Georgia’s 2024 coaching staff is currently decided. Well, at least for the Spring Ball. Kirby Smart filled the last two positions on his coaching staff last week. He did not have to travel far to fill the emptiness. James Coley from South Carolina will coach the wide receivers, while Josh Crawford from Georgia Tech will coach the running backs. Smart’s new Georgia coaches emphasize the significance of recruiting and said he will go wherever to bring in good coaches. Here’s a closer look at the two coaches and how they contribute to the program.
Coley isn’t a new name in Georgia. When he was hired, he was part of Smart’s first staff and served as offensive coordinator after Jim Chaney left in 2019. While 2019 was forgettable and upsetting for Dawg Nation, Coley is a top recruiter, so we discussed him as a potential successor last week. Coley is a large game hunter with a strong connection to South Florida. Smart expressed his joy at having Coley back in Ath. “We are excited to have Coley and his family back in Athens,” added Smart. “He is an excellent teacher and leader of young men. His previous expertise on our team will make for a smooth transfer.

South Carolina, Coley’s old employer, was not pleased with having to change its wide receiver coach for the third time this season. “I didn’t expect to be here again, introducing a wide receivers coach. “It is what it is,” Gamecocks head coach Shane Beamer stated. “The previous receivers coach (Coley) made the decision he believed was best for his family. We recovered the $450,000 and more that we were owed for breaching or quitting his contract. It enabled us to hire an even better wide receivers coach, in my opinion.” On January 12, the Gamecocks hired Coley as their coach. Although it may be unfortunate for Beamer and South Carolina, the head coach came across as whiny.

Crawford arrives to Athens from nearby Georgia Tech. Crawford will have to step into Dell McGee’s large shoes. Crawford, like McGee, had strong Georgia connections, which Smart could not disregard. “I’ve had the pleasure of observing his career unfold over the years and have been consistently impressed,” he remarked. “His hard work and the significant impact he’s had coaching football in our state have earned him this opportunity.” Crawford attended Morehouse College in Atlanta, where he played running back from 2004 to 2006. He received his bachelor’s degree from Morehouse in 2007 and then gained master’s degrees from Georgia and Valdosta State in 2020.