UPDATED: Football assistant Rodney Garner leaving Georgia ‘to get Auburn back on track’
Rodney Garner has served as Georgia's defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator for 15 years. He has been Mark Richt's assistant head coach since 2005. (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
ATHENS – In the end, Rodney Garner felt like he could no longer ignore his alma mater’s calls for help.
Garner, Georgia’s assistant head coach, recruiting coordinator and defensive line coach for the past 12 years, accepted an offer to handle the same jobs at Auburn, where he played offensive line and started his coaching career. He will also receive a significant salary increase from the $300,000 a year he earned with the Bulldogs.
But as Garner adamantly pointed out in an exclusive interview with the AJC Thursday night, “this is not about the money.”
“It was a very difficult decision,” Garner said. “I’ve been approached many times about this opportunity. But it’s my alma mater. It may be more of a pride thing, just looking at where they are right now and feeling like I really wanted to be a part of getting them back on track. I just felt like God was leading me in this direction. It’s something I prayed about and it was not an easy decision. I would not have left for any other reason than Auburn.”
Garner, 46, has received overtures from Auburn several times over the years, including from Tommy Tuberville and Gene Chizik. Chizik was dismissed after the Tigers went 3-9 this past season. Gus Malzahn, who was Chizik’s offensive coordinator but left to become head coach at Arkansas State, was hired by Auburn on Dec. 4.
Garner has spent the last 12 seasons at Georgia working under head coach Mark Richt. He was hired at UGA by former coach Jim Donnan in 1998. A native of Leeds, Ala., he played for the Tigers under Pat Dye from 1984-88. He also met his wife Kimberly there.
Garner will join the Tigers’ staff immediately.
“It’s just time,” Garner said. “I’ve been at Georgia 15 years. It’s been awesome. Worked for two great head coaches at the University of Georgia. Jim Donnan gave me the opportunity to come here, who I have a tremendous amount of respect and love for. And then Coach Richt who retained me and I worked for him for 12 years. Coach Donnan is already in the Hall of Fame, and I’m sure Coach Richt will be one day. So it was a very difficult decision.”
Garner said he spent a long time Thursday counseling with Georgia’s team chaplain Thomas Settles about his decision, then a long time talking to Richt Thursday night.
“It’s difficult because you’re going to a rival school,” Garner said. “Mark has been very good to me and I want people to know that. People need to recognize the body of work that Mark has done here. Here’s a guy who has been at Georgia 12 years and he’s gone to the (SEC) championship game five times. Prior to him coming there, they’d never been to that game. I look at what he’s done there for 12 years, the way he’s done it, the way he’s won with class and integrity, and he’s just been a great guy to work for. So it’s hard leaving him. I mean it really was. But everything I hear about Coach (Gus) Malzahn is that he’s that same caliber of man, cut from that same cloth, and I think it will be a family-friendly environment, which is important to me, with a wife and six daughters.”
Many preliminary reports about Garner’s interest in joining the Auburn hinted at discord between him and Georgia defensive coordinator Todd Grantham. Nothing could be further from the truth.
“The defensive staff we had at Georgia, Coach Grantham, I just think he’s great; he’s awesome,” Garner said. “I think Todd deserves to be a head coach. I was really thinking he’d get some shots at it this year. I think he’s one of the brightest minds I’ve ever been around. Then Scott (Lakatos) and KO (Kirk Olivadotti), we just had a lot of chemistry on that staff.”
Garner would not discuss the financial terms of his contract with Auburn other than to say, “it’s a good deal.” He was on a yearly contract with Bulldogs.
“I’m sure at some point it will all become public record, but that’s not what this was about,” he reiterated.
Regardless, Garner’s departure comes at a complicated time for Georgia. The Bulldogs are in the midst of recruiting their biggest class of the restricted-scholarship era — around 35 in all — and obviously Garner is the hub of that effort. Best known for attracting great defensive linemen to come play for him, Georgia has been considered a leader for junior college all-star Toby Johnson and 5-star defensive tackle Montravius Adams of Dooly County. Both signings could now be in jeopardy.
“I’m kind of surprised, but it helps Auburn,” Adams told 247Sports. “We have a great relationship. He’s a great guy. I know that he’s a guy that will get defensive linemen to the league. I wouldn’t mind him being a guy that coaches me for three or four years. He’s going to be a guy that I’m going to be with most of the time besides the weight-training guy.”
Auburn athletic director Jay Jacobs was the first to announce Garner’s hire via Twitter. Auburn later sent out a news release that quoted Malzahn and Garner.
“We’re excited to announce Rodney Garner as our assistant head coach and defensive line coach,” Malzahn said in the statement. “Rodney is one of the top defensive line coaches in college football who has had great success in the Southeastern Conference. We’re excited to welcome an Auburn man back home.”
Said Garner: “I owe a lot to Auburn and the men who helped mold me to who I am today both professionally and personally. I’m very appreciative to Coach Malzahn for this opportunity and I feel very strongly that I can be an asset to the program. I have a lot of love for Auburn and I felt this was a great chance to help give back to a place that has given me so much. I look forward to helping get Auburn back to where it belongs.”
Richt finally acknowledged Garner’s departure in a statement released at 11 a.m. Friday:
“I want to thank Rodney for 15 years of loyal service to UGA. He was the first assistant I hired when I came to Georgia and it turned out to be a great decision. He’s a tremendous ball coach, recruiter, and mentor and a great example of what a good father and husband should be. He’s been a blessing to my life as well as to UGA. We wish him and Kim all the best.”
MORE ON GARNER
Here’s a link to a “10 Things You Should Know about Rodney Garner” profile I did this past summer.
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493 comments Add your comment
FL dawg
December 21st, 2012
2:27 pm
How come Auburn gets away with blatant violation of #@%$ NCAA rules? I’m from Warner Robins, James Brooks came from the poor side of town. After going down and commiting to AU he rolls back to Robins in a brand new ‘78 sports car. It never ends, hell everyone knows Scam Newton’s old man literaly demanded money from any school that wanted the SOB. AU is a dirty school with a filthy athletic program. No respecr for AU, they should be eliminated from the SEC.
Moist Dawg
December 21st, 2012
2:30 pm
Amen FL dawg!
Colorado Dawg
December 21st, 2012
2:32 pm
@JB, I don’t know… He has coached the college ranks – App State, Kanas & LSU under Saban. So maybe he’d be persuaded to come to his alma mater and home state. They might need to sweeten the deal and offer him more than just position coach but I guess could be a risk to offer him Recruiting Coordinator role too for instance since he has done that in a while.
Colorado Dawg
December 21st, 2012
2:33 pm
“Kansas” not Kanas
YeahC'mon
December 21st, 2012
2:33 pm
sm I’ll bite….It’s WIN not WHEN a Pulitzer. SOMETHING. Sorry doesn’t take a rocket scientist but I find it hysterical that you think I’m a GT grad. You lose (yes I said LOSE not LOOSE)
but thanks for playing.
smlarsen
December 21st, 2012
2:41 pm
Haha knew you couldn’t resist you scum bucket. So if you are not a GT fan then why would you choose to pick out misspelled words in my statement. Is that what you do? Go around AJC blogs and tell people they misspelled words?
Put in Timeout by Ken Suguira,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned by Bill King, Chip Towers & only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
December 21st, 2012
2:42 pm
Moist FL dWag…………And Herschel Walker got a scholarship for his older sister and a Smoky & the Bandit Trans AM…………..UGa is so far from clean so don’t even throw rocks.
Smokey
December 21st, 2012
2:52 pm
We tried to use the old alma mater heartstrings to get Tee Martin to come home to Rocky Top, but the lure of USC proved to be too much. Looks like Athens/UGA didn’t have the same effect on Garner.
B.
December 21st, 2012
2:57 pm
Good luck to you Mr. Garner and continued success. Thank you for serving well to Georgia.
poise
December 21st, 2012
2:59 pm
…good luck rodney, make auburn proud i understand its the alma mater….15yrs. later, prolly understood the new face coaches coming in means new changes…so a new start is good….(((-georgia, this is pivotal to get this right if we really wanna win championships-)))….happy holidays ery’body, no punches thrown from here….200 to 300, 000/yr. x 15yrs in athens, ga…damn
Joey
December 21st, 2012
3:01 pm
How many times has Tech been on probation since UGA? At least two or three, and is currently, still in the NCAA’s pokey.
And you are dumber than dirt if you think ANY program offered Herschel inducements – he was the most heavily recruited high schooler ever at that time, and the NCAA had investigators living in Wrightsville.
The sister got a track schollie – better be nice to her – her son has been offered a football scholarship at GA Tech.
Chris Mike
December 21st, 2012
3:03 pm
Hire Hines Ward end of discussion.
MB
December 21st, 2012
3:08 pm
Uh oh….Jawja needs to find a new bag man
wins-by-a-link
December 21st, 2012
3:14 pm
Can’t blame Rodney for going “Home”, I wish Vince would have gone when they tried to get him to come Home.
Tom
December 21st, 2012
3:18 pm
I like all this Auburn rebuilding talk….Auburn is not rebuilding. They are bouncing back with better coaching. There will be 20 returning starters on this team. You can see by the way we played Clemson and LSU earlier in the year we had talent. This team just flat gave up and the season snowballed big time. When you are constantly reading how bacd you suck, your coach is getting fired, and you were only good because of Cam Newton you eventually stop playing and that’s what happened. There is new blood and the players are going to have to go back to impressing their coaches which will make them better. That’s why Malzahn cleaned the coaching staff. No more of the same. These players will have to earn their position. There is plenty of talent and I am really liking next year’s schedule. This will be an immediate turn around. At least 8-5 next year and will compete for the SEC in 2014. Watch.
Dawgshine
December 21st, 2012
3:19 pm
Well, this stinks. Everyone knows that we only win championships in February. Now we won’t even be the Kings of Signing Day anymore.
YeahC'mon
December 21st, 2012
3:20 pm
No I just like to pick on morons. And you keep taking the bait. I like this game – this is fun.
CaliDawg
December 21st, 2012
3:27 pm
Love it when they say it’s not about the money…it’s always about the money! If it wasn’t he’d go to AU for the same salary, right?
Loran, Whatayagot?
December 21st, 2012
3:28 pm
It’s not all about the money, it’s mostly about the money.
Aubie
December 21st, 2012
3:33 pm
Welcome home coach!!! Come back and help us win another National Championship at Auburn. Something UGA knows nothing about.
Don
December 21st, 2012
3:36 pm
Hines Ward…go get him. He is a UGA legend, served his university with distinction, and wants to be a coach at UGA. What an ambassador! Not rocket science CMR…go get him, NOW!
Fed Up
December 21st, 2012
3:39 pm
Good bye, Bag Man…
Dogg
December 21st, 2012
3:48 pm
Could you take Honey BoBo with you ?
Miama Dog
December 21st, 2012
3:49 pm
Thanks Coach Garner for years of service. Done. Now, anything else about him is Auburn news, UGA has moved on already.
DANNY
December 21st, 2012
3:51 pm
Welcome home Rodney!
GatorinGa
December 21st, 2012
3:59 pm
This will cost the dogs several recruits. Sweet. Not that we need the help, here we are heading for the Sugar Bowl and you are playing one of those who cares bowls. Go Gators!
GTBob
December 21st, 2012
4:01 pm
Do you want us to bring up some things that you may think we don’t know about you? Give it a rest, dude.
The Commissioner, I am a little late with this response but I would love to hear some things that you supposedly know about me. And also, I had a great time at Tech. I completely love the school and would do it all again in a heart beat if I had the chance.
GTBob
December 21st, 2012
4:02 pm
GTBob CPJ’s winning percentage won’t hold up much longer. What’s his record the last 2 years? 6-7 and probably 6-8 this year?
He went 8-5 last year. Not 6-7.
james
December 21st, 2012
4:12 pm
This is a great opportunity to add a high quality senior member to the coaching staff. Use the amount of money that Auburn is paying Garner, to find a new coach.
james
December 21st, 2012
4:13 pm
Don, great call.
DawgFan58
December 21st, 2012
4:13 pm
Another leading candidate should be former CCHS standout, All SEC @ UT and former Falcon Chuck Smith who coached D line for the Jets and for UT and would bring some new intensity to the Dawgs. He could also help in the area of recruiting having done so previously. He works with other pros, top college and high school athletes thru his training company in helping to develop the skill level of D Line players at all levels. Great football mind and a home town guy that could step into Coach Garners former role. UGA should consider this guy seriously!!!!
big al
December 21st, 2012
4:21 pm
Huge loss for the dawgs. Has been uga’s top recruiter for years. Come signing day this will hurt georgia bad and in the future. Very very disappointed
MotherDawg
December 21st, 2012
4:26 pm
Its always about the money…especially when you are making a lateral move! Crappy timing though. Look for UGA to lose some recruits. Oh well…
DONNAN OF A NEW ERA
December 21st, 2012
4:35 pm
“Thank goodness he is gone. I am glad he finally left. He made a lot of recruiting mistakes by choosing players that did not belong at UGA”
UGA fans are completely stupid.
PT
December 21st, 2012
4:36 pm
Everybody HAPPY!
DONNAN OF A NEW ERA
December 21st, 2012
4:36 pm
It’s funny/sad that some UGA fans have to resort to trashing Rodney.
Neutral
December 21st, 2012
5:00 pm
I just want to hire a good recruiter who has a clue about coaching a defensive line. CRG was a good recruiter and at best a mediocre coach. He has 10-12 linemen playing in the NFL, but hasn’t been able to dominate the line of scrimmage in the past 5-6 years. Good luck Rodney and I’m excited about our possibilities with your departure. Probably good news for Auburn and great news for UGa!!!!
Bernie Matt
December 21st, 2012
5:44 pm
@ dawginlex and altamahadawg – you 2 are not supposed to be posting. As wrong as you were yesterday, you both should be hiding. You look silly today!
45 ACP
December 21st, 2012
6:06 pm
Defensive line coach, hmmmm. See ya later and good luck!
jerry
December 21st, 2012
6:39 pm
Oh hell, there goes another National Championship. Oh wait, let’s see. Donnan-no, Richt-no. Goff-no. Griffith-no. Dooley……..yes. The Mother of All Flukes, but yes.
That70sGAdawg
December 21st, 2012
6:40 pm
Garner threatens to leave every year, gets a raise and stay… I’m glad ƒor the change .Richt will hire someone that can teach the DL to tackle AL running backs.
Big Crimson 75
December 21st, 2012
6:43 pm
Terrible move by the Barn.
A. He can’t coach.
B. His days as an elite recruiter have long since passed.
I can’t help but chuckle remembering the days of Garner “coordinating” the dwag defense!!
Willie Martinez looked like Nick Saban compared to Garner.
Aubie should’ve kept the Trooper if this was the alternate plan.
Btw, whenever they say its not about the $$$, it’s about the $$$.
No. 1 Braves Fan
December 21st, 2012
6:48 pm
Just wanted to pass this along to all UGA fans: 35 GT football payers (23 on scholarship) made the Dean`s list in the fall quarter. I have not seen an announcement from UGA yet. Has anyone?
icedawg
December 21st, 2012
7:02 pm
Great opportunity! Will be missed. Did a great job for us.
Jborodawg
December 21st, 2012
7:16 pm
Great recruiter; he’ll be greatly missed in that regard. Why do so many of you keep saying, “It’s about the money” when you have no idea? He said it was a chance to return to his alma mater; help a program in need; and that it’s not about the money. I take him on his word.
Good luck Coach Garner. Thanks for fifteen years of loyalty to the Georgia Bulldogs, the players and your head coaches.
Ciao Rodney!
December 21st, 2012
8:50 pm
I’m ok with the move. Our D line studs never seemed to play up to their potential until they reached the NFL. Seymour, Johnson, Grant, the list goes on. I hope they give Grantham the opportunity to bring in the next coach like they did with Lakatos, who in my opinion is excellent.
murray
December 21st, 2012
10:38 pm
Or maybe he was told a coaching change was coming at UGA ….. His job that is…. piss on Garner and his Auburn asssssssss self…. He will be fired down there in 2 years… He cant coach at all…
College football roundup: Georgia assistant joins Auburn stafff – Yahoo! Sports | The Art Of Football
December 21st, 2012
11:32 pm
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution [...]
Hunker down
December 21st, 2012
11:32 pm
Does not make sense to make CMB in charge of recruiting. A couple of reasons. First the offense did their job this season. So why lose your OC which is a huge position that Bobo has spent many seasons developing his craft. Also, he will be a head coach some day in the not to distant future I suspect. So it does not make sense to change for short term. I also am not sure how long CTG will stay if opportunity knocks. So a young coach like McClendon who is popular among young players seems the most logical of choices of existing staff.
sanjosemutt
December 22nd, 2012
2:42 am
When someone says its anot about the mone..well its all about the mooooney!!! And same position at Malzahanville…great for him!