Bobby Petrino’s staff stayed together this offseason, one of fewer than 30 in the FBS to remain intact. (AP photo)
Bobby Petrino quit on the Falcons and left in disgrace at Arkansas.
Louisville, it seems, appears to be a perfect fit for him.
His staff at Louisville, which includes former UGA defensive coordinator Todd Grantham, is "one of fewer than 30 FBS staffs to have the same nine assistants heading into the 2015 season," coachingsearch.com reported.
Petrino’s assistants had opportunities to move on, including in the NFL, but they stayed at Louisville, which is a credit to Petrino, athletic director Tom Jurich told 93.9 The Ville.
Offensive coordinator Garrick McGee turned down an interview for the same position at Oklahoma and Grantham turned down the defensive coordinator job with the Oakland Raiders. McGee will earn $850,000 in 2015 and Grantham reportedly will earn around $1.4 million.
Jurich has twice hired Petrino, first to replace John L. Smith in 2003, and then last year, on Petrino’s road to redemption.
"You certainly don't take it for granted, but I do think we've become a destination job. Going in the ACC, one of the most prestigious conferences in the country, that didn't hurt at all. We've got a group of coaches now I wouldn't trade for anybody. That was an incredible testament to Bobby Petrino.
"When you have your offensive coordinator, who's from Oklahoma and played at Oklahoma turn down that job, and you have Coach Grantham, who has a defensive coordinator job with much more pay offered to him at the Raiders, and turns that down to stay with Bobby, that tells you a lot about what's going on here with that coaching staff. Then you saw the recruiting class they put together. They're already well ahead for next year. A lot of exciting things are going to come in that program."
Georgia defeated Louisville 37-14 in the Belk Bowl, ending the Cardinals’ season at 9-4 in its first year in the ACC.
