While the University of Georgia continues to work on a new contract for head coach Mark Richt after yet another 10-win season, Richt’s assistants will also benefit from a successful year.
The negotiations began with defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt. Pruitt made the jump from Florida State after the Seminoles’ national championship run to Georgia early last year and continued the Bulldogs’ strong performance on the defensive side of the football.
The coordinator was rewarded Friday with an extension and a pay increase.UGA just announced that DC Jeremy Pruitt got a year added to his contract (now three) and a raise to $1.3M per year
— David Ching (@ESPNChing) January 3, 2015
The Bulldogs finished 20th overall in total defense. The unit surrendered 337.2 yards per game in 2014, which was a 38.3 yards per game improvement from the previous season.
“Our defensive has performed overall at a very high level this season and much of it is due to Jeremy’s leadership,” Richt said in a statement, via the Athens Banner-Herald. “It’s important that we solidify his tenure at Georgia and continue to build our defense in all areas including recruiting, coaching and player development.”
After Mike Bobo made the jump from Bulldogs offensive coordinator to Colorado State head coach, Richt planned to keep the rest of his staff in place.More staff raises are coming, as I wrote earlier tonight. Pruitt’s being announced seems preemptive to end rumors about other jobs.
— Seth Emerson (@SethEmerson) January 3, 2015
The coaching carousel has developed into college football’s newest arms race.
Successful coordinators at major programs are now making lateral moves. John Chavis was the most recent example when he decided to leave the LSU Tigers after five years to join Kevin Sumlin’s staff at Texas A&M.
Pruitt obviously decided it was in his best interests to jump from Florida State to Georgia a year ago. Georgia wants to prevent that from happening to its staff.
