Dave Van Halanger’s 14-year employment at UGA and 30-year working relationship with Mark Richt is ending. Van Halanger confirmed Friday that he is leaving his post as the Bulldogs’ director of player welfare.
“I don’t want to get into it,” Van Halanger said when asked why. “I’m going to go get a good job and enjoy life and I’m ready to go. I still have lots of energy and enthusiasm. We’ll go on and do some great things. I just want to let things go.”
Van Halanger came with Richt to UGA from Florida State as director of strength and conditioning in December of 2000. He remained in that post through the 2010 season, during which time the Bulldogs won SEC championships in 2002 and ‘05.
Van Halanger was head strength coach with the Seminoles from 1983 to 2000, during which time they won two national championships and had 14 Top 5 finishes. Richt started coaching at FSU as a graduate assistant in 1985.
Richt said he was unable to retain Van Halanger during the course of an ongoing restructuring of the football staff.
“The position that Dave was in, we’re not replacing that position,” Richt said Friday. “We’re going in a little different direction in how we’re going to use our staff and our personnel. But Dave has been a great blessing in my life. He’s done a great job at Georgia and I know he’s excited about his future.”
Van Halanger said there he has no ill will about his fate.
“We had a good run here,” he said. “A lot of great memories, a lot of great players I got a chance to be around, I’ve help a lot of young players that never got to play much in my time, too. It’s time to write another chapter. I’m still young and ready to go.”
Van Halanger and his wife Michele have five children, two of whom are still being raised in their home.
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