Georgia football raids rivals for two assistant coaches
ATHENS, Ga. – Georgia coach Kirby Smart appears to have addressed the
latest openings on his coaching staff by raiding the staffs of two of the Bulldogs’ rivals.
James Coley served as wide receivers coach at South Carolina for just 45 days
before Smart convinced him to return to Georgia to coach in the same capacity.
Coley, 50, was an original member of Smart’s first staff in 2016 and rose
through the ranks to offensive coordinator before a demotion after the
2019 season led him to Texas A&M. Contract terms stipulate that Coleywill
owe South Carolina abuyout of $450,000, according to the State newspaper.
On Sunday, Smart hired Georgia Tech assistant coach Josh Crawford as
running backs coach. Smart had interviewed Crawford for his receivers’
position last week but went back to him as a backfield coach after Dell McGee
accepted Georgia State’s head coaching job.
“We are excited to have Coley and his family back in Athens,” Smart said in a
statement Monday. “He is a tremendous teacher and leader of young men. His
previous experience on our staff will make this a seamless transition. As for
Josh, I’ve had the pleasure of observing his career unfold over the years and
have been consistently impressed. His hard work and the significant impact
he’s had coaching football in our state have earned him this opportunity.”
Coley and Crawford are the third and fourth assistant coach acquisitions
Smart has made during the 2024 offseason. He hired Travaris Robinson
from Alabama to replace Will Muschamp as co-defensive coordinator
and secondary coach and Donte Williams from USC to succeed Fran
Brown as cornerbacks coach. Brown was appointed head coach of Syracuse in December.
Coley succeeds Bryan McClendon, who left the Bulldogs after two seasons to
become receivers coach for the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Coley had been
at Texas A&M since 2020 but found himself out of work after Jimbo Fisher was fired as head coach.
Coley came to UGA from Miami to coach receivers for Smart in 2016. A Miami
native, he quickly validated his reputation as an exceptional recruiter.
But after being appointed Georgia’s offensive coordinator in 2019, the
Bulldogs’ offensive production dipped to just over 30 points per game. Following
his demotion to tight ends coach, Coley joined the
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SPORTS Georgia football raids rivals for two assistant coaches BY CHIP TOWERS, THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION
THE TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY UPDATED FEBRUARY 26, 2024 9:19 PM ATHENS, Ga. – Georgia coach Kirby
Smart appears to have addressed the latest openings on his coaching staff by
raiding the staffs of two of the Bulldogs’ rivals. James Coley served as wide
receivers coach at South Carolina for just 45 days before Smart convinced him to return to Georgia to coach in the same
capacity. Coley, 50, was an original member of Smart’s first staff in 2016 and rose through the ranks to offensive
coordinator before a demotion after the 2019 season led him to Texas A&M. Contract terms stipulate that Coleywill
owe South Carolina abuyout of $450,000, according to the State newspaper. On
Sunday, Smart hired Georgia Tech assistant coach Josh Crawford as running backs coach. Smart had
interviewed Crawford for his receivers’ position last week but went back to him as a backfield coach after Dell McGee
accepted Georgia State’s head coaching job. “We are excited to have Coley and his family back in Athens,” Smart said in
a statement Monday. “He is a tremendous teacher and leader of young men. His previous experience on our
staff will make this a seamless transition. As for Josh, I’ve had the pleasure of observing his career unfold over the
years and have been consistently impressed. His hard work and the significant impact he’s had coaching
football in our state have earned him this opportunity.” Coley and Crawford are the third and fourth assistant coach
acquisitions Smart has made during the 2024 offseason. He hired Travaris Robinson from Alabama to replace Will
Muschamp as co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach and Donte Williams from USC to succeed Fran
Brown as cornerbacks coach. Brown was appointed head coach of Syracuse in December. Coley succeeds Bryan
McClendon, who left the Bulldogs after two seasons to become receivers coach
for the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Coley had been at Texas A&M since 2020 but found himself out of work after
Jimbo Fisher was fired as head coach. Coley came to UGA from Miami to coach receivers for Smart in 2016. A Miami
native, he quickly validated his reputation as an exceptional recruiter. But after being appointed Georgia’s
offensive coordinator in 2019, the Bulldogs’ offensive production dipped to just over 30 points per game. Following
his demotion to tight ends coach, Coley joined the Aggies. Crawford was a
somewhat unexpected hired as a running backs coach. Receivers have been his specialty in the college ranks. A
long-time high school assistant coach in the state, Crawford coached receivers at Western Kentucky and for the Yellow
Jackets. However, he played running back at Morehouse before earning masters degrees at Georgia (2012) and
Valdosta State (2020). As a high school coach, Crawford worked at Colquitt County, Valdosta, Lee County, Jefferson
County and Greater Atlanta Christian. He has been an offensive coordinator at both the high school and collegiate level.
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