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
ugab
January 7th, 2012
12:07 pm
Garner needs to go. Bobo and CMR needs to go. Make one of them take a pay cut for a Special teams coach. ????????????Good football schools do not waste money on poor coaches.WTF
dap01
January 7th, 2012
12:24 pm
CMR can extend his success if he gets someone else to manage the offense. Bobo was completely overmatched last week.
Rick James
January 7th, 2012
12:26 pm
I watched the Cotton Bowl last night and that Arkansas offense is just scary.But what struck me is that they really are not much more talented as Georgia’s offense.The difference obviously is the mind of Bobby Petrino.I think in terms of recruiting Bobo is an asset to UGA but not to the offense.The problem is that he’s married to Vince Dooley’s niece and CMR is loyal to fault and McGarity is loyal to Dooley.I dont want to see him fired just demoted and an OC hired.But I dont see it ever happining.
Bamadawg
January 7th, 2012
12:27 pm
Bobo should terminated. His offensive strategy stinks. “Three clouds of dust and a yard” right up the middle time after time after time. Even a Pop Warner dad coach would know better than that, and taking a knee on third down? He needs to go and be replaced with a first class offensive coach, and be willing to pay for him. Nuf said . . . .fire Bobo
Beast from the East Eaten by Dawg
January 7th, 2012
12:39 pm
“I am not saying the choke sign by Todd Grantham was not incorrect on his part, but it was in the heat of the moment and about on-par with the Florida players have done in THAT GAME IN JAX EVERY SINGLE YEAR FOR THE LAST 25 YEARS.”
If you aren’t bright enough to understand the difference in behavioral expectations between a college kid and a paid ($750,000 anually) professional then I pity you. Would it be have been okay for Charlie Strong to have danced around to Soulja Boy on the sidelines since UGA players did it several times? How about the entire UF coaching staff rushing the field when they score? Can you now understand the difference?
d
January 7th, 2012
12:41 pm
Some people kill me talking about the defense. You want to sustain long drives on offense to keep the defense fresh!! Also when the offense gives fumble 6 and pick 6 that the defense has no control over!! CTG is the real deal!!!!! The defense is the ONLY reason UGA won 90% of the games this year!!! The reason the defense gave up so many points and yards in the last two games is because the offense isn’t doing their job. If the offense could ATLEAST take a couple minutes off the clock for the defense to rest it would be a different story but the offense can’t even get a first down against a middle of the road team
wins-by-a-link
January 7th, 2012
12:44 pm
Mr. McGarity does not appear to be concerned about losing Bobo, But then why should he? His refusal to discuss any extension for Bobo could be good news for those fans who feel Bobo is the main reason for the failure of the offense and Murray to score when under pressure. We could see a new OC in Athens.
VADAWG
January 7th, 2012
12:54 pm
roaddawg80 that is a good idea for u and stay gone!!!!!
Dawg48
January 7th, 2012
1:24 pm
If you are coaching NOT to lose, isn’t that still coaching to win?
Just asking……
Ckgator
January 7th, 2012
1:39 pm
Muschamp is in talks with Boise State’s OC, so the timing of the Grantham announcement is perfect.
We Gators are very pleased with your choice of coaches, and look forward to our built-in advantage for many years to come!
Rick James
January 7th, 2012
1:40 pm
@stendek
So you’re another idiot that thinks Georgia sits down with the SEC and creates its own schedule.If schools were allowed to do this Tech have dropped Georgia years ago.If this was the case why would they not drop Florida and South Carolina.Maybe you just think you’re funny..OK ha ha
WDE
January 7th, 2012
1:54 pm
@Ckgator just keep thinking that and your going to look up sooner than later thinking Hey what happened I remember when we used to beat UGA.
Preston
January 7th, 2012
2:19 pm
Dingo, YOU are the loser. Coming on a blog about another team’s coach and spending so much time. Your envy is obvious! Please keep it up. LOSER! LMFAO!
Preston
January 7th, 2012
2:20 pm
RUN, RUUUUUN, Dingo boy! LOL!
Preston
January 7th, 2012
2:22 pm
Same for you stendick.
Rural Education
January 7th, 2012
2:23 pm
Georgia has a good defense, but the best defense in the East resides in Columbia, SC and dawg fans know it.
A person SMART enough to know......
January 7th, 2012
2:27 pm
Bobo are you reading between the lines? Bobo you are not the future at UGA. Are you ready to be the QB coach?
I'm Rick James Beeeatch
January 7th, 2012
2:28 pm
BooBoo’splay calling is terrible…If CMR is ok’ing these calls UGA is in trouble against good teams for years too come. 25 loses dude is correct on AM…he is a choker.
Ckgator
January 7th, 2012
2:53 pm
WDE = “wildly delusional expectations.”
Georgia is not an elite program, folks. You do not have the natural recruiting base of FL, which will keep you behind the Gators 8 years out of every 10. Even today with FL rebuilding and UT near death, you are looking up at South Carolina – the only East team with any real teeth in 2012.
Your best asset is that gawdawful schedule.
You beat exactly 2 barely ranked teams in 2011 and are now “knocking on the door of greatness.”
To you and your dream team…. keep dreaming.
Glenn
January 7th, 2012
3:11 pm
Take Bobo’s money and give it to him. We would be better off not having Bobo period.
Glenn
January 7th, 2012
3:12 pm
Save yourself money fire Bobo.
Bad Dawg
January 7th, 2012
3:14 pm
Ckgator, It is obvious Georgia is not an elite program or anywhere close to being one. The fans who think we are know nothing about football or are not really fans of UGA, they are trolls trying to make dawg nation look bad. 0-9 vs ranked teams the last two years means your team is mediocre.
WDE
January 7th, 2012
3:31 pm
@Ckgator what should concern you is that your program is part of that god awful schedule and we will again spank that gator tail…keep preaching brother we know your fear we smell it.
1984uga
January 7th, 2012
4:11 pm
When was it ever said, or made fact, that UGA was an elite program? As a UGA alum, I have never viewed us as being that. Elite programs are Michigan, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Florida, USC, Alabama, Texas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, etc. These are the schools where most of the high school kids (nationally) want to play. They have history of winning NCs & they are steeped in tradition.
That being said, those railing against UGA as being mediocre screams of a lack of perspective. While UGA is not an elite program – they are a WINNING program. UGA has been to more consecutive bowls over the past 25 years than some of the schools listed above. I’m proud of our 10 win season this year & hope that we can do the same next year. Granted, we are not on par with the depth of talent at Alabama or LSU at the moment, but I am proud to be playing in the best conference in the country.
Go Dawgs!!!!
evil empire
January 7th, 2012
4:31 pm
how pathetic are you ugatards…slurping up ctg’s average performance…only looks impressive when compared to martinez’s output…terrible to bad doesn’t mean a big cash reward for the toad…
Lgdawg
January 7th, 2012
4:44 pm
You people are idiots look at the stats the offense has done fine under Bobo.You are the same idiots that wanted an oc when Richt was calling the plays,not only that you can thank Bobo for all of the south Ga recruits he is a great recruiter!
uga1984
January 7th, 2012
5:19 pm
stendek – I do not know your age, but whatever it is – it matches your IQ. I never stated I was satisfied with mediocrity. I simply stated that UGA is not a mediocre team. They are not elite, but certainly, they are not mediocre.
jax dawg
January 7th, 2012
7:21 pm
The best thing Mcgarity has done since being named A.D.!!!!!!!!
Ho-Say Quervo
January 7th, 2012
8:09 pm
Hey UGA…..can you say CAPITAL ONE??? Thats where you’ll be in 2012 at best!
Ray
January 7th, 2012
9:49 pm
Wow…I never knew Stafford was this good….why didn’t he do this in Athens?
BECAUSE THE OFFENSIVE COACHING IN ATHENS IS PATHETIC!
And now we will waste Murray and Crowell and Graham the same way we wasted Stafford and AJ Green.
7576DAWG
January 7th, 2012
11:17 pm
McGarity did not say he wasn’t going to deal with BoBo . He said that Bobo and the other coaches are on ONE year contract’s. McGarity hates giving anything more than one year at a time to anyone except the head coach. McGarity wasn’t in on Grantham’s first three year contract. McGarity has been told that a lot of recruit’s are asking if Grantham be around past 2012 so McGarity know’s how important it is for the defensive recruit’s to know that Grantham will be around their entire time at Georgia so he reluctantly is working on a 3 year extension for Grantham.
Grantham will sign one or two more extension’s, he is only 45 year’s old. At that time I think he will be ready for a head coaching job , which is what he want the most.
7576DAWG
January 7th, 2012
11:21 pm
Bobo will never get a head coaching offer unless he is willing to coach at a JR. college or Division 2 or 3 level.
ugab
January 8th, 2012
2:20 pm
It is time to name Grantham head coach. CMR does not put the fire in the players. I do not understand what Uga pays CMR for anymore???? The last two games were sickening. WORST COACHING I HAVE EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE. RUN UP THE MIDDLE, RUN UP THE MIDDLE RUN UP THE MIDDLE. DUHHHHHHHHH
ugab
January 8th, 2012
2:22 pm
IF CMR WANTS TO STAY IN ATHENS LET HIM BE OUR SPECIAL TEAMS COACH. EVERYONE COULD TELL THE PLAYERS WERE NOT IN SHAPE FOR THE LAST TWO GAMES.
ugab
January 8th, 2012
2:22 pm
BOBO SUKS
FLA DAWG
January 8th, 2012
7:59 pm
JUST IN………….resigning Grantham (the coach with the LEAST TENURE) and…”working on” Richt’s contract with no mention of Bob……………
McGarity could prove himself an incredible AD if he does what looks like he’s doing.
For CTG
January 9th, 2012
1:15 pm
@ Overrated your an idiot I don’t care how good your defense is you can’t around a whole game when your offense is getting blown up all the time (i.e. Tim Tebow beating the the #1 ranked steelers defense) and you can’t hang the SC win on the D all their points came from special teams and defensive scores. If I’m not mistaken they scored 1 touchdown on offense thanks to their D setting them up on a short field. Same thing in SEC title game LSU hung around thanks to drop balls and terrible play on the offense the 1st half of that game LSU had less than 50 yards of offense. Same thing M. State the offense couldn’t establish the run so M. States offense just pinned their ears back and blitzed every freakin play. The only way we could score was on quick strikes which we all know tempo is how you keep your D in the game oh and coaching lost that game trust Blair Walsh after the crappy year he had give me a break.
For CTG
January 9th, 2012
1:17 pm
Meant to say M. States D kept blitzing
South GA Dawg
January 9th, 2012
2:42 pm
HEY, MAYBE ONE OF US COULD BE AN OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR BECAUSE I’M ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN THAT A NORMAL FAN KNOWS HOW TO CALL THE PLAYS AS GOOD AS BOBO AND I’M SURE HIS PAYCHECK IS ALOT HEALTHIER THAN MOST. JUST BECAUSE YOU WERE A PRIOR QUARTERBACK DOESN’T MAKE YOU AN OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR. BOBO HAS BEEN GIVEN AMPLE TIME TO HONE HIS SKILLS BUT REFUSES TO PULL THE TRIGGER WHEN NEEDED. SPREADING THE BALL AROUND IS GOOD IF EVERYONE IS WORKING TOGETHER, BUT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN CARE OF BEFORE THE GAME STARTS. FIND YOUR PLAYMAKERS AND LET THEM MAKE PLAYS, I.E. VINCE DOOLEY (GAVE IT TO HERSHAL, EVERYONE KNOWS ITS COMING BUT HE STILL MADE THE PLAY TIME AND TIME AGAIN)!!!!!!!
jojo
January 9th, 2012
6:36 pm
I’d trade Grantham for Smart any day…… and throw in Bobo !
Anonymous
January 9th, 2012
7:05 pm
Who is responsible for Bobo? Richt or McGarity..in terms of “termination”—or demotion. UGA went down hill as soon as Richt turned over play calling to Bobo. Why doesn’t Richt see this and go back to calling plays. I’ve been told that Bobo does not call anything Richt has not “pre-approved”…but still, if we are relying on Bobo’s judgement for ANOTHER YEAR…we’ll have a failed Offense that does nothing more than run “up the middle on 3rd and 20…..yeah, smart call Bobo
Dawg
January 10th, 2012
2:02 pm
As long as UGA keeps the DB coach Scott Lakatos : Grantham’s defense will look good and perform well. I was very impressed with the DB play this year. It just came down to UGA not able to match up to both Boise, LSU and Mich state in the D line when they were facing massive grade A beef in those teams dominant offensive lines.
BIGDAWG
January 11th, 2012
12:33 pm
If u take away all the ints, fumbles, kick and punt ret for tds the defense only gave up like 15 points a game and thats not counting all the turnovers inside the redzone that most of the time we still held them to a fg
Brainiac(Dawg for life/Richt fan for life)
January 11th, 2012
11:50 pm
@South Ga. DawG:
What position did you play???? Bobo was a damn good QB and you are correct that does not make him a damn good OC but Bobo is not the HC.CMR is and it is CMR’s responsibility to see that his OC and DC get things done the way CMR wants. If Bobo isn’t carrying out CMR’s instructions/wishes then CMR should take action to see that it is done or send Bobo packing/demoted because of insubordination. CMR could override any Bobo call so either CMR is okay with Bobo’s calls or isn’t paying attention. If CMR doesn’t tell Bobo to do differently how the hell does Bobo know to do differently? I agree that something should be done but it improved the latter part of the 2011 season. Bobo is a damn good recruiter but CMR needs to handle the situation regardless of whether or not Bobo remains OC.
Vince Dooley coached how many years??? and gave the ball to Herschel(not Hershal) every play. Herschel was only there 3 years so I guess that’s why CMR’s won/loss record beats Dooley’s HC record to hell and back.
Yes you would decide ahead of time(before the game starts)which receivers will be open so you can spread the ball around????????????????????????? You have got to be one of the SMARTEST football analyst ever. If you got any balls at all you would drive over to Tuskalooser and apply for Saban’s job………………….tonight!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Brainiac(Dawg for life/Richt fan for life)
January 12th, 2012
12:00 am
uga 1984(5:19 pm):
Well said Bro. You are a DGD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Brainiac(Dawg for life/Richt fan for life)
January 12th, 2012
12:10 am
@Stendek:
Ever thought of a small handgun in a quiet place??? And if that’s not your choice you can always find another team to pull for! If I ever need a brain transplant I want your brain because I’m confidebt it has never beeb used.
Stendek = retard = Dumb enough to be triplets
Brainiac(Dawg for life/Richt fan for life)
January 12th, 2012
12:11 am
I’m confident it has never been used.
Brainiac(Dawg for life/Richt fan for life)
January 12th, 2012
12:19 am
@Lgdawg:
Great 4:44 pm post!!!!!!!!!!!
Maybe you could find that small handgun for Stendek. He couldn’t find his a$$ with both hands in his hip pockets
Brainiac(Dawg for life/Richt fan for life)
January 12th, 2012
12:30 am
@Rick James:
Great 1:40 pm post. If BS was music Stendek would be brass band.