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
UGA Season Ticket Holder since 1986
December 8th, 2012
2:50 pm
Please define mediocre. And not with some idiotic “National Chamionship every year by fifty point margins after going undefeated in every game that was decided in the first quarter or you’re mediocre stuff. CMR with Bobo are the only coaches in Georgia football history to win two Sugar Bowls. 11-1 just isn’t mediocre under any reasonable definition. It just isn’t. Beating Florida two years in a row just isn’t mediocre. Having a 33-3 nonconference record in Sanford Stadium isn’t mediocre. And don’t give me this “we play patsies” crap. I watched us lose to Wake Forest, I watched us get blown out by Virginia. I watched us get blown out by Kentucky. I watched us lose year after year at Sanford Stadium. And all this was under a guy for whom they made a statue. 11-1 is just not mediocre.
Texas Pete
December 8th, 2012
3:07 pm
Bobo to Texas Tech rumors should heat up soon if this story has any meaning.
FB
December 8th, 2012
3:56 pm
11-1 is mediocre…. UGA Alumnus had to use spell check to get his foolish name spelled correctly. I do not care nor do I consider Richt’s religion a detriment or excuse.
If we fired either of these coaches, the only thing faster than Todd Gurley would be how fast the coaches were scooped up.
True Fans – do not fall for these fake fans. Auburn, UT, FL, SC and the entire SEC would LOVE for there to be a coaching change! Two straight years in the SECCG is not mediocre.
Bill
December 8th, 2012
4:18 pm
We should be pushing Grantham for a head coaching job. He is the weak link. Anyone who has half a brain knows that. Bobo is the glue that held the pieces together. Without him we would be 7-5.
UGA Season Ticket Holder Since 1986
December 8th, 2012
6:06 pm
Nice point FB. By definition, two straight trips to the SEC Championship game and not, by definition, be mediocre unless we are wiling to accept that the SEC is a mediocre conferece.
UGA Alumnus
December 8th, 2012
6:59 pm
@Season Tickets: See my previous post for a definition of “mediocre.” Until you address it, please stop positing the same question repeatedly.
@FB: “Foolish name”? I am a male who attended the University of Georgia. Therefore, I am an “alumnus.” Please tell me you did not attend UGA, that would be worse news than Ray Goff returning.
Listen, let me bottom line it for you. We will always lose to the Alabamas of the SEC until we start to DEMAND something different. Alabama’s fan-base did and the administration responded by firing HC Mike Shula, a former star QB for the Tide. They then brought Saban, someone who was not connected to Alabama in any way, to do one thing: win championships. Until UGA gets the same mentality, 11-2 and SEC Championship Bride’s Maid is all we will EVER achieve. The end.
jalex49
December 8th, 2012
7:13 pm
Best of luck Coach Bobo. I hope you do what’s best for you and your family. As a Georgia fan I am happy that people are finally recognizing your talent.
I know that whatever decision you make it will only benefit you in the future as a coach. I can’t say that I haven’t at times been dissapointed in some of the play calling, especially the SEC game. However I do believe you could be sucessful at the right school as a Head Coach. I also think Georgia will be in good hands ofensive;y if you decide too stay.
Mike the Dawg
December 8th, 2012
8:20 pm
Boy, ol’ Alumnus sure is eating your pimento cheese sandwiches for you. He’s right. Until UGA fans decide that one win (UF) and two losses against tough teams (SC and ‘Bama) and ten wins against cupcakes is not enough, UGA will never be anything other than the bridesmaid in the SEC.
I hope Bobo leaves, is happy and UGA brings in an OC that makes Dawg fans happy.
FB
December 8th, 2012
11:11 pm
UGA Alumnus, I am a class of ‘91 Alum. No worries, even Ray Goff would turn down the job if we fired an 11 win regular season coach.
Good point, Season Ticket Holder. The SEC rules. Even Vegas put the TIDE, UGA and the Gators as favorites against ND.
The Oddsman
December 9th, 2012
1:04 am
Well, I have my money on the Golden Domes. Any Georgia fan who is supporting Bama because they are from the SEC is like a husband supporting the man who impregnated his wife behind his back. Get real and get real now. Time to make all the Silverados and F-150s who clog up your interstate system angry.
AFDawg
December 9th, 2012
1:12 am
I hope he goes so we can get a high powered offensive genius. We lost the SECCG because the defense played too much in the 2nd half because the offense couldn’t make critical 1st downs due to stupid play calling (last year’s bowl game vs. Michigan State all over again). We have 3rd and 1 with 5 minutes left in the game and Bobo doesn’t even try a hard count when Alabama knows they have to make the stop. Then I’m yelling at the TV — rememeber the golden rule — don’t hand off. So, what does Bobo do — he hands off. Handing off on 3rd and 1 takes too long to develop and the defense gets penetration 9 times out of 10. Should have done a QB sneak — Football 101.
mjoo
December 9th, 2012
2:22 am
todd wants a bigger salary
FLA DAWG
December 9th, 2012
9:32 am
Gee,
I wonder what the reason for him being overlooked for so long for an HC job could possibly be
!?
mars=lifetime dawgs
December 9th, 2012
9:39 am
He belongs in the womens restroom at Foxz. That was his highest profile appearance.
Fools on this blog
December 9th, 2012
10:53 am
BOBO to Tx. Tech? They love Tommy Turbeville out there and he is going no where from
BOBO is ours to love or hate. with BOBO, my only real gripe is in horrific O LINE recruiting failures with James at UT and Alexander at LSU and Wermack at Alabama and a few others around the SEC. These men are all few miles from Athens. We end up with kids from. Jax and NC and Miami and this should not be necessary.
In physical games, usually, for this reason, no depth, UGA will lose.
Old Dog Class of 80
December 9th, 2012
1:55 pm
“No worries, even Ray Goff would turn down the job if we fired an 11 win regular season coach.”
Fine, DON”T fire Coach Richt this year. We’ll see how the Dawgs do next year when all our seniors leave, possibly Murray leaves for the NFL, and the schedule isn’t quite so easy. If the record goes back down to 6-7, THEN maybe we can do something!
Glenn
December 9th, 2012
2:11 pm
Bobo is getting better and another five or six years maybe he will be good. Cant believe anyone is interested in him but I guess there is a few places that are that hard up.
Old Dog Class of 80
December 9th, 2012
2:56 pm
So with all these HC positions open, I am surprized that someone has not made Coach Richt an offer he couldn’t refuse. With all these 11-1 and 10-4 seasons, and going to the SECGC (but not winning), he should be in high demand. Certainly not “mediocre”.
dawglife15
December 9th, 2012
4:48 pm
This guy just made one of the dumbest calls ever and people want him to stay lol probaly,cause ga a national championship guys and girls if our schedule was not so easy we would have not been in it at all he get out coached by good teams with equal or better talent.
DawginNY
December 10th, 2012
12:52 am
I have to say Bobo has improved much as a play-caller, but his best attribute is may be as a developer of QBs. There is no other position that has had player after player live up to his potential as much as Mike Bobo’s QBs during the last decade+.
shamydog
December 10th, 2012
9:11 am
why do sportwriters continually say that murray could have spiked the ball with 10 secs. He could have spiked the ball with 14 secs. The team was lined up with the playclock stopped at 15 seconds. He could of spiked the ball at the line when they refs started the clock and lost a second, instead he drops to a gun, starts pointing around and runs 6 seconds of the clock. They also lost 9 seconds off the clock two plays earlier after a 1st down. Even if the pass was incomplete there would have been time for only one play. The rationale that they might catch Bama’s defense out of sync was nullified by 6 second delay which allowed Bama defense to get set. Also if Bama’s defense was in disarray Saban would have called timeout. There is no doubt, that was a bone-headed decision that Richt should have overruled.. Please, give me 3 plays with 14 seconds anytime.
Give me 3 plays from the 3 yard line anytime.
Archie
December 10th, 2012
11:34 am
You get what you pay for…
NoGPSneededtoOrlandoDawg
December 10th, 2012
11:42 am
Bobo would make a fine coach at The University of South Georgia.
AltamahaDawg
December 10th, 2012
11:50 am
So you have expanded this worn out argument to include 2 plays earlier, as well? Well why not question the use to the first TO, several series before.
BTW, Alabama’s defense out of sync was NOT the rationale. Never was. You may recall the number of times that was asked and refuted. So you are presenting a false argument there.
The rationale was that they thought with 15 second they had 2/3 shots, they already knew what thier first play was, so they just ran it. And any incompletes would then stop the clock, without wasting a down. .That’s how they they had practiced it all year, so that’s what they did.
And actually you argue that you would take 3 plays anytime. Well, if you listen to the explainion, you would know that’s exactly what they were trying to do. They decided that clocking the ball would just cost them a couple of seconds, and a down. (Conley made a mistake and lined up wrong, is what cost them the 6 seconds, that’s what Murray was pointing to).
As has been pointed out by every possible analyst that has looked at that series, the (not spiking) had nothing to do with it. It was just a failure in execution. So If you want to argue that clocking the ball, would have given them time to discuss the play, make sure nobody makes a mistake, fine, but thats not your point.
AltamahaDawg
December 10th, 2012
12:02 pm
FLA DAWG, what do you mean by “for so long”. Bobo is a very young coach and has only been a in a Co-ordinator type responsibility for a few years.. Same reason Kirby Smart has been “overlooked” for HC jobs. Running entire programs for BCS type schools is a pretty big jump.The guys we are seeing hired by the SEC schools have been coaching a while.
AltamahaDawg
December 10th, 2012
12:15 pm
BTW, what “sportwriters” are continually saying that? I don’t recall very many even saying that in the early stages, other than when they were just repeating the conformist meme. Since then, and after review of the actual situation, and explaination, is there really still journalist saying that? (because they certainly can’t explain themselves if they are). I’ve seen PLENTY who are saying the exact opposite.
AltamahaDawg
December 10th, 2012
12:22 pm
The funny thing about the topic is that: If Bobo had been coaching at some other school all this time, doing exactly what he has…….. and we were looking for a new OC….., he would be the guy that all our fans would be calling for us to go get.
Matt
December 10th, 2012
12:46 pm
Yet he’s still employed at UGA.
FB
December 10th, 2012
12:49 pm
AltamahaDawg, that is the best comment on the thread! This is a bunch of non-fan, non-football geniuses wanting the greener grass without looking at the issue rationally. For a year, I have asked for ONE CANDIDATE that these “experts” can guarantee to match Richt’s record (you can do the same for for OC). Every time it has been crickets… Want a hot asst. coach? Ray Goff was a great asst coach. How about a hot HC at a lower level school? Great idea, Jim Donnan was that to a tee. If we canned any coaches, the fact is that Grantham, Bobo and Richt would be employed before we got our search team together.
?
December 10th, 2012
1:04 pm
GOOD RIDDANCE, TAKE RICHT WITH YOU..
FLA DAWG
December 10th, 2012
1:25 pm
Alta,
If Kriby Smart was “overlooked” then why did Bama up his salary when Martinez was unloaded and Richt’s rearend was warmed?
If you are seriously comparing the success of Smart / Saban with that of Bobo / Richt then consider comparing these two simple stats;
What is Bama’s record vs Top Ten Teams in the past four years?
What is UGA’s record vs Top Ten Teams in the past four years?
If the disparity of those numbers does not convince you of the difference in success of teams and coaching staff then you live in denial.
But you’re entitled to do that if that’s your preference my friend.
Bottomline, if any respectable team had offered Bobo a sweet deal he’d have been gone. Fact is, he’s still in Athens………………….and more’s the pity for Dawg Nation in my opinion.
Big Dawg Dave
December 10th, 2012
1:46 pm
Correction Chipper….there was 15 seconds on the clock. If he spiked it would have been 1 sec off or possibly none. At that point you get 2 or possibly 3 shots at the endzone. I’ve talked to every former college player I know (about 10) and I have not found 1 that would not have spiked the ball. It’s a no-brainer, Murray wanted to spike the ball (you can see it as he is running to the ball looking at the sideline. CMR and Boo Boo will never admit it in a million years, but if they had to do it all over agian 10 times, they would spike the ball 10 times!!! If he wants to go, then go to Southern Miss and let’s see how he does as the head guy….Can you say Derrick Dooley!!
dave
December 10th, 2012
2:06 pm
How about we bump the other OC’s down they make too much and Bobo is properly paid, while your at it these Head Coaches are over paid as well…..Just because another school is dumb and overpays someone does not mean we need to do the same…. If all the other schools coaches jumped off a cliff would we need to do it also?
BigDawg
December 10th, 2012
2:23 pm
Fellow Dawgs,
BoBo did a good job this year, but in all honesty should not have been made the OC in the first place. Now does he deserve a raise, IMHO “No probably not” but will in all likely hood receive one. Do I believe any team is actually considering him as a HC, NO I believe like others have suggested is a ploy. The fact that he did do a good job this year bodes well for next year and we will have a better idea of whether he has finally turned the corner and become a GOOD to VERY GOOD OC. One year can be an aberration when the other 5 his offense has struggled and under performed. Anyways it is not up to me but Coach Richt and the Atlethic Association.
Go Dawgs
J.T.Keene
December 10th, 2012
3:10 pm
Just a small change of pace, but are there any head coaches off of the Richt coaching tree at this point ? I can’t think of many that have even come from UGA other than Erk, Cavan,Dye.(not counting the ones that coached at UGA and talking head coaches only).
FB
December 10th, 2012
4:21 pm
JT – I cannot think of any. That is a good point; since you always hear of the coaches that moved on from Saban, Belichick, etc. No more than what you mentioned from Dooley, Goff, Donnan or Richt.
AltamahaDawg
December 11th, 2012
8:45 am
NO, actually I said nothing of the sort. I make zero refence to success, top 10 or otherwise. YOU made the point about not getting a job offer as a HC as being “overlooked”. I’m sorry if you don’t like that my reference to a similar assistant in about the same place in his career as a retort that directly challenges YOUR point, but you can’t just change the argument and put words in my mouth to dispute me on it.
I assume that Smart got a raise because he was a vital part of a team that won some trophies. Had you made a point that says..”I wonder why Bobo wasn’t getting big raises” then I would not have responded to the “HC” issue, because that would not have directly disputed YOUR point then. But you didn’t.
AltamahaDawg
December 11th, 2012
8:51 am
Kirby got a raise when Martinez was fired because they wanted to keep him as an OC, and not loose him to his Alma Mater as an OC. That is completely irrelavent to the point you were making.
AltamahaDawg
December 11th, 2012
8:52 am
Or DC, which is probably better suited for him.
AltamahaDawg
December 11th, 2012
9:03 am
I actually don’t even recall anybody (other than the one school he might have ever considered) ever coming after Kirby Smart to be even thier DC, much less a HC job. But, I make no assumption based on my lack of knowledge of such. So I don’t get the rationale that when a a coach (such as Smart or Bobo) already HAVE thier dream job for the time being, that other schools would somehow publically go after them anyway, despite knowing the answer up front. So If we never hear about any, because schools must be so stupid as to insist on a forcing a coach to make a public rejection to a LESSOR job, that just proves the coach isn’t worth a damn.
AltamahaDawg
December 11th, 2012
9:13 am
Saban has been coaching quite a long time and at severel other schools and the NFL. It’s seems likely he would have impacted MANY more more coaches in his career. He’s just simple touched more of them. And most likely some of them were already on that tragectory, with or without thier association with Saban at some level.
Saban is certainly a guy I would want to work under, if I were a young coach. He is THE professional football coach IMO.
I don’t think however that it’s much point that Richt hasn’t spun off a bunch of HC in 10 yrs or so. Personally, that’s not what I think we pay him to do.
FLA DAWG
December 11th, 2012
9:22 am
Since YOU brought up the point of what we are paying Richt for………………….then answer the question of # of wins vs ranked teams over the past four years and any conclusion you care to draw from those numbers.
This time try to respond in one reply rather than five.
(It’s postseason Alata – let’s have some fun now)
FLA DAWG
December 11th, 2012
9:36 am
The Dawgs are 2 – 11 vs ranked teams since 2008. Our only wins were against GT and UF.
Bama is 15 – 5 vs ranked teams and holds the best record against ranked teams of any team in The SEC.
If you cannot see the significance of the disparity in those records and the effect that Richt, Bobo, Martinez & Grantham have had on this program then I can only assume you are visually challanged.
Archie
December 11th, 2012
11:56 am
Hire a new O.C.? Some of these bloggers need to hire better gag writers!
AltamahaDawg
December 11th, 2012
2:15 pm
May I asusme we are just skipping your original point that I commented on, and moving on to you arguing how much better Alabama is than Georgia in the past few years? And I say arguing, which is odd, because I have made that point many times myself. Frankly I am not even sure what you are asking me at this point.
(And Alabama being a lot better, yet Smart has been offered NO HC job, further disproves your original point, IMO).
AltamahaDawg
December 11th, 2012
2:20 pm
I would expect a top ranked team(AL) to have a better record against lower ranked opponents, than a team that has not been a top ranked team (Ga) against higher ranked opponents.
I would suspect that Alabama was the favorite in those game, and Georgia was not.
The conclusion I draw from that is that Alabama has been a better team in the past few years.
AltamahaDawg
December 11th, 2012
2:33 pm
You know what they say about asusme.
David
December 11th, 2012
5:17 pm
Please somebody take him off our hands!!!!!
Nelson
December 11th, 2012
7:34 pm
Get rid of him NOW. Yes UGA had a good year and even broke some records, but he so predictable! You can sit at home and read his plays. If its 3rd and 10 or longer, its going to be more times than not a run and if its 3rd and short, we pass it. Never keeps the foot on the gas. He doesn’t make good calls. Plain and simple if Georgia wants to win a National Championship, they better get rid of Bobo!
Nelson
December 11th, 2012
7:39 pm
To: UGA Season Ticket Holder since 1986
Mark Richt called the plays when UGA won the SEC Championship. Not Bobo, he didn’t start calling plays till 2006.
Mark Richt has won the titles not Bobo. Bobo needs to gogo and soon if we want to get across the line and win the NC.