, even Ugga’s blood is a few corpuscles shy of a full load.
The only thing that is constant is change. Adapt or die.
We should not be running a high-paying government job program for CMR.
I think he’s better suited for Davidson or Furman. Don’t worry. Be happy.
He can coach the kids there.
Offer CTG a raise. Keep in mind that he is only doing what was asked of him.
Let Bobo coach the QBs only. Get a ‘for real’ OC in here immediately.
Matt
November 15th, 2011
2:37 am
Pay the man offer him 3yrs 8 mil
Matt
November 15th, 2011
2:38 am
3 yrs 850,000 sorry
clay
November 15th, 2011
4:38 am
I like the idea of TG being the coach in waiting for when richt is gone.
Big Dawg
November 15th, 2011
5:34 am
IMHO the turn around in the program starts with McGarity lighting a fuse under Coach Richt. Coach Richt made good hires with Coach Grantham and Friend. Coach Grantham has that fire and expertise for teaching that you need to be successful. It is also becoming apparent that Coach Friend also has fire, intensity and expertise in getting a depleted offensive line to perform at high and consistent level.
For these reasons and probably others we are not aware of, Coaches Richt, Grantham and Friend should receive contract extensions with Coach Grantham and Friend receiving nice raises.
Go Dawgs
Old Dog
November 15th, 2011
6:09 am
I have a better idea: give Richt his extension but cut his salary to $100,000 per year with a $290000 bonus for each game he wins. Seems like a good proposition for me. I think Richt would say “hell, no”, because he would be afraid of how many losses he would have.
Silly Rabbits
November 15th, 2011
6:12 am
Uga has 1 victory against a team with a winning record. Yes, they are playing well lately but lets see how they fare against a few more quality opponents before we discussing longterm extensions.
Darrell Haley
November 15th, 2011
7:00 am
Grantham has done a great job with Georgia’s defence. I personally would like to see him offered a long term contract. This would go a long ways with stabilizing the defencive side of the ball. I see nothing but upside with him staying at Ga. I hope someone makes a good decision and do the right thing.
georgiadwg70
November 15th, 2011
7:03 am
Every man has his price. Find Granthams and pay it. He is worth every penny. And as far as him showing his arse after the Vanderbilt game. Did you notice the fire in the defense after that. After that his men will fall on a hand grenade for him.
Jax Dawg
November 15th, 2011
7:36 am
Let’s get CMR and CTG done. It appears that this could be like CMR and CBVG all over again, which would be great for DAWG fans!
GO DAWGS!!!!
Kyle
November 15th, 2011
7:43 am
Lock this man up. It took this long to recover from losing BVG. Damon had the right idea. I want to see continuity. Pay the man his due – he has delivered on his promises.
papadawg
November 15th, 2011
7:46 am
I am tired of hearing how weak the schedule was this year. The schedule was pretty much the same for the last two years and we know how that turned out. Dang it just enjoy the fact that the DAWGS have improved every game and have a chance at the SEC Championship and a better Bowl. Anybody expect that at the beginning of the year
ChillyMutt
November 15th, 2011
7:59 am
Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
CEPH
November 15th, 2011
8:23 am
I think before anyone talks about extending Richt’s contract they should wait until he has to play a real schedule. As Richt himself commented, if Florida had played UGA’s schedule and UGA had played Florida’s the won lost record could very easily be reversed!!!!!!!! UGA’s schedule turned out to be even easier than everyone thought before the season began. Richt has too many other priorities than winning championships!!!
Roadrunner
November 15th, 2011
8:32 am
He’s earned the commitment from UGA, totally agree that continuity is what we need, not another search for a replacement def coordinator. And yeah, who cares how they did it in Gainsville.
Jim Holloman
November 15th, 2011
8:35 am
There is no doubt that the reason Mark Richt gets an extenstion on his contract is because the defense has made it possible for UGA football to have the record they have so I say sign Todd Grantham to a long term contract.Without Grantham, Mark Richt’s not here next year because the Dawgs would have lost some other games that the defense kept them in.Lock him in long term and the future looks bright…Go Dawgs
1eyedJack
November 15th, 2011
8:42 am
Let’s just beat the tar out of them hillbillies this weekend.
1eyedJack
November 15th, 2011
8:43 am
I’d like to see Grantham and Company pitch a shutout Saturday.
Cullowheedawg
November 15th, 2011
8:47 am
Simple, extend and raise his pay. In private business you don’t mess with a winning team. If you look back on this year, there are many games that the defense WON as the offense just wasn’t there yet. I think a million is about right and 4 years extension with raises based on incentives. When you look back even to the Dooley years, defense was VERY important. DON’T CHEAP OUT!!!
doc
November 15th, 2011
8:51 am
I mean if was getting 200,000 a year to coach that would be plenty———-too bad these guys are greedy—–I guess its all about money. So be it.
sicdawg
November 15th, 2011
8:58 am
Lets see how they perform against Tech and LSU Dawgs have looked good against some very bad teams. Beat LSU then talk
DawginLex
November 15th, 2011
9:02 am
Well, I’m back.
I decided that a loser like bulldawg/matthew ciaforo/thomas brown won’t keep me away.
HEY LOSER BOY
SHOW ME WHERE I SAID RICHT SHOULD BE FIRED.
You interpret things differently in that pea brain of yours.
Disneydawgs.com is all you BOY
You are a wimp
A pansy.
A nothing
Your opinions are a joke.
You are a joke.
Spew away loser BOY
I asked you to stop copying and pasting my posts and to not respond to me but you ignored me. A gentleman would have honored my request. A loser like you ignores it.
So game on BOY.
TampaDawg
November 15th, 2011
9:10 am
Wow Lex, he/she hit a nerve I guess. Well, sweet talk Chip into giving over an IP address and track him/her down from there.
Really?
November 15th, 2011
9:11 am
Coach Richt is on pace to be the best Georgia coach of all time. Way better than Butts and Dooley. Check the records. You guys that want Richt gone… are morons. If you have a job, I pray that you boss judges you with the same microscope that you judge Mark with. You guys would have fired Dooley and Butts years before you would fire Richt …and we name buildings after those guys. … morons!
TampaDawg
November 15th, 2011
9:12 am
sicdawg
November 15th, 2011
8:58 am
Lets see how they perform against Tech and LSU Dawgs have looked good against some very bad teams. Beat LSU then talk
————————
AGAIN, how many weeks will we hear this crap? Week before the game “Dawgs will lose this one, this one scares me, the Dawgs will get exposed this week” .. then after the Dawgs take care of business, it’s “the Dawgs haven’t played a good team”. The contradictions from Friday’s to Monday’s are astounding.
TampaDawg
November 15th, 2011
9:14 am
@Really? .. LOL, nice post buddy, couldn’t agree more. Love when someone puts it in perspective.
Jim
November 15th, 2011
9:26 am
Chip have you heard from any others sources, about interest in Todd Grantham, besides his agent? sounds like his agent is doing a good job planting seeds that will line the agent’s pocket.
Wet Willie...keep on smiling
November 15th, 2011
9:31 am
Todd is providing some much needed discipline for your program so watch your step. For an agent to be pushing so hard for a extended deal so early is a sign that TG might wish to be around the UGA program but he would like a litttle bump as well. The update to Richt’s contract is the big question that must be dealt with at y/e. UGA needs to go find a RB coach this year and one that is good. If you can make enough good hires around the HC then they can provide the discipline that Mark doesn’t. You watch #1 carry the football today and he’s still playing at a HS level and that is on the RB coach at this point.
Jim
November 15th, 2011
9:31 am
Chip you should take a poll and see how many of these guys wanting to give big raises are boosters who give their money to support the school.
jbeggs
November 15th, 2011
9:38 am
An extension gets us nothing. If he bolts it will be for a HC job so an extension and raise will mean nothing. That said…pay him for the product he has put on the field – he deserves a raise.
Back in the day
November 15th, 2011
9:38 am
UGA has a weak schedule is a tired, worn out term. Back in the day around 81 or 82 or 83, UGA STOMPED Johnny Majors and his UT Volunteers like 46-6 and then, it was said, UGA’s schedule is weak. Fine.
My point is this: friends, you play the schedule and you play is well. Another team’s misfortune is NOT your concern. You tee it up and play ball.
Competition is keen in the SEC because our schools recruit high quality young men that can bring it. Depth is usually the deciding factor a lack thereof.
Goooooooooooooooooooo Dogs.
PS LSU and Alabama and Arkansas have not played UGA this year. No more “oh, um, well ah, UGA has not played” U of so and so. After this week when Akry loses to LSU they will be ranked below UGA.
Big D
November 15th, 2011
9:42 am
Big Dawg, I totally agree. McGarity also moved the student section closer to the field which as we saw on Saturday has really made a difference…it was loud!!!
Go Dawgs!