Georgia D-coordinator Todd Grantham gets 3-year, $2.475 million deal (updated)
Todd Grantham's Georgia defense finished fifth in the nation in total yardage surrendered this past season. (UGA photo)
Updated with quotes from Grantham and more contract details . . .
ATHENS – Georgia’s Todd Grantham went from being the second-highest paid defensive coordinator in the country to the fourth-highest paid D-C in the SEC despite receiving a hefty raise and a three-year contract extension from the Bulldogs on Friday.
UGA released a draft of the newly-amended, 29-page contract contract per an open records request Friday morning. According to it, Georgia is going to pay Grantham $825,000 a year over the next three years to coordinate the Bulldogs’ defense. That represents a raise of $75,000 a year.
But because the market for defensive coordinators has been so active in the past year, Grantham actually fell back in the pack slightly in the SEC. Alabama’s Kirby Smart ($950,000) and LSU’s John Chavis ($900,000) received salary increases after last season and Auburn hired Brian VanGorder from the Atlanta Falcons for $850,000. Even Sal Sunseri, who previously was Alabama’s linebackers coach, got $800,000 a year to become Tennessee’s defensive coordinator. And Chavis’ new three-year deal calls for $200,000 increases each year, so technically he would be the SEC’s top-paid coordinator with an average of $1.1 million a year.
However, like the deal head coach Mark Richt signed this week, Grantham’s bonus structure was increased dramatically. Grantham would receive an extra $150,000 if the Bulldogs won the national championship and $75,000 for an SEC title.
“With Todd’s new bonus structure, we feel like he’s right behind the two guys who have won national championships here in the last two or three years,” McGarity said. “We feel like it’s a fair deal.”
Also, as was the case with Richt, Grantham’s buyout stipulations were decreased. He can leave for an NFL coordinator’s job or college head coaches’ job with no penalty. Meanwhile, should he make a lateral move to another college job, he’d have to pay Georgia 15 percent of his base salary ($400,000) in year one, 10 percent in year two and 5 percent in year three. That’s down from previously.
“It is lower than it was,” McGarity said. “In Todd’s situation, it just gives us protection from a lateral move. The NFL is a different story; that’s a different world. And the aspiration of any college coach is to be a head coach and we wouldn’t have a penalty for that. We want to help him become a head coach. That’s our job.”
And make no mistake about it, Grantham would like to become a head coach some day.
“First of all, I like the job I have; I enjoy being the defensive coordinator at Georgia,” Grantham told me in an interview earlier this week. “I enjoy coordinating and I enjoy football in general. But I think any time you’re in a profession, you’re always looking to take on the next challenge. What’s the next challenge? Being a head coach is obviously a challenge. It’s something I would like to do in time. But I’m not looking to do it right now. Those things kind of come. I think it’s important you do a good job with the job that you have and, if you do that, that creates opportunities.”
Grantham will have to act more like a head coach under the new agreement. More than half of his salary is identified as “supplemental income” for “all radio and television shows and services, appearances and product or service endorsements.” He’ll be required to make at least six public appearances and eight “product or service endorsements.”
Also, Grantham is known as a fiery competitor who infamously made a choke gesture to a Florida kicker in 2010 and had a none-to-nose confrontation with Vanderbilt coach James Franklin at the end of a game this past season. To that end, at least two clauses in the contract address behavior. Item 1-G reads, “conducting himself at all times in a sportsmanlike manner and coaching the team in such a manner as to ensure the student-athletes on the team act in a sportsmanlike manner.” 1-I says, “conducting himself in such a manner as to uphold the highest standards of conduct and decorum expected of administrastors, faculty and staff of the University and its athletic programs.”
According to the documents, the terms were agreed upon on Feb. 1. Yet the contract remains unsigned, which McGarity downplayed Friday.
“It’s with the legal guys.” he said. “The thing is, everything has been decided on; everybody’s in agreement. There’s no urgency. It’s just where it happens to be on the lawyers’ stack of stuff. The terms have never been an issue.”
Grantham’s deal comes on the heels of Thursday’s announcement of Richt’s new five-year contract, which doubled his performance bonuses and reduced the buyout agreements for both Georgia and Richt in the event either side decided to part ways.
At this point, no other raises are expected for the other eight members’ of the Bulldogs’ coaching staff. However, McGarity and Richt both said they’re looking into increasing performance incentives for assistants as well.
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87 comments Add your comment
Cdpridg
June 8th, 2012
5:14 pm
17int…..it is quite embarassing for you and your team year after year….that is why you are here….eat your heart out son!
bham dawg
June 8th, 2012
5:19 pm
@tony… disbogulated?
WDE
June 8th, 2012
5:42 pm
Hey Beast from the East how is UF’s defense going to do this year, if I’m hearing correctly they should be ahead of the UF offense and one of the best in the SEC ? Your thoughts
Charlie Hayes
June 8th, 2012
5:47 pm
Simple fix here folks…Restructure Mike Bobo’s contract…Something like this….
- Bobo is paid his annual salary of $325,000
- For every 3-and-out Bobo owes UGA $5,000
- For every INT, Bobo owes UGA $10,000
- For every Sack, Bobo owes UGA $2,500
That would change the ways he calls the plays. It would also make his play calling less scripted and predictable. Bobo would become the best OC in the nation. Let’s get this in a new Agreement McGarity!
-
Rick James
June 8th, 2012
5:47 pm
@Chaz Henry
Let’s see, he gives up a huge amount of points in the SEC Championship game and lets MSU drive down the field in final minute and the LH’s give him a raise; only in Athens.
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He’s never loss to Tech and maybe never will.I’m sure you think Al Groh is better.
Rick James
June 8th, 2012
5:52 pm
@Charlie Hayes
Simple fix here folks…Restructure Mike Bobo’s contract…Something like this….
– Bobo is paid his annual salary of $325,000
– For every 3-and-out Bobo owes UGA $5,000
– For every INT, Bobo owes UGA $10,000
– For every Sack, Bobo owes UGA $2,500
That would change the ways he calls the plays. It would also make his play calling less scripted and predictable. Bobo would become the best OC in the nation. Let’s get this in a new Agreement McGarity!
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Let’s not forget the top recruits he helps get signed..Its silly to me for anyone think that that when the head coach of a team is a former OC he gives complete control of the offense to someone else.It’s not all on Bobo!!
Rick James
June 8th, 2012
5:56 pm
@A-Ville Ranger
Those who think Grantham should be coach in waiting are assuming a lot. He really doesn’t seem to have the people skills needed for the job at a school like UGA. He has yet to even prove his defenses can stop the better teams in college football. Our defense was beaten by all 4 good teams we faced last season
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Another member of the Al Groh fan club..
Charlie Hayes
June 8th, 2012
6:02 pm
@ Rick James-
CMR went on record last year after the GT game and said “Bobo sets up the play calling and executes it”…He went on to say “Bobo wouldnt be at UGA if I didnt think he was doing a good job”. I dont think CMR is involved in the O as much as you do. I think CMR is watching game management and making suggestions to Bobo when he sees certain schemes from a D. However, I do not think CMR is controlling or forcing his plays into the O. It is on Bobo……
I dont disagree with your point about the recruits. However, I think Bryan McClendon is doing more now and Bobo is doing less on the recruiting trail. Everything I see on 247sports and Scout state that McClendon is visiting, scouting and meeting these high elite O recruits, not Bobo. I think this has changed since CBM has grown into his coaching role.
Rick James
June 8th, 2012
6:18 pm
@Charlie Hayes
@ Rick James-
CMR went on record last year after the GT game and said “Bobo sets up the play calling and executes it”…He went on to say “Bobo wouldnt be at UGA if I didnt think he was doing a good job”. I dont think CMR is involved in the O as much as you do. I think CMR is watching game management and making suggestions to Bobo when he sees certain schemes from a D. However, I do not think CMR is controlling or forcing his plays into the O. It is on Bobo……
I dont disagree with your point about the recruits. However, I think Bryan McClendon is doing more now and Bobo is doing less on the recruiting trail. Everything I see on 247sports and Scout state that McClendon is visiting, scouting and meeting these high elite O recruits, not Bobo. I think this has changed since CBM has grown into his coaching role.
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You make good points and they are well taken.I do want want Bobo on the staff but Georgia needs to find an offensive version of Grantham..Bobo may be there because in CMR’s eyes he’s doing a great job but being married to Vince Dooley’s niece does not hurt a bit.
Lagdawg
June 8th, 2012
6:19 pm
Gantham’s salary should have been higher than VanGorder’s and he should have been made coach in waiting. He would make the Dawg Nation proud and bring an intensity level that we’ve never seen. I also feel that he would have no problem in making the correct coaching changes when needed in a timely manner. He came from the coaching school of Saban and I think that is what UGA needs. He brings the best out of his players and he stands up for them.
The Tide is Rolling and Nothing can stop it
June 8th, 2012
6:20 pm
The guy averages 40 pts to ranked teams. Not only do you blame it on the offense, you give the guy a raise. No wonder you can’t win a title.
The Tide is Rolling and Nothing can stop it
June 8th, 2012
6:21 pm
Stopping Kentucky and the Mississippi schools is not that tough.
The Tide is Rolling and Nothing can stop it
June 8th, 2012
6:23 pm
How many schools made offers for him this year? hmmm
Rick James
June 8th, 2012
6:50 pm
@The Tide is Rolling and Nothing can stop it
The guy averages 40 pts to ranked teams. Not only do you blame it on the offense, you give the guy a raise. No wonder you can’t win a title.
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The defense cant be blamed when the opposing team’s defense and special teams scores touchdowns.I know you’re a Bama fan but you do understand that dont you?
Brad Sexton
June 8th, 2012
7:10 pm
This guy is an idiot he should team up with Dabo at Clemson
Beast from the East
June 8th, 2012
7:42 pm
WDE,
Yeah, that’s what they say. Much like UGA, they looked awesome against inferior squads but mediocre with flashes of brilliance against the good teams. We’ll find out in a couple of months.
“We want to help him become a head coach. That’s our job.” | Get The Picture
June 9th, 2012
7:49 am
[...] Todd Grantham has dreams, man. “First of all, I like the job I have; I enjoy being the defensive coordinator at Georgia,” Grantham told me in an interview earlier this week. “I enjoy coordinating and I enjoy football in general. But I think any time you’re in a profession, you’re always looking to take on the next challenge. What’s the next challenge? Being a head coach is obviously a challenge. It’s something I would like to do in time. But I’m not looking to do it right now. Those things kind of come. I think it’s important you do a good job with the job that you have and, if you do that, that creates opportunities.” [...]
Bigboy
June 9th, 2012
11:15 am
Grantham is a bit overrated IMO.Our defense was good against unranked teams and pretty average against the ranked ones.There is always a bit of noise raised about “All those points given up NOT by the Defense!”Yeah well when you subtract “ALL THOSE POINTS” from ALL the teams in the SEC.UGA still comes in 9th in defensive scoring avg soo that is not some great big deal.We still folded everytime we were challenged on D.We have a ways to go before we are back to Junkyard status on D…we used to win 14-9 17-14 type of games…now I only feel comfortable if we put up 30 plus and hell we have lost some of them with Grantham…Next big thing at UGA?I’m not convinced yet.
DAWGFAN
June 9th, 2012
11:26 am
The Big question with this Georgia defense is can they make plays at S. Carolina, Auburn, Mizzo and in the SEC Championship game? Thats where your money is earned this year Gratham! If you want tyo be considered great, you have to stop the toughest teams on your schedule in some of the toughest enviroments. Holding Buffalo or Florida Atlantic to 7 points a piece is nothing!
Another KEY for UGA this year, um, two actually
June 9th, 2012
1:59 pm
Folks, it is very easy to over look the ugly fact that in the LSU game we essentially had NO SEC caliber running back; although IC played with a bad ankle but was ineffective. Yes, Ken Malcome fought hard but he too was hurt and also again in the MSU game and follks ……………..this caused Murray to press beyond his playing ability range and skill level with bone headed throws and easy pics, fumbles.
The STABLE of fine backs UGA will have this season is a hundred years apart from what we had last year. Richard Samuel was hurt in LSU and MSU games too. HE WILL be back along with IC and Ken Malcome and the two young men from North Carolina, plus Harton and the other young men.
UGA will be a balanced attack and this reality WILL MAKE Murray far more dangerous AND less predictable. Add in a tandem of future NFL tight ends and we will be a top 5 program by December.
We shall see.
gooooooooooooooooooooooo Dawgs !!!
Gulf Shores Dawg
June 9th, 2012
4:02 pm
CTG stay at UGA please! You the Man! Defense wins championships babay! The D has raised the O’s performance too!
Michigan State
June 9th, 2012
4:16 pm
Good to hear!
Snoop Dawg
June 9th, 2012
10:30 pm
Now Grantham is a coach. He is more valuable than 20 Mark Richts and Mike Bobos. They should be working for Grantham, but he would fire them immediately…
01HAWK
June 10th, 2012
8:17 pm
Grantham has not proven much.. LSU scored a total of 9 points against BAMA in 2 games and LSU scored 28 points against the almighty so called defense of UGA. in one game.
Their is a very good reason why Kirby Smart makes more money and also Chavis. Sunseri came from BAMA so he should make a decent salary. Van Gorder has not proven what he can do and should be under Grantham.
Gdawg
June 10th, 2012
11:38 pm
Many people on here say CTG is not due an upper echelon salary. Wow! the difference in the Defense in only 2 short years is amazing! I think UGA was ranked 10th…in the SEC before he got here. Where are we ranked now? 2nd? 3rd? Yes trolls, you are disillusioned if you think CTG is not the real deal. It took Saban 3-4 years to get his program up (remember the UGA win in Tuscaloosa in 2007?) You can keep your heads in the sand all you want. UGA’s D will be ready to roll this fall. If and I do mean IF Alabama can make it to Atlanta in December you’ll have to be on your game to stand a chance. More than likely LSU or Arkansas will be representing the west, though. UGA’s offensive line could be an issue and everyone knows Bobo is no D-1 coordinator. We do have a good schedule, though. Alabama… now that’s a school that you’ve got to love! The tornado completely destroyed the place (total damage- $2500 and that was because the cows that were killed)
Tuscaloosa = trailer park dump!
SEC Football Daily: June 11th; Tragedy Strikes At Auburn | Saturday Down South
June 11th, 2012
4:46 am
[...] Georgia DC Todd Grantham gets his new deal. It’s a three-year, $2.475 million worth, too. Grantham was previously the second-highest paid DC in the country, but now he’s only the fourth highest paid DC in the SEC. Georgia will pay Grantham $825,000 over the next three years, and it will represent a $75,000 raise per year. Kirby Smart, John Chavis and Brian VanGorder are all making more than Grantham in the SEC as coordinators. [AJC] [...]
Bulldawgman49
June 11th, 2012
8:07 am
IF we all agree that Grantham is the man for the Job , With the talent he has this year and the guys know what he wants The D will be stellar . One thing we have to work on getting top recruits coming to Georgia . Go DAWGS !!!!
Texas Dawg
June 11th, 2012
8:40 am
Love my Dawgs but…………….we have not beat a really good team in a long time. My starting point was the loss to Alabama at home…the blackout game. I think we have made improvements on D….atleast the stats say so…..I was soooooo proud of the D in the first half against LSU…..just wish it would have happened the 2nd half…………..
BOTTOM LINE IS WE GET IT DONE AGAINST WEAK TEAMS……………I’m ready for UGA to step it up against the big boys…………….
Our MAJOR issues are soooooooooooo blatant……
Special Teams
Turnovers by our QB at the most costly time of game
Play calling
Offensive Line Play
Special Teams and Turnovers by our QB cost us the SC game….LSU game……Mich ST games……………….anybody disagree
Harleydawg
June 11th, 2012
10:13 am
I like the pay for performance slant. Win big, get paid big. Thats what I like about McGarity’s approach to the job. It should reap rewards over the long haul….so I like it.
Dawg89
June 11th, 2012
4:18 pm
Wait a minute, Bozo didn’t get a new contract?
01HAWK
June 11th, 2012
10:22 pm
Isn’t it great that UGA owes alot to SABAN for bringing up the LITTLE PUP GRANTHAM.
“I’ve been fortunate to be around a lot of quality coaches and I’d say I’ve got a little bit of all of them in me,” he said. “But I think Frank Beamer and Nick Saban probably had the greatest influence on me because I played for Coach Beamer and that was my first full-time job. So I got to see how he worked and how he was organized. With Nick, I’d say he’s been the greatest influence on me from a defensive perspective. … It was just the volume of defense that I learned. There’s a reason Nick is successful and is really good at what he does.”
01HAWK
June 11th, 2012
10:27 pm
Gdawg…………………..now that’s a school that you’ve got to love! The tornado completely destroyed the place (total damage- $2500 and that was because the cows that were killed)
You are an IDIOT to make fun of such a devastaing event.
01HAWK
June 11th, 2012
11:22 pm
GRANTHAM loves him some NICK SABAN…………………Learned alot more from SABAN than he will ever learn from CMR.
When I saw Nick go into a home, I saw how he’d get the players’ attention because he had been in the NFL and I knew I wanted to get that on my resume,” Grantham said. “I didn’t realize I’d stay 11 years necessarily, but I knew I wanted to coach there and see what it was like. And I did believe that it could help in the college game because kids want to play pro football. Well, if you’ve been there, you’ve experienced it and you know what they’re looking for and you run that type of system, then that eases the transition for everybody.”
01HAWK
June 11th, 2012
11:27 pm
Gdawg………………………………..It took Saban 3-4 years to get his program up
WRONG AGAIN
BAMA went 12-2 in Nick Saban’s 2nd season at BAMA in 2008.
2007 was his first year at BAMA.
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June 11th, 2012
11:59 pm
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ugab
June 12th, 2012
8:56 am
Great news for the Dawgs.. Maybe Gratham will be our next head coach. I love the intensity and discipline he brings to the table.. CMR is finally smellin the coffee.
mountain dew!
June 13th, 2012
4:23 pm
I agree with the other fans! I’m so ready for Todd Grantham to be U.G.A’s new “Head Coach”