Georgia makes assistant coach the highest-paid non-coordinator in college football
Todd Hartley, Georgia’s tight ends, is now in a class by himself among assistant coaches in college football.
Georgia and Kirby Smart handed Hartley a contract extension through the 2023-24 season which will pay him $650,000, an increase from his previous salary of $450,000, according to an Open Records request obtained by DawgNation. The new deal makes Hartley the highest-paid tight ends coach in the country that does not have the title of offensive coordinator or co-offensive coordinator.
The contract was signed by Hartley on April 18, just two days after Georgia wrapped up spring practice. The buyout on the deal also jumps from 20 percent to 50 percent. Hartley, who has been at Georgia since early 2019, has had 3 tight ends drafted in the NFL and signed several top-shelf recruits.
Among the players in the mix that has Georgia poised to have the best tight ends in the country include Darnell Washington, Brock Bowers and Oscar Delp that Hartley signed in consecutive classes. Georgia also holds two tight-end commitments in the 2023 recruiting cycle in Pearce Spurlin and Lawson Luckie.
Bowers had a record-breaking season under Hartley as he caught 13 touchdowns and led Georgia in every receiving category during an All-American season.
Georgia also boasts former 5-star prospect Arik Gilbert.
Is there no end to this and people wonder why it cost so much to go to games these days
I love it!
Free market capitalism, supply/demand at it’s finest. Where else in the World is there a multi-billion dollar industry based on a kid’s game???? Just look at the millionaires college football creates, how many other countries can create that number of millionaires across all industries????
An Inquiry Into The Wealth of Nations
KINDA LONG DESCRIPTION OF THE GEORGIA TE ROOM IN THIS RESPONSE. MIGHT EVEN BE WORTH THE READ. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED OR EVEN CURIOUS ABOUT HISTORIC TALENT……LOL
AUSOUTH…….Okay #1. Georgia has BROCK BOWERS. Who is already the very best of the best thus far at TE. Unless his teammates have something to say about it. He is 6.5 250 and possesses 4.5 speed in the 40! Something many great running backs and receivers don’t have. And he was only a TRUE FRESHMAN last season. As you know it was not only a RECORD SETTING SEASON. It was a national championship season, of which he was a huge part. Can you also say CLUTCH?????
The alternate spelling of clutch is BROCK BOWERS!!!! LOL
Then #2. Georgia has at 6.8 270 pounds. Las Vegas 5 star TE Darnell Washington. Who himself also runs like a wide receiver! Jumps out of the building. Catches great and can’t be covered when he’s hot. He’s only getting better!!! Whenever this man finds his top gear. You might as well call him godzilla!!!!
Then at #3. Georgia has a current & God willing future SUPERSTAR at the TE position. As well as potentially wide receiver to, if desired. Provided all goes well. That would be 5 star TE/WR Arik Gilbert……
ARIK GILBERT CONTINUED…
At 6.5 and borderline 6.6 and 250’ish. His rout running & separation ability is already NFL ready. His rout running and separation ability was amazing even in high school. Even then it was said to be NFL ready!!! FAMOUSLY. Arik Gilbert was considered by all to be the #1 TE recruit in the country. Not to mention many considered Arik Gilbert to be the #1 overall recruit at any position in the entire country! In case that is not enough to impress you. Then maybe this will…..
FACT! HE WAS ALSO THE HIGHEST RATED TE RECRUIT IN THE HISTORY OF THE RATING SYSTEM, PERIOD! Everyone in the country wanted him!
RUMORS… There were even rumors that NFL teams were already trying to draft him. I know because I STARTED THOSE RUMORS!!!!!! LOL
Then at poor #4. We have former 5 star and formerly the #1 TE recruit in the country, Oscar Delp!!! Yet another big body that runs incredibly fast and plays like a wide receiver!!! He really showed off in his first game. The G day game aka Georgia spring game. In the absence of Brock Bowers. All the TE’s looked great. But Arik Gilbert put on a show and Oscar Delp really lived up to his hype!!!
I said FORMERLY the #1 TE recruit. Because I believe 247 eventually moved someone just ahead of him by a hair! It happens a lot with Georgia recruits!!!
GEORGIA’S ACTUAL RECRUITING IS CLOSE TO TWICE AS GOOD AS THEY USUALLY RANK EVERY YEAR! AND YOU ALL KNOW WHERE THAT IS!!!!
There are actually numerous 4 star blue chip players in that TE room, behind those guys. Guys who could start most anywhere. Apparently they love Georgia!!! Blue chips that got injured along the way or either were slow to develop!!! My point is……..
I DON’T RECALL A BETTER OR DEEPER TE ROOM ANYTIME IN THE HISTORY OF THE GAME! NOT ANYWHERE, AT ANY LEVEL. COLLEGE OR NFL. THAN WHAT GEORGIA HAS ASSEMBLED IN ATHENS!!!!!!!
If the TE coach at Georgia hasn’t earned that raise. Then tell me. Who has???? He deserves it all the way!!!!
ALL GREATNESS HAS A PRICE TO PAY, AT MANY LEVELS. AND GEORGIA PAYS IT PLUS TAX! THEY ALSO AREN’T CHEAP WITH THOSE WELL DESERVED RAISES EITHER!!!!!! LOL © Negan
A SPECIAL THANK YOU….
A SPECIAL THANKS GOES OUT. FROM ME TO ALL THE GEORGIA COACHES AND ALL THOSE WHO CHOSE GEORGIA! AS WELL AS TO THOSE WHO CHOSE GEORGIA AND STILL NEEDED TO TRANSFER FOR LEGIT REASONS……. WITH THE EXCEPTION OF A CERTAIN WIDE RECEIVER WHO WAS ONLY BEING SELFISH, NAMED BURTON. THANKS FOR WHAT YOU DID FOR THE G IN THE PAST AND FOR ORIGINALLY CHOOSING GEORGIA. BUT AS FOR THE FUTURE? WELL I HOPE YOU STAY HEALTHY AND FULFILL YOUR DREAMS. BUT VS GEORGIA I HOPE YOU GO WITHOUT A CATCH AND SUFFER DEFEAT!!!! LOL
PS. I sense jealousy among many. Because you wish you had a position group like the Georgia TE’s! That’s natural I guess. Otherwise I’m finished with this post!!! LOL
Negan
Negie…Arik Gilbert ? Do you really think he’ll keep everything together mentally for an entire football season ? He seemed to carry a lot of baggage prior to arriving in Athens.
Very few people truly know what issues Gilbert is dealing with therefore very few people can knowingly comment on Gilberts future.
A lot of people in the know – Smart, Terrence Edwards, teammates – say Gilbert is much improved and in a good place.
Gilbert looked great in the G Day game.
Todd Hartley is a recruiting beast just look at the level of talent he has recruited to UGA – Luke Ford, Darnell Washington, Brock Bowers and several 4-stars. Arik Gilbert transferred to UGA.
Hartley has turned UGA into TEU, he’s worth more than $650K.
People complain about coaches making too much money, but, when you look at ROI, it is worth every penny. Couldn’t agree with you more!
TDOW…….You forgot Oscar Delp!!!! Former 5 star with wide receiver speed and skills. At one time he was the #1 TE in the country, before 247 eventually bumped him to #2 or whatever. Happens to Georgia recruits a bunch as you know. Potentially another Bowers and he has Bowers, Arik Gilbert and Darnell Washington to mentor him!!! I think Georgia should be pretty dangerous at TE. Potentially historically dangerous. We have several other Blue chip options even behind those guys. But how do you forget Delp??? LOL
PS. There are just so many. Totally understandable!!! LOL
GO DAWGS!!!!!!
Negan
How could I have forgotten Delp, kid looked great in the G Day game
” Todd Hartley is a recruiting beast ”
Yep, you don’t work for Kirby long if you can’t or won’t recruit!!!! Even if you can and aren’t totally professional about it. You are gone. Also you are short-lived at Georgia now. Unless you are a good recruiter. As well as a developer of talent. Professional and really care with a passion to be great!!!!!! That is why I see Georgia as the next great DYNASTY!!!!
Remember Tracie Rocker??? Rumor was he cost Georgia a 5 star DT and boom he was replaced!!!! Kirby is all of the above. Great recruiter, developer of talent. Has a passion that drives him to make Georgia great and keep them great. Plus he truly cares!!!!
PS. That’s a recipe for a DYNASTY!!! I’m sooooo glad he’s from Georgia and played at Georgia!!!
Negan
Coach Hartley deserves every penny.
I remember the days when UGA was content to watch several other SEC teams out-spend them on everything from facilities to coaching salaries.
I’m glad those days are long gone!
You got that right!
AMEN Tim!!!!
You mean like having a $50 million dollar “rainy day” fund but no indoor practice facility?
Smart move. Lock him for the next couple of years. Successful Coaches move on to head coaching jobs. This coach is definitely on that path. Keeping him around for 1 or 2 more years might be the best Georgia can do.
Coach Hartley is definitely on an upward trajectory. Going to make a solid head coach some day.