Fadeproof
Resident Dawg Genius
- Joined
- Oct 4, 2004
- Messages
- 1,641
- Likes
- 311
Looks like our D could be taking a hit next year. Guess we wont know till next year.
GoooooOOOOOOOO DAWGS!!!
Defense can't hold VanGorder
Coordinator goes pro; Rucker hooks position at Texas
By Marc Weiszer
marc.weiszer@onlineathens.com
In four years at Georgia, Mark Richt's coaching staff had been a model of stability. Not a single assistant left for another coaching job.
Suddenly, Richt has two openings to fill.
Defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder has jumped to the NFL to coach linebackers for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Richt moved quickly on Monday to promote secondary coach Willie Martinez, a college teammate at Miami, to run a defense that has been among the nation's best the past three seasons.
Richt left for a college coaching convention in Louisville, Ky., on Monday night with two positions - running backs coach and linebackers coach - vacant.
The other opening came when running backs coach Ken Rucker left one top 10 program for another when he was hired for a similar position at Texas.
"I'm sad when guys go, especially good men like they are," Richt said. "It's the business that we're in. People make decisions for a lot of different reasons, but believe me, I do like stability."
Georgia tried to hold on to VanGorder, offering to increase his salary $40,000 to match the $250,000 annually he was offered by the Jaguars under a three-year deal, athletic director Damon Evans said.
"It didn't come down to money," Richt said. "It came down to a desire he had, and I respect that."
VanGorder, 45, is responsible for a $90,000 buyout in the three-year contract he signed last summer. He would not have had to foot the bill if he left for an NFL coordinator's position or a head coaching job in college.
VanGorder said he and his family viewed the move as a promotion, even if others may not.
"I feel badly that the perception of the move itself will be talked about in ways that are incorrect," VanGorder said. "There will be a perception that I'm leaving Georgia for a position job in professional football. Why would you do that? I think it's obvious. There's not defensive coordinators in college football getting defensive coordinators position in the NFL unless you're fortunate enough to follow your coach from college football. This is a progression that needs to be followed and I think it's probably the right way for me as I reevaluate some goals and aspirations."
R.C. Rique/Staff
Brian VanGorder's defenses were ranked as high as second nationally during his four-year stay at Georgia.
VanGorder was contacted by Jacksonville coach Jack Del Rio and met with the Jaguars officials last Thursday. He was offered the job on Friday morning and accepted it on Sunday.
"It is surprising and shocking," defensive tackle Gerald Anderson said. "I guess he feels he hasn't gone to his peak. He feels like he can grow as a coach."
"It's been obviously a very difficult decision," VanGorder said Monday afternoon still wearing a shirt with a Georgia helmet insignia on it. "I love Georgia. I consider myself a Georgia man. There's no place I've been that represents more of my heart and represents my work more than here."
VanGorder said he could benefit in his football knowledge from working under Del Rio and defensive coordinator Mike Smith. VanGorder replaces Mike Haluchak, one of three Jaguars assistants fired last week.
Under VanGorder, Georgia finished in the top 10 in scoring defense the past three seasons and the top 10 in total defense the past two.
"It's more than a one-man show," Richt said, pointing to Martinez, defensive line coach Rodney Garner and defensive ends coach Jon Fabris.
VanGorder won the Broyles Award as the nation's top assistant in 2003, but has been passed over when prominent jobs opened the past two seasons.
Syracuse is looking for a new coach but has said it wants a coach with NFL experience. Pittsburgh recently hired former NFL coach Dave Wannstedt. USC's Pete Carroll and Virginia's Al Groh are finding success in college after coaching in the NFL.
"We all can see that the landscape has changed in terms of the way college presidents and athletic directors are hiring head football coaches and we see the success of a Pete Carroll in college football," VanGorder said. "I think there is a feeling that the combination of NFL and college experience is one that may be beneficial."
Martinez is currently making $135,000 annually in base salary. There has been no conversation about a multi-year deal for Martinez like VanGorder had.
Rucker accepted a Texas job that had already been turned down by UCLA's Eric Bieniemy and Tennessee's Trooper Taylor. Taylor turned down a $170,000 offer, according to The Tennesseean.
Rucker's Georgia salary was $115,500. Evans said Georgia never got a chance to make a counteroffer to Rucker.
Richt said one reason that Rucker, 53, made the move was to take advantage of the retirement system in Texas. Rucker was running backs coach at Texas A&M in 1994-97 and from 2001-02, and also coached in Texas at Baylor from 1992-94.
"He's getting closer to the end of his career and that had a lot to do with it," Richt said.
Richt had just one change on his staff in his four seasons prior to Monday. Running backs coach Tony Pierce abruptly resigned five games into the 2002 season and Rucker replaced him before the 2003 season.
Richt said he expects he could fill the two openings in the next week, but is in no rush.
"There's a lot of interested people that are extremely talented and confident," Richt said. "I'm getting bombarded right now."
GoooooOOOOOOOO DAWGS!!!
Defense can't hold VanGorder
Coordinator goes pro; Rucker hooks position at Texas
By Marc Weiszer
marc.weiszer@onlineathens.com
In four years at Georgia, Mark Richt's coaching staff had been a model of stability. Not a single assistant left for another coaching job.
Suddenly, Richt has two openings to fill.
Defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder has jumped to the NFL to coach linebackers for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Richt moved quickly on Monday to promote secondary coach Willie Martinez, a college teammate at Miami, to run a defense that has been among the nation's best the past three seasons.
Richt left for a college coaching convention in Louisville, Ky., on Monday night with two positions - running backs coach and linebackers coach - vacant.
The other opening came when running backs coach Ken Rucker left one top 10 program for another when he was hired for a similar position at Texas.
"I'm sad when guys go, especially good men like they are," Richt said. "It's the business that we're in. People make decisions for a lot of different reasons, but believe me, I do like stability."
Georgia tried to hold on to VanGorder, offering to increase his salary $40,000 to match the $250,000 annually he was offered by the Jaguars under a three-year deal, athletic director Damon Evans said.
"It didn't come down to money," Richt said. "It came down to a desire he had, and I respect that."
VanGorder, 45, is responsible for a $90,000 buyout in the three-year contract he signed last summer. He would not have had to foot the bill if he left for an NFL coordinator's position or a head coaching job in college.
VanGorder said he and his family viewed the move as a promotion, even if others may not.
"I feel badly that the perception of the move itself will be talked about in ways that are incorrect," VanGorder said. "There will be a perception that I'm leaving Georgia for a position job in professional football. Why would you do that? I think it's obvious. There's not defensive coordinators in college football getting defensive coordinators position in the NFL unless you're fortunate enough to follow your coach from college football. This is a progression that needs to be followed and I think it's probably the right way for me as I reevaluate some goals and aspirations."
R.C. Rique/Staff
Brian VanGorder's defenses were ranked as high as second nationally during his four-year stay at Georgia.
VanGorder was contacted by Jacksonville coach Jack Del Rio and met with the Jaguars officials last Thursday. He was offered the job on Friday morning and accepted it on Sunday.
"It is surprising and shocking," defensive tackle Gerald Anderson said. "I guess he feels he hasn't gone to his peak. He feels like he can grow as a coach."
"It's been obviously a very difficult decision," VanGorder said Monday afternoon still wearing a shirt with a Georgia helmet insignia on it. "I love Georgia. I consider myself a Georgia man. There's no place I've been that represents more of my heart and represents my work more than here."
VanGorder said he could benefit in his football knowledge from working under Del Rio and defensive coordinator Mike Smith. VanGorder replaces Mike Haluchak, one of three Jaguars assistants fired last week.
Under VanGorder, Georgia finished in the top 10 in scoring defense the past three seasons and the top 10 in total defense the past two.
"It's more than a one-man show," Richt said, pointing to Martinez, defensive line coach Rodney Garner and defensive ends coach Jon Fabris.
VanGorder won the Broyles Award as the nation's top assistant in 2003, but has been passed over when prominent jobs opened the past two seasons.
Syracuse is looking for a new coach but has said it wants a coach with NFL experience. Pittsburgh recently hired former NFL coach Dave Wannstedt. USC's Pete Carroll and Virginia's Al Groh are finding success in college after coaching in the NFL.
"We all can see that the landscape has changed in terms of the way college presidents and athletic directors are hiring head football coaches and we see the success of a Pete Carroll in college football," VanGorder said. "I think there is a feeling that the combination of NFL and college experience is one that may be beneficial."
Martinez is currently making $135,000 annually in base salary. There has been no conversation about a multi-year deal for Martinez like VanGorder had.
Rucker accepted a Texas job that had already been turned down by UCLA's Eric Bieniemy and Tennessee's Trooper Taylor. Taylor turned down a $170,000 offer, according to The Tennesseean.
Rucker's Georgia salary was $115,500. Evans said Georgia never got a chance to make a counteroffer to Rucker.
Richt said one reason that Rucker, 53, made the move was to take advantage of the retirement system in Texas. Rucker was running backs coach at Texas A&M in 1994-97 and from 2001-02, and also coached in Texas at Baylor from 1992-94.
"He's getting closer to the end of his career and that had a lot to do with it," Richt said.
Richt had just one change on his staff in his four seasons prior to Monday. Running backs coach Tony Pierce abruptly resigned five games into the 2002 season and Rucker replaced him before the 2003 season.
Richt said he expects he could fill the two openings in the next week, but is in no rush.
"There's a lot of interested people that are extremely talented and confident," Richt said. "I'm getting bombarded right now."
