Raises coming for UGA football coaches Mark Richt, Todd Grantham
Georgia is expected to step up with more years and more money to keep Mark Richt and Todd Grantham together to lead the Bulldogs' football program.
ATHENS – The Georgia Athletic Association end-of-the-year board meeting is scheduled to get started tomorrow morning at the Ritz Carlton Lodge on Lake Oconee. Actually, current and emeritus members will gather there to socialize tonight, then commence with business first thing in the morning.
And I’m expecting a lot of business to be conducted. UGA so far has offered only a very vague agenda for the meeting, which lists things like “AD’s Report,” “New Projects” and “Financial Update” and the like. But the most important item of business isn’t spelled out there and we all know that it’s going to take place (likely during AD’s report).
Georgia is expected to finally reveal the details of football coach Mark Richt’s new five-year contract. Legal representatives for both Richt and the university have been dickering over the final form of the new deal for months, going back to the end of the regular season last December. We know from Georgia’s announcement back in January that Richt’s new deal takes him through the 2016 season, but little beyond that.
What we don’t know are the particulars such as how much of a raise, if any, Richt is to receive, and what the terms and conditions of any buy-out clauses might entail. Those are the truly important details. Georgia hasn’t shared any of that so far, despite numerous freedom of information requests for copies of any drafts or memos of understanding, which are subject to state open-records laws. AD Greg McGarity says all documents remain in the hands of the respective lawyers, and therefore remain protected, and that he’ll first share the details therein with the members of the board on Thursday.
My guess is that Richt will receive a modest pay increase to at least keep his place among SEC coaches. That is behind national championship holders such as Nick Saban ($5.32 million), Les Miles ($3.6), Gene Chizik ($3.5) and Steve Spurrier ($3.3), but get ahead of less experienced and less successful coaches such as Florida’s Will Muschamp ($3.2). Bobby Petrino was making $3.6 million at Arkansas but that little market adjustment he took care of himself.
Not including outside sources, Richt currently earns about $2.9 million annually in UGA-arranged income. Look for that to go up over $3 million. Longevity and performance bonuses allow Richt to earn much more than that. . . .
* * *
It’s unclear whether or not Todd Grantham’s new deal will be included in this week’s proceedings. The third-year defensive coordinator’s contract has also been agreed to in principle for quite some time. We know he’ll have a new three-year deal that will expire after the 2014 season. But he, too, is probably looking at a substantial pay increase.
This time last year, Grantham was the second-highest paid defensive coordinator in America at $752,000 a year. At the moment, he’s not even the second-highest paid DC in the SEC.
Alabama’s Kirby Smart got a raise to $950,000 a year, Brian VanGorder left the Atlanta Falcons and joined Auburn for $850,000 per year and Sal Sunseri got $800,000 to leave Alabama and become Tennessee’s defensive chief. Meanwhile, LSU defensive coordinator John Chavis is awaiting approval from that school’s trustees that will pay him $900,000 this year and $1.1 and $1.3 million in the subsequent two years, an average of $1.1 million.
Based on that hierarchy, look for Grantham to fall in somewhere between $800,000 and $850,000 per year. Under his leadership this past season, the Bulldogs finished fifth in the nation in total defense (277.21 ypg). That was impressive, but Alabama, LSU and South Carolina were one, two and three in that category. Georgia was 23rd in points allowed, well behind those other teams.
More important for Georgia — or Georgia fans, as the case may be — is what Grantham’s buyout clause will look like. If it stays pretty much the same as his previous contract, which is UGA’s only multiyear deal for an assistant, Grantham would incur no penalty for leaving for a head coaching job or one as an NFL defensive coordinator. But he’ll likely have to pay Georgia for any remaining years to leave for what could be perceived as a lateral move.
* * *
The identity of Georgia’s new gymnastics coach is expected to be revealed, if not at the board meeting then sometime before the end of this week. It has been widely speculated that McGarity and senior associate Carla Williams have settled on Danna Durante, pending background checks. Durante is the current head coach at Cal and a reknowned balance beam expert. Durante, 39, has been head coach at Cal only one year. She was a longtime assistant at Nebraska and Washington before that and was a gymnast at Arizona State, earning a bunch of 10s on the balance beam.
Durante, if that’s indeed who it is, will have the unenviable task of following Jay Clark, who unceremoniously resigned a couple of weeks ago after three mostly disappointing years as head coach.
* * *
Other business expected to be conducted at the board meeting will be a vote to make substantial improvements at Foley Field, the Bulldogs’ baseball stadium. First and foremost, that facility needs an elevator up to the press box and other handicap-access accommodations. Georgia does, after all, have two former players who are in wheelchairs. And the stadium has been far surpassed in recent years by others in the SEC.
* * *
I’ve fielded a lot of questions lately about Georgia baseball coach David Perno and whether his future is in question. The Bulldogs are stumbling here at the end of the season. They face elimination against Auburn tonight in the SEC tournament, which would likely end any thought of an NCAA tournament bid. But Perno has led the Bulldogs to three of the school’s six College World Series appearances, got hit with some unfortunate injuries this season and his mother is not well.
All of which is to say I just don’t think UGA will take any action. But it’s doubtful Perno’s contract, currently set to expire after the 2014 season, will be extended. More than likely the Bulldogs will stand pat and look for improvement next season.
* * *
I expect there will be a good bid of bragging on UGA’s part about the athletic department’s accomplishments in 2011-12. The Bulldogs, as we learned Wednesday, finished second in the SEC’s all-sports competition, sponsored by Halifax Media Group. Florida, as one might suspect, finished first.
Highlighting the year for Georgia was an Eastern Division championship in football, an SEC title in women’s swimming and diving, an SEC tournament title by men’s tennis and several top fives across the board. Also, the 533 UGA student-athletes earned a cumulative GPA of 3.05 for the spring semester of 2012, including 17 with 4.0s and 133 with 3.50 or better. Women’s gymnastics led all sports with an overall GPA of 3.52.
* * *
At least that’s what I think. Tim Tucker, the AJC’s astute sports business reporter and part-time UGA beat guy, will cover the actual meetings while I report on the NCAA tennis tournament. But check back right here for updates all day Thursday. I’m sure even more news than I’ve mentioned here will come out.
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310 comments Add your comment
The Tide is rolling and nothing can stop it
May 24th, 2012
8:51 am
And BTW, we’ll be throwing a party in Tuscaloosa to celebrate these two clowns being around longer. You guys can come if you want to. We’re paying for it with Kirby’s raise that he got as a result of turning UGA down.
JD
May 24th, 2012
8:52 am
Supply and demand is cited here as the reason for higher pay for coaches than teachers. That is a valid argument, however it misses the real point – why is the ‘demand’ for a coach higher than that for those that educate our children? Doesn’t that reality speak to the fact that our values are out of place with a competitive global economy? I mean take a look at where the fastest economic growth, tallest buildings and highest academic scores are… last I checked – it’s not the place with great athletes but great education. So if we want to be relegated to the ‘gladiator class’ for the world, so be it!
toga
May 24th, 2012
8:52 am
Richt days of stealing $ are over. He will retire after this season to do missionary work. His kids are now grown and people in the know say he is moving on. Sad because I wanted to take him to the woodshed one more time.
ROLL TIDE!
Alphare
May 24th, 2012
9:00 am
“Under Grantham’s leadership this past season, the Bulldogs finished fifth in the nation in total defense (277.21 ypg). That was impressive, but Alabama, LSU and South Carolina were one, two and three in that category. Georgia was 23rd in points allowed, well behind those other teams.”
Also you forgot to mention Grantham’s team played more cupcakes than other schools. Actually, his team couldn’t hold a good team from high scoring, like USC or LSU.
AtlTodoLaVida
May 24th, 2012
9:17 am
Let those tax cuts expire on the wealthy. They sure don’t need all that dough.
Nick
May 24th, 2012
9:23 am
Wow, Chip, you’ve managed to ruffle feathers at this very uninteresting and unexciting time of year.
Way to go!!
Mobile Dawg
May 24th, 2012
9:25 am
What’s going to happen to you leaches when the country collapses because it can’t afford to take care of those like you. One only needs to look at countries like Ethiopia, etc. You will starve because you’ve never been made to take care of yourself.
BW
May 24th, 2012
9:26 am
In the meantime, tuition and ticket prices is going up and services are being cut.A good jesture would be for the athletic association to donate money to the university to offset cost increase.
bucket
May 24th, 2012
9:36 am
@ toga – CMR has 3 kids that are still in high school. Is that considered “grown” now?
JB
May 24th, 2012
9:37 am
Met with my Banker this morning about my business. This is sad. He said a lot of his commercial customers are laying the ground work right now for growth and expansion IF ROMNEY is elected and also putting plans in place If Obama wins, which include that revenue will drop and plans to cut expenses ( people) to survive. That’s real world stuff, not Washington DC BS. That ought to be an ad for Romney.
JB
May 24th, 2012
9:40 am
What scares me about this country now, if you can believe the polls, that 45% of Americans think that Obama is doing a good job. Scary. Yes, he’s a likeable guy, but a horrible President.
Mobile Dawg
May 24th, 2012
9:47 am
JB, the scariest part is that we’ve grown up trusting that our Government would do the right thing. Now the Government is the caretaker for a large percentage of our society. Government “by” the people, “for” the people. Where did it go? If people don’t start thinking for themselves today, it will be to late.
Joey
May 24th, 2012
9:50 am
“Richt’s roster is loaded with all this dream team talent he recruited.”
*****************************************
Top Dawg, when has Richt’s roster NOT been loaded with talent?
He had the most talent of any team in ‘07 and ‘08, with future NFL players at every skill position, and didn’t even win the East.
Better set your sights on 10-3, and another trip to the Outback Bowl – that is if Richt breaks his bowl losing streak.
Joey
May 24th, 2012
9:52 am
Mobile Dawg, if we get 4 more years of this, with him having no reelection to fear, the good ole USA won’t be recognizable.
Mobile Dawg
May 24th, 2012
9:53 am
On the other hand, if I were among the percentage of the population that the government has been taking care of for 3 generations now, I’m not sure I wouldn’t do the same thing. You are a product of the environment you come from. If we start making the changes now that are necessary to turn our country around, we’re looking at 30 to 50 years to re-establish the work ethic we used to have, JMO, and I’m not sure we have the stomach, or backbone anymore to do it. SAD, to see the United States of America in the shape we’re in.
Honky Talkin
May 24th, 2012
9:56 am
Raises? After going 2-4 against teams with a winning record last year?
gt4ever
May 24th, 2012
10:02 am
LOL, Giving these guys a Raise makes as much sense as giving CPJ a raise… Paul Johnson has done nothing to deserve a raise, and neither has Richt… I like Richt, but given the talent he has on the field…. His success has been pretty pathetic… Grantham is a JOKE. Period! I have NO idea why you would reward a NO class DC with more money… But hey, what do I know….
JB
May 24th, 2012
10:13 am
Georgia is stuck with a great man as their coach…..but a so so football coach…..And for those who attack me on this, what real good coach with the second most money in the NCAA and the 5th best talent at their disposal year after year, would not have done better? It’s been 11 years. Yes, he is a wonderful, super human being…we all know that. But he has had 2 or 3 really good teams, 5 or 6 so so teams and 2 or 3 horrible teams. You really have to look past the record to see where we are. It’s not who he has beat…..It’s who he hasn’t.
LogicalUS
May 24th, 2012
10:14 am
Chip, a better service to UGA fans would be an events calendar for the fall festivals Saturday afternoons because looking at the schedule for Athens, there isn’t much reason to make the tiresome trek down 316.
Buffalo
Florida Atlantic
Vanderbilt
Tennessee
Open Date
Ole Miss
Georgia Southern
Georgia Tech
Geez, who is up for a good day at a wine tasting festival in Dahlonega this fall?
JB
May 24th, 2012
10:16 am
But hey, a new 5 year deal today and a raise, so be it. Be interesting to see where this new contract takes the program.
Mobile Dawg
May 24th, 2012
10:17 am
I think with Adams leaving we will see what kind of backbone McGarity has. I’m interested to see what the contract contains, that will tell the tale. You’re far from being alone questioning Richt’s ability to lead the football program.
JB
May 24th, 2012
10:18 am
Glad I don’t have 4 tickets on the 40 yard line paying 15-20 grand to watch those games. Ouch.
Mobile Dawg
May 24th, 2012
10:21 am
My banker says I can’t afford those kinds of perks at this time.
JB
May 24th, 2012
10:22 am
Be a good year to get the ESPN game day package if you enjoy good college football. If Dawgs win 10-11 games this year, they will get little national props…..We have about 2-3 tough games.SC and Florida being the toughest.
Joey
May 24th, 2012
10:26 am
I agree with you gt4ever on Richt. But Grantham is the reason (I believe) that Richt is still in Athens. Our D was in shambles when he took over, and our D is vastly improved. That 23 ppg allowed is the team, not the D.
He held the SC offense to 17 points with the rest coming on a fake punt, Pick-6, fumble returns for TDs. He held LSU to 24, with the rest coming on turnovers for TDs and punt returns for TDs. He made adjustments and held UF to a FG in the 2nd half. Completely shut down Auburn.
He also shut down PJ’s offense pretty well too.
PatriotBlue
May 24th, 2012
10:28 am
Hidden Agenda, I see you’re very good at name calling…Congrads!! That must really get you a seat alot higher than most other people…Guess you think you’re really smart huh?? The AJC is a joke because of people like you that can come on hear and bash UGA. Most of them are teenagers from rival schools with nothing better to do and it shows in the post!!!
JB
May 24th, 2012
10:29 am
Tech is the Holy Grail for a Georgia coach. 10-1 is pretty sporty for Richt.
Joey
May 24th, 2012
10:30 am
JB, you really don’t think Mizzou on the road is gonna be tough? It would mean everything to the Tigers to win their SEC opener.
And Richt has been horrible on the road lately – Colorado, Ok St, bowls, Dome, etc.
JB
May 24th, 2012
10:32 am
PatriotBlue;
Blog: a format on the Web where a writer can post a story or topic and ask the readers to comment on it with THEIR OPINION.
JB
May 24th, 2012
10:33 am
Joey, it’ll be close for a quarter, Dawgs win 35-17
7576DAWG
May 24th, 2012
10:37 am
I think CMR and Grantham both deserve nice raises. They did a great job in 2011. I also think Bobo is on the hot seat to show he has learned how to run an offense. If McGarity had been at Georgia 5 years ago Martinez would have been fired at least two years before he actually got the boot and the defense would have been at the 2011 level in 2009. If the offense makes the same mistakes this year that they did in 2011, McGarity will demand from Mark Richt a reason why Bobo deserves to stay on as offensive coordinator. Either way I hope that if Bobo is replaced that McGarity will realize Bobo’s value as a Quarterback coach and recruiter , especially in South Georgia and keep him on the staff.
DawginLex
May 24th, 2012
10:38 am
No raise for Richt
McGarity – “100% increae in performance bonuses for Coach Richt to provide incentive.”
As I have said repeatedly the heat is not off of Richt.
McGarity has high, championship expectations
8-4 and Richt is gone
No more excuses time in Athens
JB
May 24th, 2012
10:42 am
Richt has failed to surround himself with big resumes coach’s with big ideas….and has been to loyal to coach’s not cutting the mustard. It goes with his persona.I’m OK with Grantham, but the fact that Richt let Chavious end up at LSU is a crime. Check out the D at LSU the last 2 years. We could of hired almost anyone at OL coach with our resources, and look who we hired ( but in all honesty, Richt was probably rebuffed by 2 or 3 due to own situation).
AltamahaDawg
May 24th, 2012
10:43 am
Modest pay increase to keep pace with SEC scales, but not overly offensive and certainly no where near the top. Just as all the rational poster predicted.
And nobody complaining about that would do anything differently If they were in charge.
gt4ever
May 24th, 2012
10:44 am
@ Joey
My point, GT or UGA didn’t beat anybody …. I guess you have a valid argument about the defense, but the defense is filled with NFL talent, and you still never beat anybody to speak of… Just sayin…. All the good teams found a way to beat you, and that means they beat your defense…. Your offense scored enough to win in most all of those games… IMHO..
JB
May 24th, 2012
10:45 am
Lex, it will be interesting if this contract has a short fuse buy out in it, say 2 years max if fired. It really keeps McGarity’s options open, and Richt from getting to “comfortable”.
JB
May 24th, 2012
10:46 am
True gt4ever.
dERWOOD
May 24th, 2012
10:56 am
AIN’T NONE OF THE COACHES AND AD WORTH THE COST OF VIENNA SAUSAGES 10 FOR A DOLLAR. CMR IS NOT A HEAD COACH IN DIV 1.
Joey
May 24th, 2012
10:57 am
7576DAWG, Bobo is calling the games exactly as Richt wants him to. Richt wears a headset – you think he wouldn’t overrule Bobo if he didn’t like his play-calling? It’s unfair to blame Bobo, when this is Mark Richt’s offense – the same one he brought from FSU in ‘01.
Columbus
May 24th, 2012
10:58 am
Thanks goodness their are some wise and intelligent men making executive decisions in Athens instead of the emotional and ignorant fans on here who do not see the big picture and do not realize what is going on but certainly will no admit it when UGA goes to the SEC Championship several times the next 6 years, wins the SEC more than once and plays for the national championship at least once and very possibly more. Best coach by far at UGA ever and his record proves it. One of the best coaching records in NCAA history over first 10 years. Only 2 or 3 coaches EVER won a NC in their first 10 years of coaching and there have been thousands of coaches…..Richt is in his first head coaching job and he is about to hit his prime. EVEN Saban did not win a NC in his first 10 years…..UGA has went to the SEC Championship game since Richt has been there more than ANY school in the SEC except LSU. They both have went 4 times. UGA won it twice and we all knew we were not going to win it last year but gave thema good run the first half! The team was not ready lst year BUT WILL BE THIS YEAR!
AND THE NEXT YEAR AND THE NEXT YEAR AND THE NEXT YEAR AND THE NEXT YEAR……AND THE NEXT AND THE NEXT….
Thank goodness for the people running things at UGA, particularly McGarrity and Adams. They have wisdom. The majority of haters on here are young and dumb and werent even around when Dooley coached. Richt is FAR BETTER THAN DOOLEY. They should NOT name the Stadium for Dooley because if Richt coaches another 10 years he will surpass Dooley in aalmost EVERY category probably in 5 years less time. Might need another year or two to catch him in wins. But maybe not with how things are going to go the next 6 at least…..
Columbus
May 24th, 2012
10:58 am
Thanks goodness their are some wise and intelligent men making executive decisions in Athens instead of the emotional and ignorant fans on here who do not see the big picture and do not realize what is going on but certainly will no admit it when UGA goes to the SEC Championship several times the next 6 years, wins the SEC more than once and plays for the national championship at least once and very possibly more. Best coach by far at UGA ever and his record proves it. One of the best coaching records in NCAA history over first 10 years. Only 2 or 3 coaches EVER won a NC in their first 10 years of coaching and there have been thousands of coaches…..Richt is in his first head coaching job and he is about to hit his prime. EVEN Saban did not win a NC in his first 10 years…..UGA has went to the SEC Championship game since Richt has been there more than ANY school in the SEC except LSU. They both have went 4 times. UGA won it twice and we all knew we were not going to win it last year but gave thema good run the first half! The team was not ready lst year BUT WILL BE THIS YEAR!
AND THE NEXT YEAR AND THE NEXT YEAR AND THE NEXT YEAR AND THE NEXT YEAR……AND THE NEXT AND THE NEXT….
Thank goodness for the people running things at UGA, particularly McGarrity and Adams. They have wisdom. The majority of haters on here are young and dumb and werent even around when Dooley coached. Richt is FAR BETTER THAN DOOLEY. They should NOT name the Stadium for Dooley because if Richt coaches another 10 years he will surpass Dooley in aalmost EVERY category probably in 5 years less time. Might need another year or two to catch him in wins. But maybe not with how things are going to go the next 6 at least…..
GDAWG65
May 24th, 2012
11:00 am
Richt pay should stay the same and increase his pay based on winning the SEC Championship and a major bowl next season. Pay Todd Grantham 1.1 million he’s earned it. Cut Bobo’s pay 40 percent or better yet replace him.
JB
May 24th, 2012
11:00 am
We are predictable on offense. Our opponents know it, we know it, The booth guys know it, our wife’s know it. The UN knows it. Don’t know why the coach’s don’t know it.
JB
May 24th, 2012
11:03 am
Columbus………..We get it. 11 years and a lot of ” we’re working harder to get better”…. There are enough crystal footballs around the SEC the last 10 years to sink a battle ship. Not in Athens.
DawginLex
May 24th, 2012
11:06 am
JB
Is Oregon “predictable”?
Auburn totally shut them down. We scored more on them than the vaunted Oregon offense.
It all comes down to execution.
2007 Florida
2008 LSU
2011 Auburn
We lit them up. Were we predictable then? Same as always yet we EXECUTED.
Joey
May 24th, 2012
11:09 am
I disagree with Lex on the expectations put on Richt , because McGarity and the AA were tickled pink with 10 wins and a watered down East title. Never mind the bad losses in the Dome and the last 2 bowls. Couldn’t wait to get him that new contract. One of the AA board members told Chip Towers when Chip pressed him about Richt’s hot seat after the 6-7 season that, “7-6 would be an improvement.” He probably danced a jig over 10-4.
AltamahaDawg
May 24th, 2012
11:11 am
Alabama is even more predictable than we are. By far. How is that a problem?
DawginLex
May 24th, 2012
11:12 am
Joey
If GM was all that happy, Richt would have gotten a raise.
Instead. all he got was incentives for performance
Sends a clear message to me
Hidden Agenda
May 24th, 2012
11:16 am
Here’s the prediction. If Richt performs at the same marginal level when the new UGA president comes on next year, Richt will never seen the end of his contract as UGA coach.
And like PSU, UGA fans will see the mistake of their ways for holding on to mediocre coach. Paterno before 88 finished in the top 10…11 times…after 88…3.
AltamahaDawg
May 24th, 2012
11:18 am
Joey, you have no idea what the AA thought of 10 wins. That’s your opinion that you are assigning to him, not his own. Now , do you actually believe that Greg McGarity thought last year was spectacular, or was settling? come on. Based on what? What evidence has he given that leads you to know that? I would bet the farm that he took it for exactly what it was, no more, no less.