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| Mark Richt | ||
|---|---|---|
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| Title | Head Coach | |
| College | Georgia | |
| Sport | Football | |
| Team record | 81–21 | |
| Born | February 18, 1960 | |
| Place of birth | Omaha, NE | |
| Career highlights | ||
| Overall | 81–21 | |
| Bowls | 5–2 | |
| Coaching stats | ||
| College Football DataWarehouse | ||
| Championships | ||
| 2 SEC Championships (2002, 2005) 4 SEC East Championships (2002, 2003, 2005, 2007) |
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| Playing career | ||
| 1979-82 | Miami (FL) | |
| Position | QB | |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | ||
| 1985-1989 1989 1990-2000 2001-present |
Florida State (GA) East Carolina (OC) Florida State (OC/QB) Georgia |
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Mark Richt (born February 18, 1960 in Omaha, Nebraska) is the current head coach of the University of Georgia Bulldogs football team.
Contents |
Playing career
Richt grew up a Nebraska Cornhuskers football fan, but was not recruited by the Huskers. He graduated in 1978 from Boca Raton High School in Boca Raton, Florida, where he was a star quarterback. He played for the University of Miami in the early 1980s, graduating in 1982. He served as backup quarterback to future Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly, although an injury to Kelly early in the 1982 season put Richt in the starting role for most of the season.
Coaching Career
Mark Richt started his coaching career in 1985 as a volunteer quarterbacks coach for the Florida State Seminoles (FSU), serving under Bobby Bowden. Richt left Seminoles to join East Carolina University as their offensive coordinator in 1989. However, after just one year at East Carolina, Richt returned back to Seminoles to serve as the quarterbacks coach and later as offensive coordinator. Under Richt’s direction, the FSU had some of the most explosive offenses in the nation, in his seven years as offensive coordinator of Seminoles Richt directed the nation’s top five offense in scoring offense on five occasions, top 12 in total offense five times, and top 12 in passing offense five times. The 2000 Seminoles offense finished the regular season ranked first nationally in total offense (549.0 ypg), first in passing offense (384.0 ypg), and third in scoring offense (42.4 ppg).
While at Florida State, he coached two Heisman Trophy winners at quarterback in Charlie Ward and Chris Weinke and was part of two national championships (1993 and 1999) as an assistant coach.1
University of Georgia
Richt was hired as head coach of the Georgia Bulldogs before the 2001 season, replacing Jim Donnan. Richt recounted the moments leading up to being named UGA's head coach in an interview, saying:
In December of 2000, [the University of Georgia's] President Michael Adams and then Athletic Director Coach Vince Dooley came to Tallahassee and interviewed me for the position of Head Coach of the UGA Bulldogs. After many hours of prayer, Coach Dooley called me and I accepted the position. We moved to Athens in January of 2001 and have truly been blessed. We have a great church, an outstanding school for the children and a wonderful staff. Throughout all of life I try to live according to COLOSSIANS 3:23 – “And whatever you do, do heartily, as to the LORD and not to men.2
In his first seven seasons at Georgia, Richt's teams have won two Southeastern Conference Championships (2002 and 2005) and three SEC Eastern Division titles (2002, 2003 and 2005), represented the SEC in 3 BCS bowl appearances (which he is 2-1 in) along with five AP Poll top ten finishes from 2002-2005, 2007.
2001 Season
Richt's first season of 2001 was an up-and-down one for him as well as the team. After a disappointing early-season home loss to South Carolina, the Bulldogs would rebound a month later to shock Tennessee in Knoxville 26-24 on a touchdown pass from David Greene to Verron Haynes with only five seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. The play, known in Georgia lore as the "Hobnail Boot" (a phrase coined by legendary Georgia football announcer Larry Munson following the play) was one of the most memorable in school history, and the win established Georgia as a rising program under Richt's leadership. The team would also go on to defeat in-state rival Georgia Tech for the first time since 1997, however, close losses to Auburn and Boston College late in the season in which Richt's questionable clock management late in games potentially cost his team the chance to win put a damper on Richt's rookie campaign.
2002 Season
Whatever skeptics Richt had following his first season began to believe in the coach in 2002. After winning several close games early in the season, the Bulldogs steadily climbed towards the top the SEC standings and national polls. Entering their annual showdown with SEC rival Florida, the Bulldogs were 8-0 and ranked No. 4 in the country, with a chance to clinch the SEC East title. However, missed opportunities in the second half of the game marred Georgia's chances, and they went on to suffer a devastating loss that virtually ended any chances of a national title. The Bulldogs would rebound the next week by easily defeating Ole Miss, setting up a matchup on the road against Auburn with the division championship on the line. Georgia trailed for most of the game, but pulled to within 21-17 late in the fourth quarter. After getting inside the Tigers' red-zone late in the game, Georgia's final drive stalled, and they were left with a 4th and 14 situation on Auburn's 19 yard-line and little more than a minute remaining. With their SEC championship hopes down to a flicker, Greene completed a miraculous touchdown pass to Michael Johnson, giving Georgia a 24-21 lead that they would hold on to. With the SEC East title in hand, the Bulldogs played with a newfound confidence to end the season. They drubbed Georgia Tech 51-7 in Athens, the most lopsided win in the history of the series, and then crushed Arkansas 30-3 in the SEC Championship game, giving the school its first SEC crown since 1982. Richt would go on to defeat his mentor, Bowden and Florida State, 26-13 in the Sugar Bowl, giving Georgia a 13-1 record and No. 3 national ranking in both polls.
2003 Season
Richt's team earned the chance to defend their SEC title in 2003 following a 10-2 regular season that included a 30-0 shutout win at Clemson, a 41-14 thrashing of Tennessee in Knoxville, as well as a third consecutive win over Georgia Tech. However, the Bulldogs were no match in the SEC title game for LSU, a team that defeated Georgia earlier 17-10 in a memorable September showdown. The Tigers defeated Georgia 34-13 the second go-round, the worst defeat in Richt's career at Georgia. Richt and the Bulldogs rebounded and defeated Purdue in the Capital One Bowl 34-27 in overtime, despite surrendering a 24-0 first half lead. It was another solid season for Richt, as his team finished with an 11-3 record and a No. 7 finish in the AP Poll.
2004 Season
Going into 2004, the Bulldogs were a consensus pick to win the SEC, and entered the season ranked No. 4 in the country. After a come-from-behind road win over South Carolina and a 45-16 thumping of a top 10 LSU team, it appeared Georgia was well on their way to achieving all of their lofty goals. However, a shocking 19-14 loss to Tennessee in early October ended any dreams of a national title, and also put Georgia in a deep hole behind the Volunteers in the SEC East. While they would go on to post a 10-2 record that included the school's first win over Florida since 1997, the year was considered a disappointment by many Bulldog fans, as the team failed to reach the SEC title game for the first time in three years.
2005 Season
Expectations were lower going into 2005, as the Bulldogs were picked by the media to finish just 3rd in the SEC East. But behind senior quarterback D.J. Shockley and a veteran defense, Georgia got off to a fast 7-0 start that included a 27-14 win over Tennessee which gave the team control of the division. Georgia would lose two straight heartbreakers to Florida (without the services of Shockley, who was injured in the previous game versus Arkansas) and Auburn before clinching the SEC East with an easy win over Kentucky. Another win over Georgia Tech gave Georgia a 9-2 regular season finish. Playing in their third SEC Championship game in four years, the Bulldogs ambushed 3rd-ranked LSU, jumping out to a quick 14-0 lead and cruising to a 34-14 win, giving Richt his second SEC title at Georgia. However, the season ended on a sour note for Georgia, as they could not overcome a 28-0 deficit to West Virginia in the Sugar Bowl, falling 38-35.
2006 Season
2006 was Richt's most trying season at the school. Although the team started 5-0, close wins over Colorado and Ole Miss raised cause for concern. Those concerns proved to be justified as Georgia, hampered by turnovers and uncharacteristically poor play from their defense, would go on to lose four of their next five games. The slide began with a 51-33 home loss to Tennessee, Richt's worst ever defeat at Sanford Stadium. The team would also lose to Vanderbilt and Kentucky in the same season for the first time since 1973. At 6-4, it appeared Georgia was on the verge of a meltdown; however, Richt and his team hung tough, as they went on to defeat three consecutive ranked opponents in Auburn, Georgia Tech, and Virginia Tech to close the season. While Georgia failed to reach ten wins or finish in the top-10 of the polls for the first time since 2001, the strong finish provided optimism heading into the 2007 season.
2007 Season
2007 would prove to be one of Richt's best and most exciting years at Georgia. The team was inconsistent over the first half of the season, posting big wins over Oklahoma State and Alabama but also suffering damaging losses to division rivals South Carolina and Tennessee. The team appeared to be in disarray following a close win at Vanderbilt, and the remainder of the season did not look promising. Then, Richt began going to his bag of tricks to galvanize his struggling team. At the coach's behest, Georgia received 30 yards of unsportsmanlike conduct penalties following a touchdown on their opening drive against Florida, as the entire Georgia football team ran on the field in jubilation. Perhaps energized by the celebration, the Bulldogs went on to defeat the Gators 42-30, setting the table for a big finish to the season. Richt's team would go on to defeat Auburn 45-20, the first time Georgia defeated the Gators and Tigers in the same season since 1982. During the game, Georgia wore black jerseys for the first time in the modern era. The team tied a school record with a 7th consecutive victory over Georgia Tech, and by ending the regular season with a six-game winning streak rose to 4th in both polls as well as the BCS. The Bulldogs, however, by virtue of their loss to South Carolina, did not earn the opportunity to appear in the SEC Championship Game. The Bulldogs represented the SEC in the Sugar Bowl vs Hawaii due to LSU going to the BCS National Championship Game. Georgia again donned black jerseys and routed the Warriors 41-10 to close the season 11-2 and ranked No. 2 in the AP poll, Richt's highest finish to date and the school's since their national championship season of 1980. This win also gave Mark Richt the distinction of being the only head coach at Georgia to win the Sugar Bowl game more than once during his career.
Florida celebration incident
On October 27, 2007, during the Bulldogs' heated rivalry game against the Florida Gators, the entire Georgia football team rushed into the end zone to celebrate after Knowshon Moreno's one-yard touchdown run gave Georgia an early 7-0 lead. The celebration drew two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties that eventually forced the Bulldogs to kick off from their own eight yard line; during halftime, Richt told CBS sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson that he had told his offense to celebrate the first touchdown until they received a penalty. The entire team planned to rush the field themselves. Georgia went on to win 42-30. The victory gave Georgia their 47th win in the series with Florida, which Georgia leads 47-37-2. Georgia & Florida have split the last 4 games, 2-2.
Richt later apologized in writing to Southeastern Conference commissioner Mike Slive: "I apologize that I put everyone in that situation and specifically apologize to you, the Southeastern Conference, and the University of Florida. You can be assured I will not ask our team to do this type of thing again." The Southeastern Conference has announced that it plans no disciplinary action against Richt and the NCAA also did not impose sanctions.3
Off-field
On September 12, 2006, General Mills began featuring Richt and the Bulldog football program on the cover of Wheaties cereal boxes. The side of the box states this:
Tradition is defined as "the handing down of beliefs, legends, and customs from generation to generation," and over the past century, Georgia has built a profound legacy around college football, putting its stake in the ground for generations to come. University of Georgia teams have been recognized as national champions five times (1927, 1942, 1946, 1968 and 1980) throughout history. In addition, the Bulldogs have earned the sixth-most bowl invitations in the history of college football and boast two Heisman Trophy winners.
Contract and Pay
On March 6, 2008 it was announced in local media that Mark Richt had been granted a pay increase from $2.2 million per year to $2.8 million per year. This makes him only the fifth-highest-paid coach in the SEC. His contract runs through the 2013 season.4
Personal life
Richt is married to the former Katharyn Francis of Tallahassee, Florida. The couple have four children: Jonathan (born March 11, 1990), David (born December 1, 1994), and two children they adopted from the Ukraine in 1999, Zach (born May 15, 1996), and Anya (born February 13, 1997) who was born with a rare disorder known as proteus syndrome.
ESPN's College Gameday featured a documentary on October 25, 2008 entitled, 'GameDay looks at the Richt family's adoption of a young boy and girl from the Ukraine'detailing the Richt's personal story of the adoption of their two youngest children Zach and Anya. According to ESPN, the Richt's had graciously declined on several occasions to publicly share their adoption story on national television; however, finally agreed to share their story with the hope that it would encourage other families to explore the rewards of adoption. 5
Richt's oldest son Jonathan "Jon" Richt verbally committed to play footbal for Clemson University in February 2007 before signing his letter of intent with the Tigers a year later.6 Jon Richt threw for 1,600 yards during his junior year at Prince Avenue Christian Schools, a Class A school in Athens. 7
Media
Richt appeared in the movie Facing the Giants where he played the former coach to the movie's main character, Grant Taylor. It is unclear if Richt plays himself or a fictional character in the movie since his name is not mentioned. The credits list him as "Grant Taylor's Former Coach" played by Mark Richt which would indicate his character is fictional.8
Career Record
| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl | Coaches# | AP° | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mark Richt (SEC) (2001–present) | |||||||||
| 2001 | Georgia | 8-4 | 5-3 | T-3 (East) | L Music City Bowl | 25 | 22 | ||
| 2002 | Georgia | 13-1 | 7-1 | 1 (East) | W Sugar Bowl † | 3 | 3 | ||
| 2003 | Georgia | 11-3 | 6-2 | T-1 (East) | W Capital One Bowl | 6 | 7 | ||
| 2004 | Georgia | 10-2 | 6-2 | 2 (East) | W Outback Bowl | 6 | 7 | ||
| 2005 | Georgia | 10-3 | 6-2 | 1 (East) | L Sugar Bowl † | 10 | 10 | ||
| 2006 | Georgia | 9-4 | 4-4 | T3 (East) | W Chick-fil-A Bowl | NR | 23 | ||
| 2007 | Georgia | 11-2 | 6-2 | T-1 (East) | W Sugar Bowl † | 3 | 2 | ||
| 2008 | Georgia | 9-2 | 6-2 | 2 (East) | |||||
| Mark Richt: | 81-21 | 46-18 | |||||||
| Total: | 81-21 | ||||||||
| National Championship Conference Title Conference Division Title | |||||||||
| †Indicates BCS bowl game. #Rankings from final Coaches Poll of the season. °Rankings from final AP Poll of the season. |
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Related Pages
- Georgia Bulldogs football under Mark Richt
- 2005 Georgia Bulldogs football team
- 2006 Georgia Bulldogs football team
- 2007 Georgia Bulldogs football team
- 2008 Georgia Bulldogs football team
References
- ^ http://www.georgiadogs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=8800&ATCLID=307706
- ^ http://www.uga.edu/teamunited/testimonies/mark_richt.htm
- ^ http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3086059
- ^ http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/uga/stories/2008/03/06/gaburst_0306.html
- ^ http://sports.espn.go.com/broadband/video/video?id=3663225
- ^ http://clemson.scout.com/2/770208.html
- ^ http://georgia.scout.com/2/615412.html
- ^ http://www.facingthegiants.com/about_bts.php
Sources
- "Georgia biographies: Mark Richt" (HTML) (in English). georgiadogs.com (2006). Retrieved on 2007-01-04.
- "Football Through the Years" (HTML) (in English). Georgia Bulldogs 2006 Media Guide. georgiadogs.com (2006). Retrieved on 2007-01-04.
- "Former Head Coaches" (HTML) (in English). Georgia Bulldogs 2006 Media Guide. georgiadogs.com (2006). Retrieved on 2007-01-04.
- "College Football SEC Standings" (HTML) (in English). espn.com. Retrieved on 2007-01-04.
- "GameDay looks at the Richt family's adoption of a young boy and girl from the Ukraine" (HTML) (in English). espn.com.
External links
| Sporting positions | ||
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| Preceded by Jim Donnan |
Georgia Bulldogs Head Football Coach 2001–present |
Succeeded by Current |
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Wikipedia content modification information:
- This page was last modified on 18 November 2008, at 13:52.
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