UGA’s Mike Bobo ‘getting long overdue consideration’ for coaching jobs, agent says
In addition to his duties as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, Georgia's Mike Bobo is known as one of the Bulldogs' best recruiters. (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
ATHENS – It’s likely to be a very good Christmas for Mike Bobo and his family.
Not only did Georgia’s offensive coordinator lead the Bulldogs to a record-breaking season that netted 11 wins and another SEC Championship Game bonus, but he’s also in line to have his compensation increased in 2013, either by Georgia or somebody else.
Bobo’s name has surfaced as a head coaching candidate at Southern Miss and, according to his agent, he is drawing interest for other jobs as well. Even if Bobo declines the overtures, it would likely result in an enhanced financial agreement from UGA.
Russ Campbell, the Birmingham-based attorney who acts as Bobo’s agent, confirmed that his client is being considered for jobs but declined to discuss specifics.
“I can tell you that he’s getting some long overdue consideration,” said Campbell, who was in California with Sonny Dykes, who was being introduced as the California Bears’ head coach on Thursday. “It’s unbelievable what Mike has done at Georgia; his track record speaks for itself. People are finally starting to notice.”
Bobo coordinated and called plays for an offense that already has set school records for touchdowns in a season and is on pace break records for scoring average (currently 37.2 ppg) and total offense (458.3). He also serves as quarterbacks coach Aaron Murray, who leads the nation in pass efficiency and is the first player in SEC history to throw for more than 3,000 yards in three consecutive seasons. Murray has thrown for 9,662 yards and 90 TDs with 30 interceptions under Bobo’s guidance. Bobo, Georgia’s quarterbacks coach since 2001, also developed No. 1 NFL draft pick Matthew Stafford. He was a finalist this year for the Frank Broyles Award, which goes annually to the nation’s top assistant football coach.
Oddly enough, Bobo has often been the subject of criticism by a vocal portion of the fan base, particularly for play-calling. In Georgia’s SEC Championship game lost to Alabama this past weekend, he was second-guessed for not having Murray spike the ball to stop the clock with 10 seconds remaining at the Alabama 8.
“It’s good to see (Bobo attract head coaching interest) because it has continued to baffle me how all these other coordinators get mentioned,” Campbell said. “He gets lost because of this false perception about the job he’s done there. I think it just must be one of those situations where familiarity breeds contempt and he’s been there too long. When you drill down and look at it, he’s done a phenomenal job. He went toe-to-toe with Kirby (Smar t)in the SEC Championship game; it went down to five yards, right? You hear Kirby’s name all over the place.”
Bobo’s name has also been attached to Smart, who has mentioned as a candidate for several high-profile coaching jobs. Alabama’s defensive coordinator and Bobo are best friends since childhood and attended UGA together. The thought is that the two could join forces in the right situation. Smart interviewed for the Auburn job, which went to Guz Malzahn, and reportedly is a candidate at Tennessee.
Bobo is ripe for the taking as he is not among the best-paid offensive coordinators in the SEC. He currently makes $335,000 a year (not including bonuses), which ranked 10th among SEC offensive coordinators coming into the season. He also has operated with a one-year contract, while the majority of SEC offensive coordinators have two- to -three year deals.
Bobo, who earned a $45,000 bonus for Georgia’s appearance in the SEC Championship game, is the second-highest-paid assistant on Mark Richt’s staff. Defensive coordinator Todd Grantham makes $825,000 annually and has a three-year contract.
UGA athletic director Greg McGarity said he is aware of reports circulating that Bobo is a candidate for jobs. But he said he won’t get involved unless Richt asks.
“That would go straight to the head coach,” McGarity said Thursday. “That would not come to me. If it reached a certain level of interest, Mark would have a conversation with me. But we haven’t had any communication like that.”
Neither Richt nor Bobo returned messages seeking comment.
Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray told reporters toward the end of the season he didn’t think Bobo would leave UGA because “it’s his dream job.” Bobo has always been reticent to speak on the subject.
“I have no idea what’s going on,” Bobo said last week of being mentioned for head coach openings. “To be honest, the only thing I’m really focused on is the job I’ve got in hand right now. . . . If I worried about anything else I’d be cheating these players.”
SEC O-C PAY
- Doug Nussmeier, Alabama: $590,000; three years
- Jim Chaney, Tennessee: $550,000; three years
- Greg Studrawa, LSU: $500,000 three years
- Scot Loeffler, Auburn: $500,000; two years
- Brent Pease, Florida: $490,000; three years
- Paul Petrino, Arkansas: $475,000; one year
- Kliff Kingsbury, Texas A&M: $400,000; three years
- Randy Sanders, Kentucky: $338,000; two years
- David Yost, Missouri: $354,750; two years
- Mike Bobo, Georgia: $335,000; one year
- Matt Luke, Ole Miss (co-coordinator): $285,000; three years/Dan Werner, Ole Miss (co-coordinator): $231,667; two years
- Les Koenning, Mississippi State: $275,000; two years
* Head coach Steve Spurrier serves as South Carolina’s offensive coordinator.
* Vanderbilt’s finances are not subject to open record.
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419 comments Add your comment
doc
December 6th, 2012
7:28 pm
Georgias main problem is —they willnever commit to the run game—-its always about some pocket passer trying to throw his way to National Championship game. Stafford was not from Georgia, Murray is not from Georgia———-no UGA team ever won an SEC title game without a QB from the state of Georgia. It only makes sense—who else would care? Give those runnings backs and I will run over teams. You cannot just run on and off and expect to beat defenses up—you have to be constistent banging the ball down the field. Passing is ok but it shouldn’t be a teams bread and butter.
Jp
December 6th, 2012
7:29 pm
D wood does it stand for dumb best offense ever at ga this yr 21 pts on bama and 5 yard from winning it were you born dumb wood or do you work at it all day
UGA24-7
December 6th, 2012
7:29 pm
You people wanting Bobo gone. I won’t get in that boat. Done more for UGA than anybody on this page
kral
December 6th, 2012
7:31 pm
mcgarity is over his head trent trent trent..he left where to come to UGA..who had won what..you answer where and what
flo-ri-duh
December 6th, 2012
7:33 pm
Why not move Bobo’s pay up to around $400,000 per year for 3 years. He’s a great recruiter and coach and the players love him. Colleges are making millions off of football.
kral
December 6th, 2012
7:33 pm
doc hope you never diagnose me
AugDawg
December 6th, 2012
7:34 pm
Bobo will never leave UGA. Lainie Bobo (Mike’s wife) is Vince Dooley’s niece. Which is the primary reason he has not been asked to leave yet. IF he were “in demand” he would be paid more. But since, they all know that we wont leave Athens and he is not in demand, his salary will remain where it is and his contract will never be longer than a year.
flo-ri-duh
December 6th, 2012
7:34 pm
I am quite sure Tech would want Bobo gone.
kral
December 6th, 2012
7:35 pm
hey doc where are the runningbacks from…boy you are a lawsuit waiting to happen
shankit
December 6th, 2012
7:35 pm
If he leaves, you won’t get any more Malcomn Mitchells, Jay Romes, Drew, etc. from South
Georgia. Don’t blame him if he leaves, he has caught so much crap from the 20 – 30 bloggers
on this website out of the 96,000 fan base, wouldn’t blame him. Most underestimated and appreciated coach ever for the Dawgs.
DublDawg
December 6th, 2012
7:37 pm
I’ll help him pack. Unfortunately, Muschamp hired the guy that would be suited to take his place.
Bobo’s offense scored meager points against S. Carolina, Florida, and Alabama. But more against Bama than the other two. But even then, he did not do what Texas A&M did, which was beat them, and LSU and TAM had both exposed the Tide. There were times that UGA desperately need to sustain drives in the second half of the SEC CG but could not, and the tired D had to stay on the field. In contrast, Bama made good adjustments against GA to come back and win.
The points scored against and the win/loss record against top 10 and 20 teams is not good. The points and wins are against creampuffs. last season, UGA lost all 4 games that mattered. This year, it lost 2 of 3 games that mattered, with the win at FL being the one quality win.
Self-delusion is the precursor to self-destruction, and all the congratulatory back slapping is just that, self delusion.
kral
December 6th, 2012
7:37 pm
audawg,,really he hangs on because of vince who was forced out..great insight
shankit
December 6th, 2012
7:40 pm
Should have seen the expression on Kirby Smart’s face in Valdosta when Malcomn Mitchell
and Jay Rome committed to BoBo. Includes Drew from Thomasville, and the kid from
Colquitt and a couple of others that bonded to BoBo. And he beat Florida as a quarterback.
chilidawg
December 6th, 2012
7:40 pm
As maddening as the third and long draws are when they don’t work, the numbers don’t lie. He is a productive OC and deserves a raise.
kral
December 6th, 2012
7:42 pm
dub dawg..thank goodness nothing you said was self- delusional..cause with leading things we surely would have won many nc’s by now..you are coaching,,I MEAN AD MATERIAL
shankit
December 6th, 2012
7:44 pm
Let’s see, the Dawgs have whipped Florida for two consecutive seasons, used to be our
biggest rival, won two consecutive East SEC championships, and would have won the
SEC this year, cept for the referees refusing to call holding on the wimps from Bama and the defense giving up the two pointer to Saban, which would have resulted in a 2 point deficit instead of the 4 point deficit, which the Dawgs would only have had to kick a field goal in the last 15 seconds to pull the upset. Refs must have been paid off by ESPN.
Boris
December 6th, 2012
7:45 pm
Bobo has given more to UGa than the detractor clowns on this site will ever give to anything.
gabuldawg
December 6th, 2012
7:47 pm
I know a lot of you want to get rid of Grantham, but I’d keep him. He had a lot of turmoil on Defense this year. 4 starters were out quite a while and it took a while to get them back into the system. Again, if you replace him, who takes over the system. he runs a 3-4 and if you bring a 4-3 coach, you have to change who you recruit. Whether you like Georgia’s Offense or Defense, it is the system we have and that is what they have been recruiting to. Changing it means a couple of years before Georgia has the right players in place to be back in the SEC championship.
the kicking game
December 6th, 2012
7:47 pm
Everyone talks about Georgia’s Failure on offensive/defensive in sec game but no one ever mentions the lost opportunity from missed field goals. If the Georgia Kicker makes a field goal he would have had a chance to make another one. Also if Georgia had a two-point conversion play. They could have gone on longer with a field goal at the end.
Tom, Tom The Atom Bomb
December 6th, 2012
7:48 pm
Boo Boo is so predictable during the game. I don’t see why any team can’t defense them because of their predictability…..Go Boo Boo. Go to Southern Mississippi and make them predictabled too…
AugDawg
December 6th, 2012
7:49 pm
kral: actually the Dooley connection has been talked about for years; in addition to Lanie and Richt’s wife being very close friends as one of the other reasons that he has not been forced out. IF they really thought he was good and in demand, he would have been paid more AND given longer contracts. If he didn’t have the all the nostalgia (connection to Dooley, close friends with Richt, former player) he would have been fired after the Liberty Bowl debacle.
RunninWithTheDawgs
December 6th, 2012
7:51 pm
I’m surprised that Mike has such a low salary. He has been a dedicated Dawg since he played QB here and no matter what the fans and talking heads say he has been a successful OC. He should take care of himself and his his family and go for the big money and big contract. He can always come back to Athens to retire and bring a sack full of cash with him. This is like hitting the lottery. Take advantage of it while you can.
kral
December 6th, 2012
7:59 pm
well au..you have more insight than me so…it is richt’s wife that has kept him at his job..oh our previous defensive coordinator’s wife..mrs. martinez must of pizzed mrs richt off..CMR’s good friend..I could be wrong..you probably know the scoop
Ed
December 6th, 2012
8:01 pm
If I was advising Bobo, I’d tell him to hold out for a career job. A career as a HC can easily die at a Conference USA school without the big financial reward. If you flame out at a big time school like Tennessee or Auburn, it usually comes with a nice multi-million dollar parting gift. Dooley and Chizik are laughing all the way to the bank. I’d negotiate for more money at UGA and bide my time for a big job. A couple of more seasons like this one and Bobo will get his shot.
dogdawg
December 6th, 2012
8:02 pm
Got to admit it Bobo has done his best work this year.Maybe we need him to stick around after all. Lets all get off his back,I for one hope he stays.
Gene
December 6th, 2012
8:04 pm
Subtract $550,000 from Grantham’s pay for Bama’s 550 yards of total offense. I think that Richt made the no spike call.
Brainiac (CMR/UGA Fan For Life)
December 6th, 2012
8:08 pm
All you Dawg Fans In Name Only need to just STFU. Bobo will be at UGA as long as he wants(As will CMR) and damn sure needs to be in the top paid 3 or 4 COs in the SEC. He is by far one of the BEST RECRUITERS in the Nation. I am extremely happy that it bothers a bunch of you.
People like Suckeye have no team in the Bowls and will enjoy watching UGA take care of business because their embarassment of a team(aka Tattoos R Us) is on probation and should remain there permanently!!!!!!!!!!!!! .
When, and if, Dawg Nation needs any comments or advice from the inbreds, sister marrying, Singlewide dwelling,Single Digit IQs like Suckeye and his ilk, we will llet you know!!!!!!!!!!! You can add GTBob to that list because his team is the FIRST team in history with a LOSING record to back into a bowl game after getting permission from the NCAA. One would think GT fans(most actually do) would have the class and decency to at least keep quiet and not come on here giving advice to a school that has clobbered his school pretty much at will in recent history with no relief in sight.
Beast from the East
December 6th, 2012
8:10 pm
Better hope he stays. The offense has carried UGA for several years. Grantham’s defense is very pedestrian against quality offenses and I suspect will be pretty bad next year after losing most of the squad.
tom
December 6th, 2012
8:11 pm
do it Bobo and take mark richt with you. I’m sure he would make a great preacher/offensive coordinator.
Brainiac (CMR/UGA Fan For Life)
December 6th, 2012
8:16 pm
@ Dubdawg:
I’ll help you pack Little Boy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Delta is ready when you are!!!!!!!!!
Maybe, maybe not
December 6th, 2012
8:17 pm
Doggies go cry a river.
You should say “Good riddance” just as the Falcons did with OC Mike Mularkey leaving for the Jag HC job.
Jojoba
December 6th, 2012
8:19 pm
If bobo leaves, who does richt hide behind?
hit a single
December 6th, 2012
8:19 pm
I really thought that Coach Bobo would be the next head coach at UGA if Coach Richt decides to leave or retire. Maybe he is not willing to wait that long and I couldn’t blame him.
Brainiac (CMR/UGA Fan For Life)
December 6th, 2012
8:20 pm
@ kral:
You are a GENIUS(in your own mind)!!!!
Why don’t you apply for some of these coaching vacancies??
wolfman
December 6th, 2012
8:24 pm
Funniest thing I have read today.
RunninWithTheDawgs
December 6th, 2012
8:25 pm
If any of you that are so down on Grantham recorded the SEC champ. game replay it and look at the handfuls of our D line’s jerseys that their O line had . They held during most of the game in the line with NO PENALTIES. That’s how a freshman RB racks up 184 yds. rushing. I didn’t see it during the game then I watched the replay……. SEC refs. should be investigated by the NCAA.
Jim
December 6th, 2012
8:26 pm
He’s been a great coach every year at Georgia.
nobodyyouknow
December 6th, 2012
8:28 pm
Love tha dogs, but after all the bitching about him the past years it would be funny if he got a head coaching job and came to Athens and won a big game against his DOGS,
Larry
December 6th, 2012
8:29 pm
Whatever it takes; just get rid of him. He goes into these fugue states in games and our offensive play calling goes into the pot. All those 3 and outs in the Alabama, South Carolina and Florida games are directly attributable to him.
dewnsav
December 6th, 2012
8:31 pm
I’m glad and commend Bobo for sticking around, he’s a DGD…..it is refreshing to have someone that is loyal along with being a helluva recruiter and QB mentor…the O-Line was decimated by injuries in 2010 and underperformed in 2011…I don’t drink kool aid, just call it like I see it…I’m fine with him running th offense…UGA runs a pro style offense, which most offensive players want to play in, (and creates balance) so I am happy with the scheme…go dogs
DawgNole
December 6th, 2012
8:32 pm
Buckeye
December 6th, 2012
5:28 pm
tom brown,
Banned here to?
______________________
“Too”–not “to.” Clown.
And to answer your question, ABSOLUTELY, as I’ve pointed out to you more than a few times. What–you didn’t believe me?
Pale Rider
December 6th, 2012
8:38 pm
I love the “guardian at the gate” mentality of the “satisfied with medicore” Georgia fans. The Richt, Bobo, Grantham era should be coming to an end due to lack of performance in the SEC. The SEC has WON 8 BCS NC in the last 14 years- Unfortunately, UGA, with all the talent they get has not even played in a one. Go ahead, watch everyone else keep running down the Dawgs with these chumps in place.
ShowMeYurTD's
December 6th, 2012
8:41 pm
Go bobo (please) and best of luck….
Pale Rider
December 6th, 2012
8:42 pm
For the “loyalists”, VD was loyal too and got kicked to the curb, so loyalty doesn’t count- when you’re making that much money to coach football (ie. MR), you should be judged on your W/L, BCS appearances, and performance against top tier teams.
Pale Rider
December 6th, 2012
8:47 pm
Georgia- winners of The Fulmer Cup!
Nahila
December 6th, 2012
8:48 pm
4 of the named coaches above are most likely losing their jobs since their head coaches were fired. Living in Athens has it’s rewards compared to most of the cities where these coaches have to reside. Moving from Athens and asking his family to relocate for a career move to make more money could be very difficult to do as well. Having said that, Bobo deserves a nice raise and at least a 2-3 year contract as he has developed into a fine offensive coordinator and has always been a great recruiter. His Georgia roots and loyalty plus his connection as a former player for UGA makes him invaluable.
Beast from the East
December 6th, 2012
8:49 pm
RunninWithTheDawgs
December 6th, 2012
8:25 pm
If any of you that are so down on Grantham recorded the SEC champ. game replay it and look at the handfuls of our D line’s jerseys that their O line had . They held during most of the game in the line with NO PENALTIES. That’s how a freshman RB racks up 184 yds. rushing. I didn’t see it during the game then I watched the replay……. SEC refs. should be investigated by the NCAA.
——————-
I watched the game and what I saw was no substitutions for the front seven by Grantham which resulted in UGA getting gassed and being gashed by a powerful, run- blocking offensive line.
Maybe I watched the a different game than you did?
Ed
December 6th, 2012
8:50 pm
Happy Trails!!!!!!
Pitbull
December 6th, 2012
8:51 pm
Double his salary and give him a three year contract.
He deserves it.
Game Changer
December 6th, 2012
8:53 pm
Really, Bobo has been a top candidate at many schools for the past 2 to 3 years. Reason he has not left is he was always the number 2 and 3 on the list and never got an offer. Bobo is the top candidate for several schools not mentioned because the current head coach has yet to jump and move. Good job atlanta sports writers, two the three years behind the facts about Bobo and head coaching. Wish you all the best Bobo, your time has come, make the most of it and I feel you will be a success wherever you so choose.