McGarity opens contract extension talks with Richt; again denies A&M rumors
Georgia athletic director Greg McGarity met with football coach Mark Richt on Friday to formally open discussions about a contract extension.
McGarity said further talks will be held, perhaps next week, but that UGA and Richt are in agreement on the central point: “He wants to be our coach. We want him to be our coach.”
McGarity added: “There’s really no need to speed through anything right now because he and I are in a good place.”
Richt has two years left on his existing contract, but his job appeared in peril when the Bulldogs opened this season with back-to-back losses to Boise State and South Carolina. A 10-game winning streak and SEC East championship removed Richt from the much-discussed “hot seat” and all but ensured a contract extension.
The McGarity-Richt meeting came on the morning after rumors and reports surfaced that Texas A&M was targeting Richt for its coaching opening. McGarity said the timing of the meeting was unrelated to that speculation, in which he said he put no credence.
McGarity said Texas A&M athletic director Bill Byrne had not contacted him and would have done so if he were pursuing Richt.
“You don’t waste your time on [rumors] that have no legs,” said McGarity, who added that he has no doubt Richt will be the Bulldogs’ coach next season and beyond.
“We just know Mark is going to be our ‘ball coach,” McGarity said.
Friday morning’s meeting, held in McGarity’s office, was the athletic director’s first with Richt regarding a contract extension. The two had planned since last week to meet at some point late this week, McGarity said.
“This is the first time we’ve had a chance to get together and start discussing the process,” McGarity said. “You sit down when things are calm, talk through things on his list, things on your list, soak that information in.
“I need to review certain things with [UGA president Michael Adams] and review some ideas and thoughts I may have now that we have had a discussion, and at some point in time we can get back together. . . . We are moving forward on discussions on the future.”
McGarity would not disclose details such as potential contract parameters.
“We discussed several things, but I’m not ready to say what those things are,” McGarity said.
Richt’s contract, most recently amended in 2008, is a complicated document. Variables to be discussed could include how many years are added to the deal, whether Richt gets a raise from his current income of about $3 million annually and how provisions such as buyouts would be affected.
Richt didn’t publicly address the contract-extension matter or the Texas A&M speculation on Friday. He also didn’t respond to a request for comment.
Richt has said frequently over the years, including as recently as last week, that he wants to complete his coaching career at Georgia.
“It’s too hard emotionally for me to recruit guys and look them in the eye and say, ‘I’m going to be your coach,’ and knowing deep down, maybe, if something better comes along I’m leaving,” Richt said last week. “I just didn’t ever want to operate that way.
“So Georgia’s my home and my family’s home.”
McGarity noted that Richt has a busy schedule this weekend, with many recruits visiting campus.
“I’m sure we’ll meet a couple other times after he gets through this weekend and things settle down,” McGarity said.
McGarity said Texas A&M was not mentioned in his meeting with Richt on Friday or in his trip to Tampa with Richt on Thursday for an Outback Bowl contract-signing party.
“I didn’t even ask,” McGarity said.”He’d tell me [if anything were going on]. . . . Nothing came up other than Georgia.”
Richt, Georgia’s coach since 2001, has a 106-37 record with the Bulldogs. His team reached the SEC Championship game this season for the fourth time, the first time since 2005.
The Bulldogs’ 10-3 record this year followed their two worst seasons under Richt, 8-5 in 2009 and 6-7 in 2010.
McGarity said discussions about possible changes in the contracts of Richt’s assistant coaches will come later.
— Tim Tucker
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
685 comments Add your comment
TampaDawg
December 9th, 2011
2:27 pm
@GTBob, “Did UGA struggle with recruiting before Richt got there? Do you really think getting any other good coach would cause a huge drop in recruiting?”
Actually, they did ok with recruiting but nothing like at the level they are now.
Coach Ray Goff
December 9th, 2011
2:28 pm
Killed???????? hahahahahaha I dont think so. If anything we KILLED them in the first half.
Is that a moral victory I smell? I didn’t think Bulldog Nation accepted moral victories.
42-10 was the final score.
PapaDawg
December 9th, 2011
2:28 pm
A&M how to win friends in your new conference.Although I Ilike Coach Richt and don’t want to lose him I think it would be GREAT if he did go and came back to win the SEC & beat the Dawgs every freaking time he played them. With all these so called loud mouth fans I’m almost tired of being a DAWG Fan since 1970. Some real classless dipsticks
second rate sec school
December 9th, 2011
2:28 pm
McGarity has no power. He is nothing more than Michael Adams errand boy. Adams wants Richt to stay and that is the bttom line. This school doesn’t care about championships, they only care about the money. During Richt’s tenure the money has flowed and Adams is happy so there you go.
GTBob
December 9th, 2011
2:29 pm
Kerryb, if UGA goes to the student center and randomly picks someone as coach then they would still beat GT 9 out of 10 times. Maybe more. I’m not really worried about that.
GTBob = Tweep
December 9th, 2011
2:29 pm
Bobo starts off great, but then he gets tight and get’s conservation. He should have continued the agressive play calling throughout the entire game. Now you are correct the dropped passing are not his fault.
We would not have won even if Bobo stayed aggressive, but it would have been more of a game, but this is what he does every game. He get’s conservative way too quickly. Just my opinion.
Saban
December 9th, 2011
2:29 pm
Keep Richt. More national championships for me.
True Dawg Fan
December 9th, 2011
2:29 pm
TampaDawg
December 9th, 2011
2:27 pm
@GTBob, “Did UGA struggle with recruiting before Richt got there? Do you really think getting any other good coach would cause a huge drop in recruiting?”
Actually, they did ok with recruiting but nothing like at the level they are now.
Theres your answer. Richt brings in top recruits. Fish Fry well………. he has man boobs!
DIT
December 9th, 2011
2:30 pm
Still waiting on an answer to my question from earlier: Who would replace Bobo?
OkieDawg
December 9th, 2011
2:30 pm
Getting a coach such as Paul Johnson at UGA would cause a huge drop in recruiting. UGA would be relegated to the same type of recruits GT gets.
True Dawg Fan
December 9th, 2011
2:31 pm
Coach Ray Goff
December 9th, 2011
2:28 pm
Killed???????? hahahahahaha I dont think so. If anything we KILLED them in the first half.
Is that a moral victory I smell? I didn’t think Bulldog Nation accepted moral victories.
42-10 was the final score.
or if you read the comment it was just to disprove the statement of us getting killed. But good try, better luck next time retard.
Kerryb
December 9th, 2011
2:31 pm
GTBob, if your not worried about it or what goes on at UGA then why are you on a UGA blog 24/7?
DawginLex
December 9th, 2011
2:31 pm
GTBob
December 9th, 2011
2:29 pm
Kerryb, if UGA goes to the student center and randomly picks someone as coach then they would still beat GT 9 out of 10 times. Maybe more. I’m not really worried about that.
***************
If you really believe this, you are an idiot.
Coach Ray Goff
December 9th, 2011
2:31 pm
Bobo starts off great, but then he gets tight and get’s conservation.
Our dumb fans embarrass me.
DawginLex
December 9th, 2011
2:32 pm
DIT
I want Richt to call his own plays and take complete ownership of this team and in particular the offense.
True Dawg Fan
December 9th, 2011
2:33 pm
second rate sec school
December 9th, 2011
2:28 pm
McGarity has no power. He is nothing more than Michael Adams errand boy. Adams wants Richt to stay and that is the bttom line. This school doesn’t care about championships, they only care about the money. During Richt’s tenure the money has flowed and Adams is happy so there you go.
Wow either a techie or another Fringe fan. McGarity is not a errand boy. He is in charge hence why you things are different with how suspensions or injuries get announced. Thats all McGarity and a huge plus for us, since we used to just tell everyone everything. McGarity is going to get richt the tools he needs to win period. Thats why he was brought in. Adams will get run out of UGA before too long.
ArkieAg
December 9th, 2011
2:33 pm
I think Richt would be a great choice for the Aggies, and since he was seen in Texas this week, not out of the question. That said, I think A&M really just did him a solid. According to one source, Richt “only has two years left on his contract because the school has not offered the customary contract extension that generates stability and good will. As recent as last week at the SEC Championship Game, the UGA president and AD were asked if Coach Richt’s job was secure after this season’s 10-game winning streak, and they said they would evaluate his status at the end of the season.”
Now, according to the article here, they are talking to him… seems a flirtation with the Aggies was all it took for the UGA AD to start evaluating… FAST!
DawginLex
December 9th, 2011
2:33 pm
Coach Ray Goff
Our dumb fans embarrass me.
*******************************
I’d be embarrassed too. Posing as a former UGA player and coach and being a Bama fan who lives in a double wide in Dothan
True Dawg Fan
December 9th, 2011
2:34 pm
Coach Ray Goff
December 9th, 2011
2:31 pm
Bobo starts off great, but then he gets tight and get’s conservation.
Our dumb fans embarrass me.
Youre the dumb fan, or a dumg nerd posing as a winner. Ill take the later!
Kerryb
December 9th, 2011
2:34 pm
trollers want to come on here and poke fun at us because of that LSU game. What you should worry about in that game was that UGA showed it’s potential in the first half. They showed their youth and inexperience in the second. Next year having played in a game like that they won’t be inexperienced anymore.
Megan
December 9th, 2011
2:34 pm
I love the talk about Saban going to Texas… you people are idiots! Why would anybody leave Alabama when you can make the National Championship game without winning either your division or your conference championship?
GTBob
December 9th, 2011
2:35 pm
If you really believe this, you are an idiot.
The huge difference in our teams is mostly because of recruiting. There is no coach that could drag UGA down to GT levels of recruiting.
DawginLex
December 9th, 2011
2:35 pm
The TAM rumor was never real. No contact made. Just more spewing to try and impact recruiting. Just because a newspaper mentioned it doesn’t make it credible.
DIT
December 9th, 2011
2:35 pm
Lex… Being that TG has got the defense going that would not be a bad move. MR, we all know can be a great OC. I wonder if Bobo is any good at special teams!
bobby
December 9th, 2011
2:35 pm
lock him up now right man for the job.
True Dawg Fan
December 9th, 2011
2:35 pm
ArkieAg
December 9th, 2011
2:33 pm
I think Richt would be a great choice for the Aggies, and since he was seen in Texas this week, not out of the question. That said, I think A&M really just did him a solid. According to one source, Richt “only has two years left on his contract because the school has not offered the customary contract extension that generates stability and good will. As recent as last week at the SEC Championship Game, the UGA president and AD were asked if Coach Richt’s job was secure after this season’s 10-game winning streak, and they said they would evaluate his status at the end of the season.”
Now, according to the article here, they are talking to him… seems a flirtation with the Aggies was all it took for the UGA AD to start evaluating… FAST!
Richt hasnt been talked to by the Aggies. This is just a ploy to try and ruin the recruiting at the end of the year. It has no legs. Stop spewing crap.
Kerryb
December 9th, 2011
2:35 pm
ArkieAg , Richt wasn’t seen in Texas. Your believing what you here from some stupid media talking head.
Kerryb
December 9th, 2011
2:36 pm
I should have typed HEAR. Typing too fast.
DawginLex
December 9th, 2011
2:37 pm
Take richt away and the recruiting drops like a stone.
Take richt away and Grantham goes with him and the next coaching staff will probably want to run the spread and the 4-3 and we will spend 2 years or more trying to get the right players.
SSIgator
December 9th, 2011
2:37 pm
A contract extension? Mark “I can’t win any big games” Richt is going to be rewarded for a smoke and mirrors season of winning ten games in a row? Wow. Talk about the blind leading the blind. But hey, the rest of the SEC schools do hope you extend his contract for a looooong time. UGA – Home of the ten win season, but no titles. Thirty-one years and counting.
True Dawg Fan
December 9th, 2011
2:37 pm
Megan
December 9th, 2011
2:34 pm
I love the talk about Saban going to Texas… you people are idiots! Why would anybody leave Alabama when you can make the National Championship game without winning either your division or your conference championship?
Its what he does. He builds then bails. When he losses again to LSU he will be at Texas within a month after it.
Should Earn It
December 9th, 2011
2:37 pm
any chance CMR to Penn State???
Kerryb
December 9th, 2011
2:38 pm
ArkieAG, you also didn’t read this article. McGarity said that A&M didn’t ask for permission to talk to Richt which is what they have to do since he is under contract for the next 2 years. If they did UGA could sue them.
Stinger2
December 9th, 2011
2:38 pm
Its sad to see so many post saying that CMR should not get a contract extension. As a GT fan I hope that at some
point all the naysayers will wise up and realize how lucky UGA is to have CMR. I say this realizing that he beats us almost every year.
DawginLex
December 9th, 2011
2:38 pm
SSI
Still won’t acknowledge my correct prediction about Weis?
Figures
I know I’m right and your silence is golden.
Kerwin Bell??
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
True Dawg Fan
December 9th, 2011
2:39 pm
SSIgator
December 9th, 2011
2:37 pm
A contract extension? Mark “I can’t win any big games” Richt is going to be rewarded for a smoke and mirrors season of winning ten games in a row? Wow. Talk about the blind leading the blind. But hey, the rest of the SEC schools do hope you extend his contract for a looooong time. UGA – Home of the ten win season, but no titles. Thirty-one years and counting.
Youre a tool. Dont be mad that we beat you, it’ll be o….. nvm it wont be ok bc ur OC bailed already and Mushcump is lying to recruits. Enjoy the bottom you will be there for a while!!
Dnice
December 9th, 2011
2:39 pm
Are we serious about this? What if we get blown up/beat down my MSU which I seriously think will happen. UGA has not beaten anyone this season and lost 3 games to Boise, LSU, and SC at home. Yes we won the East but SW Dekalb could have won the east this season with the sorry slate of teams we had. Even with the bad teams (UF, UT, VAndy, MS State, we still barely beat all those teams and only the Gtech and Auburn games were blowouts. Since Richt has been here we have had Auburn go undefeated 3 times with one championship (Terry Bowden, Tubberville, and Czick), Alabama 1 championship playing for another, Florida 2 championships but down due to coaching retirement/change, LSU 2 championships going for a 3rd. How are we getting better when the competition is taking turns and we are still stuck and maybe going in reverse. I applaud Richt for all he has done but didnt we see what a bad contract can do for you (Gtech basketball Paul Hewitt). Indeed Herschel is long gone from McWhorter Hall but the talent level in the state is such that NC should be recurring.
DIT
December 9th, 2011
2:39 pm
@Should Earn It
Now that wasn’t even funny. Alright a little
Dawgsgone
December 9th, 2011
2:39 pm
Saban followed Schula and won national title in 2-3 years with those players, Meyer followed Zook and won national title in 2-3 years with those players , CMR followed Donnan and is still searching. Zook was great recruiter, bad coach: Donnan was great judge of talent, good recreuiter, bad game day coach: Shula was over his head in all areas. My point is Saban and Meyer BUILT championship teams quickly with what they had and what they brought in in 2-3 years. CMR had as much talent as either but has underperformed due to coaching decision (assistants, coordinators, areas of responsibility ect.) and a lack of control over the program in the area of accountability for actions by both coaches and players. Until he (or someone) gets serious about this program we will be good but not the caliber of UA, LSU and UF of the past 8-10 years. I love the Dawgs and CMR but it is what it is. We have to decide to change or live wih what we have and that decison is above my pay grade so I’ll just continue to support UGA because I am and always will be a “DAWG”.
Loyal Fan
December 9th, 2011
2:41 pm
While we are at McGarity, let’s throw a big contract extension at Todd Grantham.
SSIgator
December 9th, 2011
2:43 pm
DawginLex -
I answered it on Bill King’s blog. Read if you want to.
DIT
December 9th, 2011
2:43 pm
SSIgator sounds so much like a tekie it isn’t even funny. It makes one wonder. Usually, when a gator fan posts on here it’s at least some what inteligent. This guy is far from that.
Megan
December 9th, 2011
2:43 pm
Here is on for all of you morons who love to bring up negative stats against Richt… what is his win-loss record against defending national champions he has faced the following season??? Look it up!
Kerryb
December 9th, 2011
2:44 pm
To all of you trollers. You think a UGA fan gives even one crap about what you have to say? We hear it like BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH. Kind of like that teacher on Charlie Brown. UGA fans know the run we are about to go on and you will ALL disappear when we are beating the crap out of ALL your teams. You will have no smug or stupid comments to say then.
sigh....
December 9th, 2011
2:45 pm
Please let next year play out BEFORE we give him another contract. Good grief already!
Geoffrey Richards
December 9th, 2011
2:46 pm
Who really believed that Richt to A&M rumour. Even if somebody is dumb enough the think A&M is a better job (which it is not), why would Richt want to go to the SEC West and have to fight LSU and Bama every year to get to Atlanta. Especially now that Tenn. is down, Fla. is down and South Carolina has probably peaked under Spurrier. Not to mention A&M really has no recuiting base. Texas, Oklahoma, LSU are all over the entire state of TX.
ArkieAg
December 9th, 2011
2:46 pm
True Dawg Fan
I did not get that information from the media. I got this in an email last night. The source also stated the following:
“According to sources close to the situation, Richt’s agent was presented with tentative terms of approximately 5 years at the upper range of the $3 million a year mark by A&M. This evening, Richt’s agent countered with a proposal. It is our understanding that Texas A&M is digesting this counter-proposal and trying to arrange the financial resources with donors. If A&M feels the financial terms are reasonable and doable and they decide to formally offer/accept terms, they could agree to a tentative deal as early as tomorrow.”
I’m sorry it bursts your bubble to think that Coach Richt might be savvy enough to put feelers out there to either secure his UGA job or get a deal to move on to something else. No need to get mad… especially because I think if UGA just offers an extension, he will stay.
bruce mac
December 9th, 2011
2:49 pm
I certainly hope Kirby ends up in the SEC. That would be one more automatic win for UGA against a former overrated Bulldog assistant. If I had known how much money these schools would pay washed up UGA coaches I would have taken a different carreer path. Apparently all you have to do is work for Saban and some moron AD at Florida or A & M will pay you millions to lose lose lose. How funny and pathetic is it at these want to be football schools?
Kerryb
December 9th, 2011
2:49 pm
What Tech fans don’t seem to realize is that they will ALWAYS suck, Florida fans don’t realize that they are well on their way to sucking, and Bama fans don’t realize that you could only be 2-3 years away from sucking also. Bama fans remember, Florida fans thought they were invincible just a few short years ago and now look at them. They are a train wreck.
Kerryb
December 9th, 2011
2:50 pm
ArkieAg, the “close to the situation” was probably a staffer in the AD’s office hearing someone say “I wonder if Mark Richt will talk to us?”