In a move to stabilize the Georgia coaching staff and diffuse negativity, a contract extension and raise is in the works for football coach Mark Richt and some of his assistant coaches have already received them.
Athletic Director Greg McGarity on Friday onfirmed that he will be “working on a contract extension with Mark over the coming days.” McGarity informed the athletic program’s top financial contributors via email Friday. In that message, McGarity praised the 14-year head coach and his staff for Tuesday night’s win over Louisville in the Belk Bowl and for their deft handling of adverse situations all season.
“In my 38 years of experience in college athletics, I can’t remember one full season where we had so many highs, lows and unique circumstances. Regardless of the situation, Mark and his staff kept their focus on the student-athletes and their well-being. Mark’s ‘move forward’ approach to his profession allowed us to quickly rebound from our ‘lows’ and control the only thing we could control — our next game.”
It didn’t end with Richt. Georgia announced Friday night that defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt will receive a contract extension of one season and salary increase from $850,000 to $1.3 million. He has three years remaining on his contact.
Sources have told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that Georgia also is expected to offer promotions, contract extensions and/or raises for defensive line coach Tracy Rocker and running backs coach/recruiting coordinator Bryan McClendon in the coming days.
Pruitt, Rocker and McClendon have been approached about openings at other programs and will receive commensurate salary increases. Rocker is expected to be promoted to assistant head coach, sources say.
Meanwhile, Richt, who has been at the same SEC school longer than any other coach in the league, had fallen down the list of conference coaches in terms of compensation because of increases provided to less experienced coaches at other programs. His $3.5 salary currently ranks ninth among conference head coaches. He would need to be in the $4 million range to be among the top five in the SEC, led by Alabama’s Nick Saban ($7.1 million). Richt’s present contract expires after the 2017 season.
Richt did not return calls and messages seeking comment. McGarity also declined comment.
The No. 13-ranked Bulldogs defeated No. 21 Louisville 37-14 to finish the season 10-3. They did it despite losing their starting quarterback, leading receiver and starting safety to injuries during the game and while working with an interim offensive coordinator. The victory secured double-digit victories for Georgia for the ninth time in 14 seasons under Richt.
Georgia this season had to overcome four-game suspension of star running back Todd Gurley. Gurley returned against Auburn on Nov. 15, but then suffered a season-ending knee injury in the fourth quarter. The Bulldogs’ losses were South Carolina (38-35), Florida (38-20) and Georgia Tech (30-24 OT).
Entering late November, Georgia still had a chance to play in the SEC Championship game and possibly qualify for the College Football Playoff. But Missouri, who the Bulldogs beat 34-0, edged Arkansas in the season finale to earn the SEC Championship game berth from the East. Then Georgia lost to Tech on Nov. 29, which knocked it out of contention for one of the six major bowls. Before the Belk Bowl, the Bulldogs lost offensive coordinator Mike Bobo to Colorado State, who fulfilled his goal of becoming a head coach. Offensive line coach Will Friend is following Bobo to the Mountain West Conference school as offensive coordinator but stayed on to coach in the bowl.
“Our offensive staff pulled it together under some adversity,” Richt said after the game. “Anytime you lose a coach like Mike Bobo, you’ve got to rally. You’ve got to come together and do that. I know Will Friend is going to be going on to Colorado State with Mike, but Will chose to stay for the bowl game. I think that was very key to our success. It would have been very difficult to run this bowl game without Will being there with these offensive linemen. I think they played their tails off for him and for Georgia.”
Tight ends coach John Lilly served as play-caller for the Belk Bowl and is being considered as a successor for Bobo. Richt is also screening several candidates from outside the program.
McClendon and Lilly both received additional titles and duties last year as recruiting coordinator and co-special teams coordinator, respectively. As a result, they received $15,000 raises to $250,000 per year. Rocker came to Georgia from the Tennessee Titans as defensive line coach and given a $300,000 salary.
Pruitt came to Georgia from Florida State last January after the Seminoles won the 2013 BCS championship. He succeeded Todd Grantham, who left for Louisville, received a three-year contract and assumed Grantham’s $850,000 salary. Pruitt has been approached about openings at Auburn, Texas A&M and LSU since the end of the regular season, according to sources.
Georgia’s defense improved across the board in 2014 under Pruitt. In NCAA rankings, the Bulldogs went from 45th to 20th in total defense, 78th to 16th in scoring, 60th to fifth in passing yards allowed and 102nd to fourth in turnover margin.
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