Georgia Tech coach Geoff Collins completed his 10-man coaching staff with perhaps the most anticipated hire of the group – Alabama offensive line coach and Tech grad Brent Key. Collins made the announcement at the end of a news conference Thursday morning after he received word that the hire was official. His title will be offensive-line coach, assistant head coach and run-game coordinator.
The hire was reported by the AJC last week.
Key, who started at right guard for the Yellow Jackets (1997-2000) for coach George O’Leary, coached Alabama’s offensive line for the past three season, during which time the Crimson Tide amassed a record of 41-3, winning one national championship and playing for two more on the staff of coach Nick Saban. As an assistant at Central Florida, he was three times as national nominee for the Broyles Award, given to the top assistant coach in college football. Key also is recognized as a standout recruiter.
Key and Collins met at Tech when the former was a team member and the latter was a graduate assistant in 1999-2000. In 2001, Collins was promoted to tight ends coach and Key took a GA spot, beginning his career in coaching.
He was at UCF from 2005-14, hired by O’Leary.
“I think it’s huge being able to learn from coach Saban the last couple of years, be a part of that program and bring that knowledge here to Georgia Tech in a place that he loves,” Collins said.
Of Collins’ 10 assistant coaches, Collins has worked with nine of them, either at Temple or at a previous stop. Collins was Tech’s director of player personnel in 2006 when the 10th, running backs coach Tashard Choice, was a Yellow Jackets running back. Collins said the staff included some of his closest friends, people he further described as relentless in recruiting, energetic, positive, tough and caring.
“For the men that have joined me to be a part of this program, it’s very humbling, to be honest with you, because they’re so well-respected in their fields,“ Collins said.
Collins also announced two other hires Thursday, chief of staff Vince Sinagra and director of operations Scott Wallace. They both held the same positions for the past two seasons at Temple. Sinagra will assist Collins in overseeing all aspects of the football team. He has 41 years of coaching experience.
Wallace will direct day-to-day operations, including team meals and lodging and management of the budget.
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