If Glenn Schumann leaves Georgia for a head coaching opportunity -- which is looking more and more likely -- Kirby Smart probably won't have to look very far to find his replacement.
In fact, the best option may already be on his coaching staff.
Smart has spent years building more than just a championship-caliber defense in Athens. He's also developed a coaching staff filled with assistants who understand his system and have been preparing for opportunities to take on greater responsibilities.
That's part of what has made Georgia so successful under Smart. He doesn't just recruit and develop future NFL players. He also mentors coaches who can eventually step into bigger roles, ensuring the program doesn't have to start from scratch every time an assistant moves on.
With co-defensive coordinator Travaris Robinson already on staff, promoting from within would seem to be the most logical move if Schumann departs. It would provide continuity and preserve the defensive identity Georgia has established. But that doesn't mean Georgia wouldn't consider outside candidates, especially if Schumann poaches any of Georgia's current staff members to come with him.
Schumann's departure would create one of the most attractive defensive coordinator openings in college football, and there would undoubtedly be plenty of coaches interested in the opportunity.
If it comes to an outside hire, Smart would need to be selective. Not every experienced defensive coordinator would be an improvement over the coaches already working in Athens, and a recognizable name doesn't necessarily make someone a good fit.
With that in mind, here are five defensive coordinators Georgia should think twice about hiring if Schumann leaves.
Alex Grinch could bring the wrong kind of defensive reputation to Georgia
Few defensive coordinators have experienced a more dramatic fall from grace at a high-profile program than Alex Grinch.
Grinch arrived at USC in 2022 alongside Lincoln Riley after previously working with him at Oklahoma. The expectation was that he could help build a defense capable of complementing Riley's high-powered offense. Instead, USC's defense became one of the program's biggest liabilities under Grinch.
The Trojans struggled with tackling, explosive plays, and consistency throughout Grinch's tenure, ultimately leading to his dismissal during the 2023 season. Since leaving USC, Grinch has had stops at Wisconsin and UCF, where he's had an opportunity to rebuild his reputation. That deserves consideration, but it doesn't erase what happened at USC.
Georgia's defensive coordinator must be capable of consistently shutting down elite offenses in championship environments. Grinch's most prominent recent Power Four experience raises legitimate questions about whether he'd be the right person for that responsibility.
Smart shouldn't have to gamble on a coordinator rediscovering his form when Georgia already has championship expectations.
Brad White hasn't shown enough at Florida to justify the gamble
Brad White certainly understands SEC football. He spent seven seasons as Kentucky's defensive coordinator before joining Jon Sumrall's staff at Florida ahead of the 2026 season. His Kentucky defenses frequently performed well despite competing against programs with greater recruiting resources and talent.
But Georgia isn't Kentucky, and the expectations in Athens are vastly different.
White's first season at Florida has been filled with challenges, with the Gators struggling to consistently contain opposing offenses. That makes it difficult to argue that he's currently the obvious choice to take over one of college football's premier defensive programs.
There's also the obvious complication of hiring a coordinator away from one of Georgia's fiercest rivals. White might eventually prove himself capable of leading an elite defense at a major SEC program. Georgia simply doesn't need to be the school taking that chance.
D.J. Durkin would bring unnecessary controversy to Athens
Of the five names on this list, D.J. Durkin might be the most complicated.
From a strictly football standpoint, Durkin has a resumé that deserves respect. He's coordinated defenses at Florida, Michigan, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, and Auburn, and his 2025 Auburn unit ranked 30th nationally in total defense.
Those aren't the credentials of an ineffective defensive coach, but Durkin's history at Maryland would inevitably become a major distraction if Georgia hired him.
Durkin was fired as Maryland's head coach in 2018 following investigations into the program after offensive lineman Jordan McNair died of heat stroke he suffered during a team workout. The circumstances surrounding the program and its leadership generated national scrutiny.
Hiring Durkin would invite renewed attention to that history, regardless of his coaching accomplishments since then, and the last thing Georgia wants is a negative spotlight, as Smart has had to deal with a lot of eyes on the program with a rash of driving arrests.
Given the other options available, it's difficult to see why Georgia would need to invite that controversy.
Brian Belichick would be a major leap of faith for Kirby Smart
There's no denying the name recognition that comes with being a member of the Belichick family. Brian Belichick spent years working with the New England Patriots in one of the NFL's most successful defensive systems before joining North Carolina's coaching staff.
But coaching defensive backs and running an entire defense are two very different responsibilities.
Belichick's college coaching experience remains relatively limited, and he hasn't established the kind of sustained track record as a college defensive coordinator that Georgia should prioritize.
He may have potential. His NFL background and experience working with defensive backs could eventually make him an intriguing coordinator candidate, but Georgia shouldn't be the place where he gets his first opportunity to prove he can independently run a championship-caliber college defense.
The Bulldogs need someone with actual success developing players, recruiting elite talent, and making adjustments against the country's best offenses. A famous last name and NFL experience aren't substitutes for those qualifications.
Zach Arnett's SEC experience shouldn't automatically make him a candidate
Zach Arnett is another coach whose resumé could attract attention if Georgia finds itself searching for a defensive coordinator.
Arnett built his reputation at Mississippi State, where he coordinated productive defenses before being promoted to head coach following Mike Leach's death. His tenure as head coach lasted less than a full season, and he eventually returned to Mississippi State as defensive coordinator ahead of the 2026 campaign.
There's no question Arnett understands SEC football, and his earlier work in Starkville demonstrated that he can put together competitive defenses, but Georgia would need to evaluate whether his recent results and overall trajectory justify handing him a defense accustomed to competing for national championships.
Arnett's aggressive defensive approach could have appeal, but familiarity with the conference isn't enough on its own.
Kirby Smart can't afford to get Glenn Schumann's replacement wrong
The good news for Georgia is that Schumann hasn't left, and there's no guarantee he will. Even if he does, Smart has already built a defensive infrastructure capable of surviving coaching turnover. Robinson, Tray Scott, and other members of the staff provide the continuity Georgia needs.
That should make Georgia and Kirby Smart cautious about bringing in an outside coordinator who doesn't represent a clear upgrade. None of these five coaches has been publicly identified as a target for the Bulldogs, although several have legitimate accomplishments that make them respected defensive minds.
What's key is that replacing Schumann isn't about finding someone who can simply coach defense; it's about finding someone who can keep Georgia among college football's elite.
That's a job Smart can't afford to get wrong.
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