The Georgia Bulldogs and head coach Kirby Smart have hired Georgia Tech wide receivers coach Josh Crawford to serve as the running backs coach at Georgia. Crawford replaced Dell McGee, who is now the head coach at Georgia State.
Crawford joined Georgia Tech in 2023 after coaching as the Western Kentucky outside receivers coach (2021). Crawford was promoted to be the Western Kentucky co-offensive coordinator/receivers coach in 2022.
What does Josh Crawford bring to the Georgia football program? The former Georgia Tech wide receivers coach played running back for Moorehouse from 2004-2006. Additionally, Crawford has deep ties in Georgia. He coached at the high school level from 2010-2020.
Crawford’s high school coaching stops in Georgia include Colquitt County, Jefferson County, Lee County, Valdosta, and Greater Atlanta Christian. Crawford helped develop Georgia Tech wide receiver Eric Singleton, who was named as a first team freshman All-America selection.
How did social media react as Georgia scooped up a young, talented coach from its in-state rivals?
Crawford knows Georgia well!
Georgia in-state recruiting with Josh Crawford 📈 pic.twitter.com/QzgsjKe69M
— 704 Dawg (@FSFRecruits) February 26, 2024
Georgia also considered hiring Crawford as a WR coach
Former Morehouse RB returning to the position group he broke into his coaching career at Greater Atlanta Christian https://t.co/bv9MaNVYsn
— Benjamin Wolk (@benjaminwolk) February 26, 2024
Crawford has a masters from UGA
Josh Crawford has a Master's from #Georgia
Coached at:
2010-12 Greater Atlanta Christian School
2013 Jefferson County HS
2014-16 Colquitt County HS
2017 Lee County HS
2018-19 Valdosta HS
2020 Colquitt County HS
2021-22 Western Kentucky
2023-Georgia Tech pic.twitter.com/oIQvj0tgGA— The Bulldawg Report (@ReportBulldawg) February 26, 2024
A few of Georgia's other top RB coach targets
Georgia hires Georgia Tech wide receivers coach Josh Crawford to fill the role at RB coach, per @mzenitz.
Arkansas’ Jimmy Smith, Texas’ Tashard Choice and Alabama’s Jimmy Gillespie were other top targets.
— Jacob Davis (@JacobScottDavis) February 26, 2024
One Georgia fan doesn't like the hire(s)
Not impressed with the hiring of James Coley and Josh Crawford. Coley is a recycle project and Josh doesn't even know where the RB room is. This is gonna lead to some big transfers next window
This looks desperate to me, TBH 👀 #GoDawgs@DawgNationDaily
— UGANation412 (@UGAnation412) February 26, 2024
Can’t please everyone! Kirby Smart knows what he’s doing.
Who Crawford helped develop at Georgia Tech
Just getting started 📈 @EricSingletonJ2 https://t.co/rpGJmxA7z7
— Georgia Tech Football (@GeorgiaTechFB) January 30, 2024
New Georgia offensive staff
#Georgia's Offense:
Kirby Smart + Mike Bobo + James Coley + Josh Crawford + Stacy Searels pic.twitter.com/O9uLpYwKRW
— The Bulldawg Report (@ReportBulldawg) February 26, 2024
Crawford played a role in Tech's offensive improvement
Georgia plucks Josh Crawford from Georgia Tech to be the Dawgs' RB coach. Tech's offense really improved last season
— UGA Wire (@UGAWire) February 26, 2024
Numbers back up Tech's improved offense
Recruits:
A lot can change in a year. Come help us continue to trend in the right direction 📈EVERYTHING MATTERS 🐝 pic.twitter.com/Hd5muN55O6
— Norval McKenzie (@coach_norv) January 22, 2024
Heavy coaching turnover for Georgia
#UGA adds assistants in (RBs) Josh Crawford, (WRs) James Coley, (CBs) Donte Williams, and (S/Co-DC) Travaris Robinson this offseason. Dawgs lost Dell McGee (RBs), Fran Brown (CBs), Bryan McClendon (WRs), & Will Muschamp is now an analyst (no longer S/co-DC)
— UGA Wire (@UGAWire) February 26, 2024
Does UGA have a better staff now?
Did Georgia's coaching staff improve this offseason?
— UGA Wire (@UGAWire) February 26, 2024
It is hard and too early to tell. The Georgia staff lost a significant amount of continuity. However, the Dawgs added several exciting new hires.
Crawford may be a rising star
UGA snags Josh Crawford from GT as its new RB coach. Excellent young coach with a lot of juice on the recruiting trail
Crawford is a Morehouse grad who held titles as Co-OC/WR coach at WKU in 2021-2022. He spent 11 years at some of GA’s best high-school program from 2010-2020
— Graham Coffey (@GrahamCoffeyDC) February 26, 2024
Crawford has more experience than many other young coaches
Josh Crawford played RB at Morehouse when he was in college…
which is more experience playing the RB position than Kirby Smart or Dell McGee had when they were hired as a D1 RB coach.
— Jon Tweets Sports (@jontweetssports) February 26, 2024
