Instead of coaching the team one final time, in its bowl game, Richt told them he would be leaving immediately and assistant coach Bryan McClendon was taking over on an interim basis.
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Smart, Alabama’s defensive coordinator, has been widely reported to be the next coach at Georgia.
CORAL GABLES, Florida – Mark Richt will be introduced as Miami’s new coach on Friday morning.
The school said offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt and other staff members will retain their roles through the bowl.
But before he takes the reins in Athens, Smart will stay with the Crimson Tide through their expected run in the College Football Playoff. Smart played football at Georgia from 1995-98 and was its running backs coach in 2005. “Are you kidding me?” Richt reportedly interviewed for the UM job this week, as did Mississippi State head football coach Dan Mullen, Greg Schiano and Butch Davis.
The decision is a complete reversal from Richt’s statements during a news conference Monday.
According to WSB-TV’s Zach Klein, Richt was emotional when telling his players, saying he meant to coach them in the bowl game and wanted to take a year off.
Upon his separation from Georgia, Richt indicated a desire to be more hands-on in his next coaching position. “If it wasn’t offered to me I would have asked for it. I’m very excited about that”.
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Under Richt, Georgia had numerous top five recruiting classes, and I would expect that Miami can really make some noise, especially with all the homegrown talent right in their own back yard and all throughout south Florida. Georgia completed the season 9-Three – 3rd within the SEC East – under Richt, who was dismissed Sunday. McClendon has been with Georgia for numerous years and will finally get his opportunity.
