Georgia in no hurry to name Richt’s replacement

Athens — Despite the growing trend, Georgia coach Mark Richt said he wasn’t ready for Georgia to name him a successor-in-waiting.

Earlier this week Texas designated 37-year-old Georgia graduate Will Muschamp as “coach-in-waiting,” never mind that coach Mack Brown’s retirement is not imminent. Muschamp joins Kentucky’s Joker Phillips and Florida State’s Jimbo Fisher with that distinction.

Richt, 48, said the Bulldogs haven’t tabbed anyone to succeed him. “Maybe when I’m 55 or 60 … if I make it that long.”

The Longhorns did it because Muschamp, in his first year as their defensive coordinator, had been rumored to be the frontrunner for several head coaching positions. Texas didn’t want to lose him, so they guaranteed him the coaches’ job.

“I can see where it makes sense for people to do that,” Richt said. “Only time will tell if it will always turn out to be a successful decision or not. My guess is that the university doesn’t absolutely have to keep the guy, but if they don’t keep the guy, they’re going to have to pay him. That guy’s protected in that way where he feels comfortable staying. I would think universities feel like they still have the ability to go elsewhere if they choose to, but it’s going to cost them. In the meantime, they keep their top coordinator.”