BREAKING: Georgia Football Headman Mark Richt Steps Down
Mark Richt is stepping down as Georgia football head coach after 15 seasons with the school.
Related: Georgia Football Stings Tech In Atlanta
After 15 seasons with Georgia, Mark Richt is stepping down according to the school. This comes one day after Georgia beat in-state rival Georgia Tech 13-7 in Atlanta to push their record to 9-3.
A Richt firing seemed extremely possible after back-to-back losses to Alabama and Tennessee mid-season. Then, it seemed undoubtedly oncoming after a dismantling loss to Florida. But, the Dawgs have racked up four consecutive wins and are on the verge of a 10-win season. To say this news is surprising at this point in the season would be somewhat correct.
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Richt finishes his career with an overall record of 145-51, making a bowl game in each of his 15 seasons in Athens. He won 10 games in nine of those seasons and won nine out of 14 bowl games.
In both 2002 and 2005, Georgia won the SEC title, while also playing in the conference championship game in 2003, 2011 and 2012. The team’s highest finish in the AP rankings came in 2007 when they ended the season ranked No. 2 after an 11-2 mark and a Sugar Bowl victory. The next season they started ranked No. 1, the only time in Richt’s tenure Georgia held a number one ranking.
His 2002 team won the most games under his tutelage (13) and captured a Sugar Bowl victory.
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Richt’s legacy will not only be his record and impact of this program on the field, but it will also tell the tale of how he changed the lives of his players off the field. He is the ultimate players coach, and he absolutely loved each of his players. He had a knack for connecting with his team on a personal level and used his faith to overcome obstacles and become one of the most adored coaches in the country during his years in Athens.
His Georgia players also had a great track record of becoming good professional football players. The likes of AJ Green, Justin Houston, and Matthew Stafford are among the many that benefitted from Richt’s coaching that translated into the pro ranks.
Although he never won “the big one,” Georgia is a better place because Richt was there. The second-winningest coach in UGA will always be a DGD and have a place in the hearts of all Georgia fans.