The proverbial coaching carousel is spinning and among its upcoming stops is Georgia, who is looking to replace Mark Richt after 15 years at the helm in Athens.

Georgia is a plum job and there’s going to be plenty of interest. But prying a quality coach away from their current school isn’t always easy. Choosing a new head coach is a matter of selecting what kind of identity the Bulldogs want to carve for themselves under the new regime.

Depending on what kind of program Georgia wants to be, the Bulldogs have options and can tailor their search accordingly. Here is a look at some of Georgia’s coaching options and how they’d bolster specific position groups.

Quarterback: Dan Mullen – There’s no question that Georgia struggled at quarterback this season as junior transfer Greyson Lambert was inconsistent at best. All told, three quarterbacks attempted at least 33 passes this year for the Bulldogs, who finished No. 103 in the nation in passing offense — not very far ahead of the foundering SEC passing games of LSU, Missouri and Vanderbilt. When it comes to a potential quarterback guru that could be available, you’re not going to find many with a pedigree better than Dan Mullen’s. The Mississippi State coach has worked with some of the best college football quarterbacks of the last decade in the Bulldogs’ Dak Prescott, Florida’s Tim Tebow and Utah’s Alex Smith — the latter two while serving as offensive coordinator under Urban Meyer. Jacob Eason, a five-star recruiting who’s currently committed to Georgia, is the hope for the future and the new coach could have a star on his hands right from the start.  Eason, the son of former NFL quarterback Tony Eason, is now reported to being making an official visit to Gainesville and the Florida Gators as soon as this week. Playing for Mullen could be an attractive proposition for keeping Eason in Athens.


Running Backs: Rich Rodriguez – Rich Rodriguez is still the head coach in Arizona, but his name has circulated in recent weeks as a potential replacement in South Carolina and Virginia Tech. With the Hokies’ job off the market to Memphis’ Justin Fuente and the Gamecocks rumored to be aggressively pursuing Kirby Smart, RichRod could be a steal for a Georgia program with a deeper stable of running backs than the Wildcats. Which could be a scary prospect, considering Arizona has the No. 20 rushing offense in the nation with sophomore Nick Wilson, who ranks No. 103 in the country among tailbacks. The new coach will inherit a running back corps that could boast Sony Michel (1,076 yards) and a rehabbed Nick Chubb, who vows to return between the hedges for the 2016 season after a season-ending injury.

Wide Receivers Jimbo Fisher – Jimbo Fisher isn’t known specifically as a wide receivers expert. He’s more of an overall brilliant offensive tactician, who honed his craft under Nick Saban — most notably as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the 2003 champion LSU Tigers. Under Fisher, six LSU quarterbacks were drafted into the NFL, including Josh Booty, Rohan Davey, Craig Nall, Matt Mauck, JaMarcus Russell and Matt Flynn. And while Fisher has quite the background when it comes to developing quarterbacks, see Heisman Trophy-winner Jameis Winston for example, Fisher’s genius lies in adapting his offenses to his surrounding talent. In LSU, that meant sculpting the likes of Dwayne Bowe, Devery Henderson, Brandon Lafell and Josh Reed, to name a few, into NFL-ready wide receivers. At Georgia, Fisher would have a compliment of talented pass-catchers returning in wide receivers Terry Godwin, Fr., Isaiah McKenzie, So., and junior Reggie Davis, to go along with up-and-coming sophomore tight end Jeb Blazevich. The quartet didn’t put up eye-popping numbers for the Bulldogs this year (not many did), but the unit received plenty of game experience, combining to haul in 66 catches this season. Fisher can make an offense run. The pieces are in place in Athens, they just need a little guidance. He would be a tough get though, because he’s confortable in Tallahassee and already made it clear he wasn’t interested in a potential LSU opening.

Offensive line John Hevesy – John Hevesy is by no means a traditional name when it comes to coaching rumors and there’s no indication that he’s currently up for any jobs. But if Georgia can’t poach Dan Mullen from Mississippi State, Mullen’s co-offensive coordinator might make a dark-horse head coaching option in Athens. It’s highly unlikely, but Hevesy could be worth a look. The Bulldogs assistant works with the team’s running backs and offensive line, setting 15 new program marks — including single-season records for offense (6,679 yards), points (480) and touchdowns (60) — since arriving in Starkville in 2014. Hevesy worked under Urban Meyer at Utah and won two rings with the coach as an assistant offensive line coordinator at Florida. At Mississippi State, Hevesy’s offensive line has churned-out an All-SEC lineman in four of the last five years. The Georgia offensive line is an annual powerhouse and would remain a strength of the team under Hevesy. No one in the FBS allows fewer tackle-for-loss than the Bulldogs, who are No. 10 in the country when it comes to giving up the least amount of sacks. Yes, the very mention of Hevesy would likely spark outrage in Athens, but he has plenty of SEC experience under his belt.

Defense: Kirby Smart – Kirby Smart is one of the hottest names being pursued by programs looking to build a defensive identity. The Alabama defensive coordinator has crafted one of the Crimson Tide’s best front-sevens in the Nick Saban era, en route to a No. 2 ranking nationally in total defense. The highest-paid assistant coach in the FBS was named college football’s top assistant coach as recently as 2012. Georgia has an edge when it comes to landing Smart, who played defensive back for the Bulldogs from 1995-98. Smart even served under Mark Richt as the Georgia running backs coach in 2005 and turned down an offer to become the Bulldogs’ defensive coordinator in 2010, opting instead to remain in Tuscaloosa, his home since 2007. Smart, who played alongside Champ Bailey on the Georgia defense, wouldn’t have much tweaking to do, inheriting a team that ranks No. 1 in fewest passing yards allowed per game and No. 8 in total defense this season.