Georgia Tech went from a system-based approach under Paul Johnson to a branding-based one under Geoff Collins, hoping to harness the advantages of Atlanta.
Unfortunately for the program, the only part of the ATL that translated were the L's. Hired prior to the 2019 season, Collins had 28 losses in 38 games as Georgia Tech's coach, including two ugly ones to begin this year. He was fired Monday, along with athletic director Todd Stansbury, as a program known for steadiness under Johnson and others plummeted to the bottom of the ACC and the Power 5.
Collins finished 10-28 overall and just 7-19 in the ACC.
Georgia Tech has been outscored 183-10 in its past four games against Power 5 opponents stretching back to 2021.
Collins, who ended last season promising "less branding, more coaching," entered 2022 on the hottest of seats. He also had a schedule that set him up to fail, beginning with Clemson but also featuring Georgia, Ole Miss and UCF in nonconference games. Collins ultimately couldn't become more than a hype man at Georgia Tech, and he exits along with Stansbury, who was never going to get another chance at a hire.
Georgia Tech has had significant financial problems stemming from facilities projects, bad coaching hires and other issues. But the program also has an excellent location and a history of being at least decent. Georgia Tech made bowl games every season from 1997 to 2014, recording eight AP Top 25 finishes, an Orange Bowl title in 2014 and was Orange Bowl runner-up in 2009. Coaches Paul Johnson, Chan Gailey and George O'Leary almost always had the team competitive in the ACC.
Simultaneous coach/AD changes are always a bit tricky to project, but Georgia Tech has a really solid candidate pool to choose from for Collins' replacement. Here's a look at some options, from the most likely to some long shots.
Coastal Carolina coach Jamey Chadwell: He didn't land a bigger job in last year's carousel but likely won't go through another go-round without some Power 5 opportunities. Chadwell, 45, elevated Coastal Carolina into the national consciousness in 2020 and has continued to win, going 26-3 since the start of that season. He brings an attractive combination of distinct offense and personality, and he has a more successful track record of branding than Collins. The Tennessee native hasn't worked at a Power 5 program, but would bring a new level of enthusiasm and knowledge of the Southeast to Georgia Tech.
Alabama offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien: The near-consensus among coaches and other industry sources is that 2022 will be O'Brien's final season at Alabama. The former Penn State and Houston Texans coach is ready to run his own shop again. Georgia Tech would make a lot of sense for the 52-year-old, who spent 1995 to 2002 with the program, first as a graduate assistant and later as running backs coach and offensive coordinator under O'Leary. Most of O'Brien's college experience occurred in the ACC as he also worked at Maryland and Duke before joining the New England Patriots' staff. He went 15-9 in two seasons at Penn State.
Georgia offensive coordinator Todd Monken: He's a cousin of Army's Jeff Monken (see below) but took a different route in coaching, developing his offensive style at places such as Louisiana Tech, Oklahoma State and LSU. Todd spent three years as head coach at Southern Miss, going 9-5 in his last season, before taking NFL coordinator jobs with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Cleveland Browns. Last season, he helped Georgia to its first national championship since 1980 and has continued to do great work with quarterback Stetson Bennett and the Bulldogs' offense. If the 56-year-old wants to lead a college program again, Georgia Tech makes a lot of sense for him.
Georgia running backs coach Dell McGee: Few know the state better than McGee, who played at Auburn and bounced around the NFL and other pro leagues before beginning his coaching career at three Georgia high schools. He spent eight years as head coach at Carver-Columbus High School, going 88-19 with a state title. McGee, 49, then worked as a Georgia Southern assistant before joining Kirby Smart at Georgia in 2016. He's regarded as one of the area's top recruiters and college assistants, and he could elevate the Georgia Tech program.
Jackson State coach Deion Sanders: His move to the FBS and a Power 5 job is viewed in the industry as more when than if. Sanders has been an immediate success in coaching, both on the field and in recruiting and branding. Georgia Tech absolutely should gauge the interest of the 55-year-old, who played both pro football and pro baseball in Atlanta. Imagine what he would do in the Atlanta recruiting scene. Sanders is 18-5 in two-plus seasons at Jackson State. He would be a departure from the type of coaches Georgia Tech has hired in the past, but that might not be a bad thing.
Army coach Jeff Monken: Branded as a system coach, Monken almost certainly would be willing to adjust his approach if he ever leaves Army, which needs elements of the triple option to overcome talent disadvantages. So, Georgia Tech wouldn't necessarily be returning to triple-option ball if it hired Monken, a Georgia Tech assistant in 2008 and 2009 under Johnson. Monken, 55, knows the state extremely well from his time at Tech and also Georgia Southern, where he went 38-16 in his first head-coaching role. He has done remarkable work at Army, going 59-45 with two 10-win seasons and bowl appearances in five of the past six seasons.
Bill Clark: Clark knows something about winning at hard jobs, helping UAB revive its program after a two-year hiatus to earn two Conference USA titles and five consecutive bowl appearances before stepping down in June because of chronic back problems. Clark underwent surgery in July and has recovered well. The 54-year-old told ESPN's Alex Scarborough that he has "left the door open" for a potential return to the sideline. Clark came up in the Alabama high school ranks but also spent two seasons at a Georgia high school. He went 49-26 at UAB and would come in with a strong plan to elevate Georgia Tech after the struggles under Collins.
Air Force coach Troy Calhoun: His hiring would represent a return closer to the approach Johnson used at Georgia Tech, but not exactly the same. Calhoun, 55, has blended option and pro-style offense to put together an impressive run at Air Force since returning to his alma mater in 2007. He's 114-76 with the Falcons, including 10-win seasons in two of the past three years in addition to 2014 and 2016. He spent time in the ACC as Wake Forest's offensive coordinator in 2001 and 2002.
Los Angeles Rams tight ends coach Thomas Brown: Brown is on a promising path in the pro ranks as the assistant head coach for Sean McVay and the defending Super Bowl champions. The NFL-to-college move can be tricky timing-wise, but Brown has strong local roots. He's from Tucker, Georgia, attended high school in Atlanta, played running back at Georgia and later coached running backs at his alma mater. The 36-year-old also spent three seasons as Miami's offensive coordinator and is now coaching his second position group with the Rams. Georgia Tech might want someone with head-coaching experience but would be smart to at least consider Brown, who has interviewed for NFL head jobs.
Miami offensive coordinator Josh Gattis: He won the Broyles Award as the nation's top assistant coach in 2021 and has interviewed for several Power 5 jobs. Gattis, 38, is a North Carolina native who has made stops at Vanderbilt and Alabama, and he has recruited the Southeast throughout his career. He held recruiting coordinator titles under James Franklin at both Vanderbilt and Penn State, and last year helped Michigan to its first CFP appearance and first outright Big Ten title since 2003. Miami's shaky start could hurt his chances.