Fans’ opinions of Mike Bobo’s coaching abilities vary widely. But the opinion within the coaching community has always been unwavering — he’s one of the best in the business.
Bobo’s marketability to that end is being tested, as Georgia’s offensive coordinator is in the mix for the head coaching job at Colorado State. Bulldogs coach Mark Richt confirmed Wednesday that Bobo is among the candidates who is being interviewed as a potential replacement for Jim McElwain.
“A couple of days ago, I found out that Mike had that opportunity,” Richt said at his Belk Bowl news conference Wednesday. “It’s obviously a very good job, a very good opportunity for a guy to become a head coach. Mike is taking advantage of the opportunity to go visit. But right this minute he’s our offensive coordinator, and we’re planning on him being here at practice this evening. So we’ll see where everything goes.
“But obviously if there’s an opportunity for a staff member to do big things, you want to give them that opportunity.”
According to sources familiar with the situation, Bobo left Athens on Monday to interview with Colorado State officials at an undisclosed location. Interim coach Dave Baldwin, the Rams’ offensive coordinator for the past three years, and co-defensive coordinator Marty English, have identified themselves as candidates for the job that opened Dec. 4, according to the Coloradoan newspaper. Assistant coaches Scott Frost of Oregon and Vance Bedford of Texas also have been reported as candidates.
The Rams, who are 10-2 this season, are preparing to play Utah (8-4) in the Las Vegas Bowl on Saturday. McElwain was offensive coordinator at Alabama before becoming Colorado State’s head coach in 2012. He went 22-16 the past three seasons before being named Florida’s head coach Dec. 4.
Georgia’s offense has always been good since Richt became head coach in 2001, but Bobo took it to a new level after being promoted to offensive coordinator in 2007. The Bulldogs have established yardage and scoring records in each of the past three seasons. And with one game left to play this season, Georgia has already scored 500 points, and its SEC-leading average of 41.7 is on pace to shatter the record of 37.8 set in 2012.
“Coach Bobo has been one of the most under-appreciated coaches around in a long time,” Georgia quarterback Hutson Mason said. “What he’s done with our offense over the past couple of years is unbelievable. You don’t even have your best player on the field for the majority of this season, and we averaged 41.7 points a game. … I think it’s only a matter of time before he gets that right offer. If he wants a head coach, then that’s a decision him and his family have to make.”
Bobo entertained head coaching overtures from Southern Miss and Georgia Southern in the past couple of years. His salary as Georgia’s offensive coordinator is $575,000, which ranks 40th among FBS assistant coaches, according to a USA Today database on coaches’ pay. McElwain earned $1.5 million this past year and was due to earn $1.6 million next year.
Losing Bobo could be quite a blow for the Bulldogs. Not only is he architect of one of the SEC’s most explosive offenses and a coveted molder of great quarterbacks, but he’s also one of the Bulldogs’ best recruiters.
“He means a lot to this university and to this program,” senior receiver Chris Conley said. “But like I’ve always said in the past, Georgia will always go on and will always be able to win games without any one person, and that’s coaches included.”
Bobo, 40, has been on Richt’s staff since Richt came to Athens in 2001. He and his wife, Lainie, have five children and reside in Oconee County.
Bobo’s peers include Will Muschamp, who was head coach at Florida, and Kirby Smart, who is one of the highest paid assistants in America as Alabama’s defensive coordinator. Richt acknowledged that if Bobo doesn’t land the Colorado State job, there will be other opportunities down the road.
“Mike’s a great coach,” Richt said. “He understands the game extremely well. He’s an old-school ball coach as far as getting after it. He’s got a good edge about him as far as being demanding, things of that nature. He’s got a great knowledge of the game. He sees the big picture, too. He’s got all the ingredients, so I’m not shocked that this is happening.”
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