UGA gives ‘co-defensive coordinator’ title to Jancek

Athens — Georgia has promoted linebackers coach John Jancek to co-defensive coordinator.

The promotion comes a day after Jancek turned down an offer to become defensive coordinator at South Florida. Georgia officials said Jancek still will answer to Willie Martinez, who remains defensive coordinator — without the qualifying prefix. But Jancek’s title will bring with it increased responsibility and possibly a modest raise. Jancek currently is Georgia’s second-lowest paid assistant at $163,000.

“Willie Martinez is our defensive coordinator and as co-coordinator,” coach Mark Richt said in a prepared statement, “John has been and will continue to be instrumental in our game planning on the defensive side of the ball.”

“Obviously I’m excited,” Jancek said Tuesday afternoon. “The opportunity to be at Georgia is great, and that’s the main thing. I don’t think it’ll change a lot as far as day-to-day operations. We haven’t really discussed it yet. Willie’s still the defensive coordinator, and I’m happy to still be at Georgia.”

Jancek becomes the third assistant to pass up a raise and/or promotion at another school, joining offensive line coach Stacy Searels and defensive line coach/recruiting coordinator Rodney Garner.

“We work for a great man in coach Richt,” Jancek said. “It all comes down to him. When you have an opportunity to go somewhere else it makes you analyze what you have where you are and you can't do better than him.”

Jancek, 40, has been linebackers coach since succeeding Brian VanGorder before the 2005 season. Three starting linebackers in that time — Tony Taylor, Jarvis Jackson and Danny Verdun Wheeler — have all signed professional contracts. That streak could continue in April with Dannell Ellerbe, who is projected to be drafted.

Jancek held coordinator positions at Wayne State, Hillsdale, Grand Valley State and Central Michigan before coming to Georgia.

He will continue to coach the linebackers.