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
Jim
November 14th, 2011
3:11 pm
On a different not but talking coaching changes. What’s going to take, money wise, to replace Joe-Pa?
Chuck UGA
November 14th, 2011
3:12 pm
If Grantham leaves, Richt will hire a new coordinator who will no doubt switch back to a 4-3. Then UGA will be back to 2010 all over again, and will regret extending Richt’s contract. The easy way out (not one usually taken by the stubborn, short-sighted administration at Butts-Mehre) would be to replace him with an equally talented coordinator who will KEEP the 3-4 defense. Problem is, I don’t see that coming as UGA is still not as committed to winning as Bama, LSU, Florida, Tennessee, Arkansas and Auburn. Despite the pending SEC East title, the same issues remain, that being a staff that doesn’t always work as hard as the competition to recruit (2011 the rare exception) and an administration that is extremely arrogant..
ARdawg
November 14th, 2011
3:13 pm
TheItalianDawg
Your scenario doesn’t stand to reason. If UGA beat LSU, LSU might still get to the NCG but that would leave Bama to the Sugar, they would have the better record than UGA with 1 loss vs. Georgia’s 2
Georgia | MrSEC.com
November 14th, 2011
3:13 pm
[...] an extension to keep him in Athens for a longer run. Grantham’s agent let it be known that he’s already “gotten inquiries” from NFL clubs interested in hiring his client as … And he says he’s “gotten feelers” from representatives of colleges regarding [...]
ARdawg
November 14th, 2011
3:14 pm
ga gator
It has happened before
ga gator
November 14th, 2011
3:14 pm
Jim, it might get into a bidding war over Urban.
GulfShoresDawg
November 14th, 2011
3:15 pm
ok, HERE’S THE DEAL…Our defense just beat the offense of the highest paid assistant coach in the land…so, up CTG’s pay to that of Malzhan’s, what’s the big deal! UGA has the bucks and no amount of money could buy the intangibles and how everyone felt last Sat. in Sanford….recruiting knockout…and oh what a feeling!!!
Douglas
November 14th, 2011
3:15 pm
He is the best DC UGA has had since Erk Russell – why not extend his contract. I love his passion.
Mark Richt Twitter
November 14th, 2011
3:15 pm
Anybody seen my hot seat? Must have left it in Jacksonville?
ga gator
November 14th, 2011
3:15 pm
ARdawg, it might but I would be shocked this time if the loser of the SEC Championship gets to the NC game. When has it happened before?
ga gator
November 14th, 2011
3:17 pm
GulfShoresDawg, Malzahn is as over rated and paid as Charlie Weis. If not for Cam he would have had about the same team last year as this year.
JB
November 14th, 2011
3:17 pm
Hard to say Chuck that whole list of teams is more committed to winning than Georgia. Tenn hires Dooley from La. trade school and Florida hires a Texas cheerleader………I don’t know about all that.
Evansdawg
November 14th, 2011
3:17 pm
Personally, I think he should be UGA’s ‘head coach in waiting.’ Give him a 4-5 year deal, give him a cool $1MM per year and lock him down. Richt won’t be around forever, and many people think his days are numbered anyway. Not to be fired, but Richt could pull the trigger on a life in mission work at any season-end. These two guys could get it done. Championships are won by great defense.
someone who knows
November 14th, 2011
3:18 pm
joker phillips is coaching for his job saturday…help him out dawgs…let south carolina take that rearend kickin in the dome…
Jim
November 14th, 2011
3:19 pm
Schedules or luck of the draw and maybe we did have it easy after BS and SC. We lost to BS and gave the game to SC, but it sure was nice to watch the whipping we put on AUBURN!!!!!!!!
hryder
November 14th, 2011
3:20 pm
When involved in coaching I would have wanted this man for the length of my tenure as head coach. He should have a contract for the number of years that match the Top Dawg’s with a buyout to go else where as an assistant and nothing but, “hope you are successful”, and warm hand shake when departing to fill a head coaching position. He also should be provided a substantial salary increase.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
November 14th, 2011
3:20 pm
ARDawg,
I do not believe one conference is actually allowed to have 3 teams in the BCS. So “if” UGA where to beat LSU then either LSU or Alabama would be left out of the BCS.
GulfShoresDawg
November 14th, 2011
3:20 pm
ga gator …. we know that…but it is what it is…
someone who knows
November 14th, 2011
3:21 pm
yeah, yeah, hire grantham as coach in waiting, great idea…hahahahaha…seee what i was sayin about the stupidest fan base…grantham = lombardi…
John Smith
November 14th, 2011
3:22 pm
Just like his defense – lock him down.
JB
November 14th, 2011
3:22 pm
Boy, reading the Birmingham News blogs from the weekend, the Bama people enjoyed our whipping of Auburn…………But AU had it coming………….lot of talk from last year to last Saturday that AU had us as dead………………….Hellooooooooooooooooooooooo.
59bulldawg
November 14th, 2011
3:23 pm
Beamer himself coaches VA Tech’s special teams.
ARdawg
November 14th, 2011
3:23 pm
ga gator
Oklahoma played in the NC game without winning their conference championship. LSU could do the same. They have a wide gap in the point standings
Delbert D.
November 14th, 2011
3:24 pm
Matthews Dawg pointed out that CTG might not be the kind of guy that CMR would want to hang out with. To me, that’s backwards. CTG has seemed to be chafing under CMR for 2 years now. My opinion from a distance, via the TV.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
November 14th, 2011
3:24 pm
ARDawg
If UGA beats LSU; LSU or AL will play NOT play for the NC
Every sports talk media know it all have been screaming it louder than ever; every single day that if you dont win your conference you shouldnt be allowed to play for the NC
I think if thats the way its going to be then if OK ST loses or OK state wins then OK should not be allowed because the Big 12 got rid of their championship game which is not fair to the other conferences
DawgGone1
November 14th, 2011
3:25 pm
I agree TG has done a great job, But I would not crown him yet. Besides, head coaches have come in and won National Championships in the time it has taken him to improve the defense.
JB
November 14th, 2011
3:25 pm
Weren’t we told in 07 because we didn’t win our Conference title we wouldn’t be considered?
I'll furnish the rail
November 14th, 2011
3:27 pm
Don’t wait to see if Grantham gets a better offer. Grantham is pure sleaze, even worse than the phony Saint Richt.
Run Grantham out of town on a rail now.
someone who knows
November 14th, 2011
3:27 pm
you were told in 07 you were not good enough to play in the title game…be happy they gave you hawaii to beat up on…something you could handle…leave the big games to big boys…
mexdawg
November 14th, 2011
3:27 pm
Whatever you do don’t let Grantham get away.He is the Heart and Soul of this team.Defense wins championships and with Grantham we’ve got a coach who knows Defense.LET THE BIG DAWG EAT.
JB
November 14th, 2011
3:28 pm
Bobo to Ole Miss…………………..no, I haven’t heard it, but just throwing it out there.
ARdawg
November 14th, 2011
3:30 pm
flat tire
With all due respect there ole friend. What “you” think or what the talking heads think or what anyone else thinks is of no consequence. The BCS Cartel will do as it pleases. The general consensus is that if a team doesn’t win their conference then they “shouldn’t” play but, the problem there is that there is no provisions for that in the BCS system. The highest rated tea,s play, end of story. If UGA beats LSU, that will pretty much leave Bama at least in the #2 position.
Dawg48
November 14th, 2011
3:31 pm
Look at the results and sign the check!
He has turned the team around with defense!
someone who knows
November 14th, 2011
3:31 pm
grantham is at best the 5th-6th best dc in conference,,,,grantham < chavis, smart, williams, johnson, etc…
Delbert D.
November 14th, 2011
3:31 pm
Enter your comments here
Castle Pines Canine
November 14th, 2011
3:33 pm
I love my dog friends, even the fair weather ones. After the SC game we had to fire everyone, now we need to keep everyone. If you were a Dog you were concerned. If you were an idiot you wanted to fire everyone right then. I say, let Mcgarity figure it out. He will not do anything too stupid. If a policy says x he will have to do x. It is up to him. Support these guys anyway you want. We surely don’t want free Willy, Bill Lewis, or Richard Bell back again, or anything like that situation.
Dawg48
November 14th, 2011
3:33 pm
What ever 2 teams will bring in the best T.V. Ratings will play for the N.C.!
It’s all about the almighty $$$$$$$ people not who deserves to play!
DawgGone1
November 14th, 2011
3:34 pm
Let Bobo go and Richt can start back calling the plays……. Better yet send me a message at HireKirbySmart.com.
someone who knows
November 14th, 2011
3:34 pm
Speaking of “big boys”, I’m still waiting for one of you fellas to answer my craigslist ad in the casual encounters section. Don’t keep me waiting…
AltamahaDawg
November 14th, 2011
3:34 pm
I guess we can thank UGA Insider for Boykin having a great year too. I think his leaking that the guy was leaving for the NFL “by tomorrow” must have prevented that announcement.
Jim
November 14th, 2011
3:34 pm
I don’t believe Richt will be around that many more years. I guess if he gets a contract extention my belief is out the window. I think he may serve out his contract and then retire for mission work. I don’t know how many pick up that Coach Richt’s wife did not make the Florida game because she was studying to take her nursing test on the following Monday. I see this as part of setting the stage to enter the mission field. Most folks will say I’m off my rocker but I think Mike Bobo will be the next Head Coach at UGA. To Flgator; Urban will show Penn State they can’t get a coach in 2011 for the 1m they just started paying Joe-Pa who gave about half it back to the school. Welcome to the real world of paying major collage coaches Penn State.
Who Dares Wins!
November 14th, 2011
3:35 pm
After the season is finished is when the talk of contracts should be done. IF and it’s a big IF the Dawgs win the SEC Championship then extend Richt’s contract 2 years with a $500,000 bonus if he wins the NC during that time frame. Grantham, like his tactics or not, has brought back the Junkyard Dawg mentality to the defense. He has taken a laughable defense and got it to 4th in the nation behind LSU, Bama and of all people: Michigan State. 4th! I say extend him 2 years at 1 million per year and add a $250,000 bonus if his defense finishes in the Top 5 defenses in the Nation and tack on another $250,000 if the Dawgs win the NC during that time frame. If Grantham is paid he will stay, otherwise he will bolt back tto the NFL and we’ll be in rebuilding mode yet again.
someone who knows
November 14th, 2011
3:36 pm
that was a good one….but i’m way better at this game than most…
GulfShoresDawg
November 14th, 2011
3:36 pm
JB…fell out of my seat! good one…look, all the experts on here should pony up and go coach a major college program…the fools that you be…UGA runs a cleaner program than UF, AU, UA, GT…and it hurts us to some extent, but we can win honestly and not even have to redshirt, grayshirt or run recruits off like the sabanator, just saying what I see…
ARdawg
November 14th, 2011
3:37 pm
Flat tire
More to the point, if Okie St loses, leaving Bama and LSU in the #1 and #2 positions and they win out, you will see a rematch and one of those wouldn’t have won their conference
Old Dawg Fan
November 14th, 2011
3:37 pm
I have been a big critic of CMR but I am man enough to say that any coach who can turn the “mess of a team” around as he has deserves at least a 2 year extension (and no I won’t forget it either if they start to lose again).
Grantham has done an exceptional job in bringing his defense along!!!! If they play like they played against Florida and Auburn-LSU will have a “game on it’s hands”. I don’t think we will win however they will know they have played some “mean Junkyard Dogs”!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
NC Dawg
November 14th, 2011
3:39 pm
Lock him up immediately. We have to have that fire on the staff that balance’s Richt’s mellow personality.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
November 14th, 2011
3:39 pm
AR Dawg
I would have agreed with you a few years ago but just like the CBS writer who was just interviewed by Finebaum told him that the BCS is weighted more by the voters now and unfortuantley it wont happen.
But hey if Im wrong remind it after the SEC championship game and I will tell you I was wrong
Whichwaydoesthewindblow
November 14th, 2011
3:40 pm
As a complete observer (no affiliation with any ACC or SEC school) of UGA football, one can only laugh. Just 6 weeks ago, there was no doubt Richt was fired at seasons end. Now everyone is “extention for sure”. Either UGA has the dumbest fans, the fans with the shortest memory, or the most fair weather fans in all of sports (I think all is most likely).
Here is the deal. UGA can not get a better coach than they have now. NO CHANCE. Why would anyone come into this situation with the fans. UGA fans must realize, it has been a very long time since your last champtionship. Frankly, you are not considered an elite program any longer, but a upper middle-of-the-pack SEC team. So reallign your expectations and demands. I am just saying….
someone who knows
November 14th, 2011
3:40 pm
lsu and bama play much tougher defenses in practice every day than what uga trots out there on saturdays…