Whether it be players leaving early for the NFL, guys transferring or coaches accepting new jobs, Georgia has seen a number of departures this offseason.
From a coaching standpoint, Kirby Smart was tasked with replacing both of his coordinators this offseason, with OC Jim Chaney leaving for the same role at Tennessee and DC Mel Tucker becoming the new head coach at Colorado.
Replacing Chaney as offensive coordinator is James Coley, who has previously worked with the wide receivers. Coley has been on Georgia’s staff since Kirby Smart’s arrival in 2016.
Taking over the defense is Dan Lanning, who coached the outside linebackers at Georgia in 2018. Prior to that he spent two seasons as inside linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator at Memphis.
Smart was asked about the change of coordinators on Tuesday while speaking at SEC Media Days.
“I think any time you build the infrastructure in a program, when people leave, as long as you’re not changing that infrastructure, it doesn’t create a lot of doubt or anxiety in the players. And certainly from my perspective, very comfortable after being in our system for three years that we’ve got really good coordinators.
James, our offensive coordinator, has been with us a long time. I’ve known James from graduate assistant days back at LSU. I have tremendous respect for him. I know the offenses he’s worked with in a past. And he’s also been a part of ours. He has been a very integral part of that offense.
So there won’t be a lot of change. It will be more about what our players can do than what our coaches do.
From a defensive standpoint, Dan Lanning and Glenn Schumann are very bright. Mel was a really good teacher to them. Mel helped them tremendously grow. He gave them opportunities to grow, to get in front of the defense so we can see them interact. I’m still going to be involved defensively, makes me feel comfortable with Dan and Glenn and Charlton Warren and Tray Scott to do a tremendous job there.”
