3-year deal in works for Georgia D-coordinator Todd Grantham
Georgia's defense has flourished under the guidance of second-year defensive coordinator Todd Grantham. (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
ATHENS – Georgia Athletic Director Greg McGarity confirmed Friday he is in the midst of working on a contract extension for defensive coordinator Todd Grantham.
Grantham’s California-based attorney, Michael Harrison, told the AJC in November he was was seeking an extension for his client. Grantham signed a three-year contract that pays him $750,000 annually when he was hired by coach Mark Richt from the Dallas Cowboys in January of 2010. Grantham has 13 months remaining on that contract.
Georgia Athletic Director Greg McGarity never had an assistant coach under a multi-year agreement in 18 years while he was at Florida. But he is making an exception for Grantham.
“That’s what we’re working to right now,” McGarity said Friday. “We’re discussing it. Mark and I have discussed it and we’re trying to work through that right now. It’s just tough to get everybody together because of coaching conventions and recruiting and things like that. But we’re moving along in that direction.”
McGarity indicated that any new deal with Grantham would likely resemble the old deal. In other words, two years would be added to the existing agreement to get Grantham back to three years. But negotiations are ongoing.
That said, don’t expect a tremendous pay raise for Grantham, if any. He is currently the second highest-paid defensive coordinator in FBS. Alabama’s Kirby Smart is first at $850,000.
“The most important thing is the longevity piece,” McGarity said. “From a compensation standpoint it’s hard to argue that we’re not being fair to him. My whole thing is being fair to people and I think we’re being fair.”
As is his practice, McGarity is dealing with Grantham directly and not his attorney or other representation.
Georgia’s defense has definitely improved under Grantham’s leadership. The Bulldogs finished the 2011 season ranked in the Top 20 nationally in all seven primary statistical categories, including No. 3 in total defense (268.5 ypg), 4th in pass efficiency (98.27), 7th in passing yards allowed (165.9) and 11th in rushing (103.4). Nine starters are currently slated to return to that unit and recruiting prospects are starting to line up to play for Grantham.
The question now is whether McGarity will relax his stance on multi-year contracts for coordinators. Offensive coordinator Mike Bobo is working on a one-year contract, as are Georgia’s other assistants.
“We have not had those discussions,” McGarity said of a multi-year for Bobo. “I’m focused on Mark’s and we’ve talked a little bit about Todd’s. That’s what we’re working on right now.”
– Chip Towers
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349 comments Add your comment
Chris
January 6th, 2012
4:46 pm
Why in the world would you discuss a multi-year for Bobo???
What is multi-year x zero?????
That’s what he should get.
Bama mike
January 6th, 2012
4:46 pm
This is great news for Bama fans as well. No more of the Dawgs chasing after Kirby Smart. Remember how Kirby was hammered in the recruiting media after Georgia stole Crowell. Have you seen the haul Kirby is bringing in this year. Wow! .
DawgBone
January 6th, 2012
4:49 pm
Todd Grantham deserves a contract extension. Richt does also, but DEFINITELY NOT Bobo. Move him back to QB coach where he really doesn’t even deserve. Without the defense this year, we would not have won at least 4 of our games this season. Think about it. We won barely against Vanderbilt, Florida and Kentucky. Even with Tennessee, the score was 20-12. Without the help of the defense, our FLAT offense wouldn’t have been able to pull that win.
Plus with the Vanderbilt, Florida and Outback Bowl, the offense doesn’t play to win….they play to survive. Bobo’s lack of creativity on offensive schemes creates a one dimensional offense. Run it down the middle on “repeat”. No clock management and a lack of passion/fire is what Bobo gives to the offense.
So, let’s move Bobo, extend CTG’s contract. Keep Richt for recruiting and let’s hire a new offensive coordinator. As much as I hate Auburn, we really need our own version of Gus Malzahn that coached that Chick-Fil-A Bowl….that’s some good play calling right there.
Jeff
January 6th, 2012
4:51 pm
BOBO Multi year?????? Extention???????????????????????????YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME
Chavis > Grantham
January 6th, 2012
4:52 pm
Fact…..stay classy, little Puppies…
Jeff
January 6th, 2012
4:52 pm
Bobo contract extention = same old crap
AltamahaDawg
January 6th, 2012
4:52 pm
You won’t see that paid out of pocket voilation anymore. He’ll do it again, as he had done so many times in the past, but McGarity won’t screw up the paperwork like Evans did.
DawgBone
January 6th, 2012
4:53 pm
And finally…all season long, the defense pulled it together while one 3 occasions did the offense actually play to their potential. Coastal Carolina, New Mexico State and Auburn. If only the offense played the other games with that fire and passion….. Defense did it pretty much every week. Offense got to pick up some of the load.
ozzfest
January 6th, 2012
4:54 pm
McGARRITY HAD BETTER DEAL WITH THE BOBO MESS NOW, RATHER THAN AFTER THE FLORIDA GAME NEXT OCTOBER…WHEN GREG GETS CHASED OUT OF THE GATOR BOWL.
gt4ever
January 6th, 2012
4:55 pm
all you people are funny about this offense….. You could be running the triple option…. Bobo has done an exceptional job…. I mean, Richt is the one who kicks the field goal on third down…
Bob
January 6th, 2012
4:55 pm
None of these coaches deserve a contract extention much less a reaise. Look at their performance from a professional view rather than personal. Whom have we beat? How have we lost? Can UGA do better at $3M a year? What happens to the 4 and 5 star recruits between High School and going pro? Grantham looked good only because our offense was terrible. Just my opinion.
Big Albany Dawg
January 6th, 2012
4:55 pm
Can he coach offense as well?
Joey
January 6th, 2012
4:58 pm
So, you boys love Richt, but hate Bobo?
Richt said last season, “I like the way Bobo calls plays.” He also bragged on Bobo with the, “we had more 30 point games than any UGA team in history.”
Richt = Bobo
Bobo ain’t going nowhere.
It’s Richt’s offense.
cleveland
January 6th, 2012
5:01 pm
The bottom line is that everyone should come back and that includes all of the players (Charles, Rambo, Smith and Washington) if they want to have something special. The big issue is the O line and how calls are mad to protect them). The issue for the past three years is O Line performance and that has been resolved by hiring will Friend. The offense has to be predicated on the defense and that is the issue with Mike Bobo. He has not made calls of having a good defense until this year and he has not been good at it. So now that he know how to not hang them out to dry he will be better at it and so will the O line.
Beast from the East Eaten by Dawg
January 6th, 2012
5:01 pm
UGA’s defense ranked 11th in the conference against top 25 teams at 38.8 ppg allowed (4 games). Only Ole Miss was worse at 40.0 ppg allowed.
UGA’s defense ranked 3rd in the conference against unranked teams at 13.3 ppg allowed. I’m willing to bet that everyone can guess the two teams that were ahead of UGA in that category.
All of that said, he is a MAJOR upgrade over Wille and I truly think he has the “d” headed in the right direction.
DawgBone
January 6th, 2012
5:01 pm
We don’t need another year of Bobo coaching the offense. With all the years of talent (Stafford, AJ Green, Knowshon, etc.) we can’t even get close to using all of their potential. Hence, the lack of coaching on Bobo’s part. No fire, no passion, no balls. Let the players play instead of “running it down the freakin’ middle”!!!! UGH!
Bob
January 6th, 2012
5:02 pm
@Joey…I agree with you that both should go; however, it won’t happen as long as Mike Adams is there stealing money, too. Adams is the root cause, while Richt is merely a symptom.
Dap01
January 6th, 2012
5:03 pm
Who cares if Bobo is offered a contract?
SOUTHGADAWG88
January 6th, 2012
5:04 pm
Grantham is overrated.Our defense is OK not good and definetly not great.At 750k he is grossly overrated.For all the hoopla surrounding him our scoring average on D in his 2 years in Athens is only better than 1 year under Martinez.Just 1
DawgBone
January 6th, 2012
5:10 pm
@SOUTHGADAWG88
Grantham isn’t overrated. He is good, necessarily not the best defensive coordinator in the land, but he gets his part of the job done. Outback bowl is the perfect example in which the defensive gave the offensive so many chances to run the clock down and score. Pretty much the entire second half except for a couple of occasions, it was 3 and out.
Defense doesn’t have to have great stats as far as points scored against. They play great when the it counts. Unfortunately for the offense, they never pull their weight when we need it the most. And kicker isn’t helping with that either this season. (cuz’ every other season, the kicker bailed out the offense)
ddawg
January 6th, 2012
5:11 pm
Enter your comments here
prison mike
January 6th, 2012
5:11 pm
Speaking of bobo, what is his current contract looking like?
Beast from the East Eaten by Dawg
January 6th, 2012
5:15 pm
“They play great when the it counts.”
“Michigan State tied the score at 27 apiece after Le’Veon Bell pounded in a one-yard touchdown run to finish off a nine-play, 85-yard drive.”
Guess that drive didn’t really count??????
ddawg
January 6th, 2012
5:15 pm
Find another place for BoBo if you must give him a contract. We need to look outside for a good offensive mind. Maybe the Michigan State offensive coordinator will move south.
Joey
January 6th, 2012
5:22 pm
I think Grantham has done a remarkable job in 2 years. Just think, Al Groh started the same day at Tech.
The D will be even better next season. Richt hopes so – he can call off the dogs on offense after the 1st quarter, instead of halftime . . .
Spokesman for the SEC East
January 6th, 2012
5:25 pm
Give the assaulting choke artist a lifetime contract.
AceDawg
January 6th, 2012
5:29 pm
Give Bobo a forever contract to coach somewhere else! UGA cannot win a national title with the Richt/Bobo combo running the offense. Richt needs somebody with better playcalling than Bobo and better judgement to challenge Richt when he too makes mistakes (like the Walsh field goal most recently). Awesome idea offering Grantham an extension, however. If he leaves, UGA could come apart at the seams.
bad moon
January 6th, 2012
5:30 pm
Richt will never fire Bobo. Mike Bobo should think about Mark Richt and either step down as OC and coach QB’s again. In order to save Richt. Ala Martinez.
Get a first flight OC in here like DC Granthem and UGA can get over the hump. With the talent in Athens. Bobo coaching offense will never be in the ‘elite’ category.
So it’s really up to Bobo. Do it for the good of the program.
mountain man
January 6th, 2012
5:30 pm
This is a joke right….. give BOBO a one year deal then move him back to QB coach. then get a new OC.
Dawg
January 6th, 2012
5:33 pm
CTG deserves anything he gets from UGA. I’m a dog fan that has attended every game Coach Richt has been in charge at UGA, home and away. I must say, without Grantham, he probably would not be our coach today. Got to get the offensive problems figured out to take it to the next level. Murray’s unforced errors have really hurt us this year and cost us at least 2 games. A running game would help, but Murray has got to take responsibility for the TO’s. Did’nt really like his comments after the bowl when he said the 2 Int’s did’nt let MSU back in the game. We have got to learn to play every play like the score is 0 to 0 or we will never get to where we want to be. Someone has got to demand perfection like Saban. That is likely to come from Grantham, not Richt. Show him the $$$.
Ex-Contributor
January 6th, 2012
5:33 pm
Grantham may be worth three years but Richt is not. Bobo should be on a monthly contract, if not weekly.
OkieDawg
January 6th, 2012
5:36 pm
How ’bout a contract extension for Russ? He’s been a DGD and has a fantastic record. The only reason that has been given for not giving him an extension is a little brown spot on his rump. What…no extension because of a little brown spot on the rump and you would give Bobo an extension? Bobo gets a free pass..must have a brown spot on his nose. I guess it just matters where the brown spot is.
patch
January 6th, 2012
5:36 pm
Grantham has not proven yet that he is worth anything like this.
7576DAWG
January 6th, 2012
5:37 pm
Grantham is a great defensive coordinator. Georgia gave up most of their point’s in the second half when the offense is going 3 and out and when Murray start’s turning the ball over. It is my opinion that Georgia would have beaten LSU , South Carolina and Michigan State if Murray doesn’t turn the ball over in those game’s. In 2009 our defense was terrible because they where in such poor condition and they had to learn a complete new scheme, the 3-4. Most of these recruit’s were recruited to run the 4-3 so they had a lot to learn. Then coach T brought in a tough Strength and Conditioning program that turned the defensive into shut down artist for at least half the game. Hugh improvement from 2009. There was no way Georgia was going to be able to turn their program around in one year like most of you unrealistically fan’s wanted.
You will see a huge improvement from a great 2011 season, next year. Grantham would have his recruit’s for a second year and the entire team will benefit from the Coach T and the new Strength and Conditioning program and Nutrition put in place in January 2010.
Also, you hater’s need to let it sink in that if Blair Walsh doesn’t have the worst year for a Georgia field goal kicker in the last 30 year’s or longer then we beat South Carolina and Michigan State taking consideration that we would have even played Michigan State . My take on it is we would have had a BCS bowl game or the Capitol One bowl.
I may have to eat my word’s but I think Georgia at worst loses one game in 2012.
No Dog in this Fight
January 6th, 2012
5:40 pm
Do you Georgia fans not care that this guy gives your school a bad name? No character and not a roll model.
No Dog in this Fight
January 6th, 2012
5:40 pm
make that “role” model…..
Beast from the East Eaten by Dawg
January 6th, 2012
5:42 pm
Look at his gut. Roll model was the correct verbage!
Destin Dawg
January 6th, 2012
5:46 pm
give Grantham an extension for sure up to $900K at end of 3rd year etc… that playing calling ( CHOKE ) on last drive and in OT.. has me depressed big time… was that was BO BO or Richt ????
Joey
January 6th, 2012
5:47 pm
Beast, if you go tell Grantham about his gut, can you let us know when?
Ya know, so we can watch?
Thanks in advance . . .
Happy Warrior
January 6th, 2012
5:48 pm
This is a good idea. And if Bobo doesn’t like he should leave. If our Offense had shown the same improvement as our Defense he would have an argument.
LakeDawg
January 6th, 2012
5:51 pm
Can we fire Mark Richt?
duronimo
January 6th, 2012
5:51 pm
A great first half coach. After that, they turn into everybody’s bitch. I think the jury is still out on him. His best attribute is that he has fire in his belly for the game. He’s not dull.
Destin Dawg
January 6th, 2012
5:52 pm
Chris Hatcher could be a diamond in the rough for O.C… Bo Bo to QB’s and recruiting coordinator..
imadawg
January 6th, 2012
5:54 pm
Please, please, please extend Grantham’s contract to 4 with a buyout and a bigger please, please, please…do NOT offer anything to mindless Bobo. Anybody who rushes 39 times for 51 yards and 2 running plays account for most of those 51 yards and keeps doing it over and over is not only hard headheaded, tunnel visoned but just plain too damn stupid to be in a position like that. He has cost Georgia more games than you can count and relied on the aforementioned Grantham to bail his backside out which has happened more than once. If we had an OC who could be just a little innovative, our defense would even be that much better not having to run out there after so many 3 and outs!!!!!!!!!!
Bill
January 6th, 2012
5:55 pm
http://www.firedumbdawgfans.com
Beast from the East Eaten by Dawg
January 6th, 2012
5:56 pm
Joey,
I’m sure he has a mirror, so he nows full well he’s obese. Besides…I’m not too dang far behind him in the gut category! I’d make a heckuva “biscuit model”!
TheItalianDawg
January 6th, 2012
5:56 pm
our defense is solid but our offense is spotty. our offense play terrible when it counts most. we scored 70 pts against coastal Carolina but cant gain 5 yards against Michigan state for a field goal, and still people argue that Georgia scoring offense is better than when Richt was OC look at the numbers, and I say look at wins and losses.
our offense struggled against good teams! the margin of error is very slim and Bobo is a terrible play caller! he has tendency to screw things big time. I say fire Bobo now!!!!!!!!
7576DAWG
January 6th, 2012
5:57 pm
Any fan that makes a negative remark about Grantham’s character should have to prove they were a leader athlete on a sport’s team. If you were just on a great team that doesn’t count because you have no idea, not even a remote chance you could know how competitive and focused on winning and nothing else a leader is. Yes Grantham went too far a few time’s but he is driven and there was a learning curve for someone who has spent the last 11 year’s in Pro football around a bunch of conceded, egotistical MEN.
I was an above average athlete and would have been great if I wasn’t too little for Pro and I can tell you that some of the best coaches I had over the year’s make Grantham look like wimp.
Vince Doodly
January 6th, 2012
5:57 pm
Hope they put a behavior and ethics clause in there. The guy is a SCUMBAG.
buffdawg
January 6th, 2012
5:58 pm
Blazer your an idiot. You obviously don’t watch ga football, cause you’d know offense turnovers have been one of our downfalls. not the defense.