Mark Richt not coaching Georgia in bowl game
By John Buhler
With Mark Richt reportedly becoming the newest head coach of the Miami Hurricanes as early as Friday morning, it’s not likely he’ll coach UGA in their bowl.
According to WSB’s Zach Klein, former Georgia Bulldogs head coach Mark Richt is not going to coach the team in their holiday bowl. He told his players about this decision Thursday afternoon.
Per #UGA source, Mark Richt is heading into team meeting now and will tell players he will NOT coach in Bulldogs bowl game
— Zach Klein (@ZachKleinWSB) December 3, 2015
Richt reportedly will become the 24th head coach of his alma mater Miami Hurricanes as early as 10:00 AM ET Friday morning. This doesn’t come as a surprise after Mark Richt emerged as the overwhelming number one head coaching candidate for the vacant Miami Hurricanes job after Richt’s surprising firing on Sunday morning.
-= Related: Kirby Smart: The Next Head Coach at UGA? =-
Richt was reportedly contacted by at least five schools in the Power 5 including Maryland, Virginia, and Miami. Anthony Dasher of UGASports.com also reports that Mark Richt plans to have his son Jon Richt be a part of his new staff at Coral Gables. Jon Richt is a member of the Buffalo Bills staff under head coach Rex Ryan.
Been told that Mark Richt's son Jon will join him in some capacity at Miami. Jon Richt is currently on the staff of the Buffalo Bills
— Anthony Dasher (@AnthonyDasher1) December 3, 2015
So now with Richt going to Coral Gables and reportedly defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt not following Richt there or sticking in Athens as Kirby Smart‘s defensive coordinator, who ends up coaching the Dawgs in their bowl game? Klein reports that it will be wide receivers coach Bryan McClendon who will take on the interim head coaching gig of the Georgia Bulldogs in their holiday bowl game. It is widely expected that McClendon along with several other members of Richt’s staff will stay on and work with Kirby Smart in 2016.
#UGA source says Bryan McClendon will be head coach for bowl game - all other coaches resume normal Shotty offense and Pruitt Defense
— Zach Klein (@ZachKleinWSB) December 3, 2015
McClendon, like Smart, is an alumnus of the University of Georgia. Perhaps he emerges as the offensive coordinator for the 2016 Georgia Bulldogs? He has coached both the running backs and the wide receivers. UGA likely won’t keep offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Brian Schottenheimer and will need a suitable replacement in the quarterback room.
Next: Hines Ward Interested in Joining Kirby Smart's Staff?
The question now is not if Richt will coach the bowl game, but can UGA come to grips with the coaching staff turnover enough to win 10 games in back-to-back seasons and send their Senior Class out with 40 career wins playing in the Red and Black?