Georgia AD releases statement about firing Mark Richt
The Georgia Bulldogs are moving on from Mark Richt after 15 seasons, and athletic director Greg McGarity released a statement Sunday afternoon:
RELATED: Read the original report of Mark Richt getting fired
Coach Richt and I met Sunday morning to discuss the status of our
football program, said UGA J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics Greg
McGarity, and we mutually agreed that he would step down as head coach and
would have the opportunity to accept other duties and responsibilities at
UGA following the bowl game.I appreciate the opportunity of serving the University as well as
considering any other options that may present themselves in the future,
said Richt.On behalf of the University of Georgia Athletic Association and
Bulldogs everywhere, I want to thank Mark and Katharyn for 15 years of
remarkable service to the UGA community, hundreds of our students and staff,
and to college football, McGarity continued.Mark’s record on the field was outstanding; however, his impact on
college football goes well beyond the gridiron. His fingerprints are evident
on shaping the lives of children, many of whom attend a Bulldog summer camp
or a retreat; they are evident on the prospective student-athletes as they
determine what college to attend — whether it be UGA or a competitor; they
are evident on his current players, and probably even more so, on those who
have lettered and are in the workplace, as fathers and husbands. For those
contributions, we are sincerely appreciative.Mark has touched thousands of lives over the past 15 years — he has
a huge heart and his positive influence has affected many people, young and
old. We will never actually know how many people were positively impacted by
a comforting phone call, a sympathetic or uplifting note, an autographed
football or photo — he had the unique ability to shine a bright light on
others when they needed it most.Mark has the opportunity to remain on our staff at the University of
Georgia, and would be heavily involved with outreach programs for our former
football lettermen via the PO Network as well as other University and
Athletic Association initiatives. We wish Mark, Katharyn and his family the
best as he enters a new chapter of his life.Mark Richt has been an outstanding coach and mentor to our
student-athletes during his fifteen-year tenure, and we have developed a
strong and enduring friendship during that time,² said UGA President Jere W.
Morehead. I am deeply grateful for his many years of dedicated service to
the University of Georgia, and I particularly appreciate the positive way he
has represented UGA. I have asked Mark to remain engaged with the
institution in a new leadership role, and I look forward to hopefully
working closely with him as we advance our capital campaign at the
University of Georgia. I know all UGA alumni and supporters will look
forward to celebrating the successful conclusion of his coaching career at
UGA in a bowl game later this year. I want to wish Katharyn and the Richt
family all the best.
“mutually agreed”? Yea….right….whatever you say…
I agree that he didn’t say “the best thing for me is to leave” out of the blue, and the AD said “I agree.” I do think that there were probably some demands made of Richt, most likely having to do with some coordinators, and he said he didn’t want to do it. Everything I’ve read or seen of Richt shows that he’s just tired. I don’t think he’ll be coaching next year, and he might take up Georgia on their offer to be a fundraiser/emeritus coach.
Maybe…Ritch could have been tired of the negativity. I think this decision was made and they talked about it a while ago.
I agree with you, I was watching ESPN and the scrolling of the bottom news said that he wanted to continue to coach next year but was fired. I was like danggg that’s mean sounding.
Bye bye Kirby, we going to miss you as well as being scared of playing Georgia now
Welcome to the dumpster fire known as Athens. Dumb decision that was probably decided weeks ago.
I was hoping they would fire Mcgarity and make Richt the new AD, then hire a new coach. Kind of how Dooley did it. I think Richt would make a great AD. Whatever he does he was a great coach and has given Georgia the most successful 15 year span in UGA history. I hope he stays connected with UGA until he retires. I honestly think the latest recruiting trips to see Cleveland and Eason was to let them know he wouldn’t be the coach going forward.
I’d take Richt at Mizzou in a heartbeat, if he’d come. This sound like a Nebraska decision with Solich. Fire a guy who averages 9 wins a year and brings a couple of conference titles because he hasn’t won an NC. Stupid decision by UGA imo.
Kirby is a great defensive coordinator but he has zero HC experience. I wish him the best if he goes but it could be a disaster for both.
bamatime is hilarious! he keeps saying “it could be a disaster for both” in regards to hiring Kirby Smart…..because he is SCARED of losing Kirby!
how about this…..Smart as head coach, Bobo comes back as OC, and hire Muschamp as DC…..all former UGA players! lol, i kid, i kid
I am not scared of losing kirby. I wish him the best if he goes. My point is UGA is a name brand school in the SEC and it is a huge risk to take a coach with no HC experience. I would think UGA would pursue an established HC. I wouldn’t want bama to go after a coordinator with no HC experience…Continue to act like a dumba$$ because it suits you.
Mark Richt didn’t have any HC experience when he was hired at Georgia. He was OC at FSU when he took the job.
Good point BC
who’s the dumbass now, bama redneck? Richt had ZERO experience as a head coach and it worked out pretty well for him. don’t get mad at me because you’re scared of losing Kirby :)
Muschamp will not leave for GA as the DC.
Now you’re talking. The ghost of Vince will rise up from behind the hedges. It really is time that better use was made of the best talent base in the history of college sports. If UGA could just corral 40 per cent of the state’s available talent they would rule the SEC East.
Yeah right – what they need to do is keep Mark Richt and fire McGarity now that’s the real answer !!!
Georgia— Fire McGarity and make Richt the AD – that’s the wise move !!!
Hiring crappy coordinators and letting them stay on doomed him. Willie Martinez and Todd Grantham were bad but Schottenhimer was the worst hire Richt ever made. Hopefully our next coach can hire competent assistants. Shot is why Richt was fired
I agree with you. Unless UGA gets a proven winner as a HC, you may be doomed to several seasons of 6-6, 4-8, 5-7. It’s a shame because Richt just needed some assistants and coordinators that knew what they were doing and got with the system – Richt’s system.
Look at how Schotty performed with the Jets… He ran that offense into the ground. It made zero sense to hire him at UGA. When that was announced, I knew it would turn out bad. Never imagined it would be this bad.
Gee, he sounds like such a good guy. Wonder why they fired him?
“Steps down”, huh? Like the toothpaste steps out of the tube. You’ll be sorry, UGA.
Half the success of a head coach is surrounding himself with the right people. Richt’s more recent hires doomed him. Still, they need to be very careful who they offer the job to.
Georgia will suck for the next 3-4 yrs.. U can kiss 9-3, 8-4 good bye…
With Nick Chubb and Sony Michel in the backfield, they won’t suck next year. Neither of them got fired.
sluva is obviously clueless about football…i coud coach that team to a bowl game next year! lol
Who’s gonna call the plays? You guys couldnt get it done with Richt coaching and he did just about all he could have done…Ok.. Take a screen shot of this blog and save it for next near… So Richt is gone and in comes Lord knows who, install a new offense, mis-use players and ur gonna go 10-2 next year..Yeah ok..I already sold a Beach Front Property in Nebraska..I have another one in South Dakota I can show you before it hits the market.
And your comment proved EVERYONE in These United States of America right… Anyone can coach that team to a bowl game right? Well Richt coulda done the same thing..Beaten the same teams and lost to the same teams..So why fire him to bring in a new coach to go 8-4?? Really?? Now I see why you left you comment… You logged on w/o common sense.
Wonderful and kind words about Richt by the AD. In fact, they eloquently lay out why this decision is so ridiculous. The whitewashing of the situation is really somewhat offensive. Richt was clearly forced out and pretending that you’ve done anything short of firing him means you think we are too stupid to see through the fluff statement.
People like Richt for reasons not related to football. He’s a good man and a miserable football coach. This should have happened 10 years ago.