Kirby Smart, defensive coordinator, Alabama Talked about as the possible replacement for Les Miles if he was booted out at LSU, Smart is ready to take over someone’s head coaching gig at the highest of levels. 2 in 2007 and won the Sugar Bowl again, but a loss to Tennessee denied it a shot at the SEC title and, subsequently, the national title.
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Following Georgia’s 13-7 victory against Georgia Tech on Saturday, Mark Richt had 145 wins in regular season play since he began coaching at Georgia in 2001.
“I think that would be a great idea, but to be honest, I think that would be kind of weird, I guess, for him”. Georgia were 5-10 against the Gators under Richt, including losing the last two games, humiliated 27-3 this season, their lowest scoring performance in this rivalry since getting shut out in 1984.
Mark Richt isn’t closing the door on his head coaching career.
“Mark’s record on the field was outstanding; however, his impact on college football goes well beyond the gridiron”, McGarity said before mentioning children who attended Richt’s summer camp, recruits and his players.
Head coach Mark Richt of the Georgia Bulldogs calls a timeout during the second half against the Georgia Southern Eagles at Sanford Stadium on November 21, 2015 in Athens, Georgia.
Meanwhile, there remains strong sentiment among Pruitt’s players at Georgia for him to stay and for him to be considered for the head coaching job The Bulldogs have the nation’s No. 1-ranked pass defense and are ninth in total defense.
Richt’s soon-to-be departure has opened up the possibilities at Miami, and he is expected to be interviewed as early as this week.
Seated alongside athletic director Greg McGarity, Richt said that Georgia’s failure to live up to its lofty preseason accolades this year is the reason his time with the Bulldogs is done after 15 seasons. I understand it. I wish I could respond to all of them, but that may take some time.
Richt had only a short statement in the announcement released by Georgia: “I appreciate the opportunity of serving the University as well as considering any other options that may present themselves in the future”. Probably different largely because of Greg McGarity, a former protege of Jeremy Foley, who famously said, “What should be done eventually must be done immediately”. I think based on him and what he was a part of, that it was a good percentage gamble.
Under Richt’s tenure, the Bulldogs have won the SEC championship twice (2002, 2005) and have played in the SEC championship game five times (2002, 2003, 2005, 2011, 2012).
The wins came in bunches year in and year out, but the big-game opportunities never materialized. Richt isn’t the intense, crazed coach on the sideline.
Richt received a two-year contract extension and an $800,000 raise in January despite friction with the administration over resources. “If we don’t make it to [the SEC championship game in] Atlanta, I’m miserable, too”.
Richt was hired by former Georgia head coach and athletics director Vince Dooley on Christmas in 2000.
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“There is not a better coach in college football”. He wants to be known as the coach that loved Georgia and that he did it the right way in such a way that was well pleasing to the Lord. “It’s about being a good coach and being a good leader for your players”.
