Kirby Smart doesn't just collect five-star recruits. He collects coaches who refuse to leave. In the chaotic, "everyone-for-themselves" world of modern college football, the Georgia Bulldogs football staff looks less like a rotating door and more like a fortress. While other programs are scrambling every December to replace coordinators who jumped for a 10% raise, Smart has built a culture where guys like Glenn Schumann and Tray Scott stay put.
It's weird, honestly. In a profession where moving up usually means moving out, Georgia has found a way to keep the brain trust together. And yeah, the money helps—Schumann is pulling in over $2 million a year now—but it’s more than just the paycheck. It’s about the "process," a word we hear a lot, but at Georgia, it’s basically the law.
The Core: Who’s Running the Show in 2026?
If you're looking for the architect, it starts and ends with Kirby. Entering his 11th season in Athens, he’s no longer the "young" coach on the rise; he's the dean of the SEC. But he isn't doing it alone. The 2026 staff is a mix of grizzled veterans and "Kirby disciples" who have been in the building since the early days of the dynasty.
Mike Bobo is still the man holding the clipboard for the offense. Despite what some message board critics say after a stalled drive, Bobo has kept this unit elite. He’s in his 12th season overall with the program (if you count his previous stint), and his connection with Smart goes back to their playing days. People forget that Bobo’s offense actually improved Georgia's rushing attack significantly in recent seasons, jumping to fourth in the SEC.
Then you have Glenn Schumann. This guy is a literal coaching prodigy. He’s been with Kirby since the Alabama days and has turned down multiple head coaching jobs to stay the defensive coordinator in Athens. Why? Because at Georgia, he gets to coach future first-rounders every single day. He’s joined by Travaris Robinson, who has taken over much of the secondary oversight and co-defensive coordinator duties, keeping that "Bama-lite" defensive edge sharp.
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The Assistant Ranks: The Unsung Heroes
- Todd Hartley (Tight Ends/Assistant Head Coach): Probably the best recruiter on the staff. He’s the reason Georgia is "Tight End U." He’s been there since 2019 and just keeps hauling in elite talent like Lawson Luckie and Elyiss Williams.
- Tray Scott (Defensive Line): He’s been around since 2017. You don't see that kind of longevity often. He’s the one molding the "monsters in the middle" that make Kirby’s 3-4 defense work.
- Stacy Searels (Offensive Line): The man in charge of the "Great Wall of Georgia." He’s got the tough job of replacing guys like Tate Ratledge, but his recent extensions show the administration trusts him completely.
- James Coley (Wide Receivers): Now in his second stint with the Dawgs. He’s the energy guy. After Georgia struggled with drops a few years back, Coley’s room has seen a massive "bounceback" in reliability.
Why Nobody Leaves (And What Happens When They Do)
Honestly, the most impressive thing about the Georgia Bulldogs football staff isn't who they hired, but who they kept. Most coordinators with two national title rings would have bolted for a MAC or Sun Belt head coaching job by now.
But Kirby Smart has created a "pro-style" environment for his coaches. They get paid like head coaches, they have massive support staffs, and they don't have to deal with the headache of being the "face" of a program. Schumann, for instance, is making more than some head coaches in the G5.
That said, the "analyst" pool is where the movement usually happens. We recently saw David Hill (Player Connection Coordinator) head off to Colorado State to coach running backs, and David Metcalf took a safeties job at Western Kentucky. It sucks to lose the "behind-the-scenes" guys, but that’s the Georgia machine working. You come in as an analyst, you learn the Kirby way, and you get a promotion elsewhere.
The Will Muschamp Factor
You can't talk about the staff without mentioning the "Coach-in-Waiting" or "Super Analyst" roles. Will Muschamp was the ultimate "cheat code" for a few years before heading to Texas. Having a former SEC head coach just sitting in meetings as an analyst or co-coordinator is a luxury most programs can't dream of. Even when these guys move on, the blueprint they leave behind stays.
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The 2026 Outlook: Managing the Transition
Going into the 2026 season, the staff faces a massive challenge. They’re moving forward without record-breakers like Zachariah Branch. This is where Josh Crawford (Running Backs) earns his money. He’s done wonders with Nate Frazier and Chauncey Bowens, and the word around Athens is that the 2026 run game might be the most explosive we’ve seen in years.
The defensive side is also shifting. With Andrew Thacker handling the "Star" (nickel) position and Donte Williams coaching the corners, the secondary is being rebuilt with younger, faster prototypes. It’s a lot of new faces, but the guys coaching them have been in the system for years. That’s the "Secret Sauce." The players change, but the teachers don't.
Real-World Impact of Staff Continuity
When a coach stays for five or six years, they know exactly what a "Georgia recruit" looks like. They aren't just looking at star ratings. They’re looking for a specific type of kid who can survive a Kirby Smart practice—which, by all accounts, is basically a two-hour car crash.
- Recruiting Stability: Parents trust coaches who aren't going to leave in six months.
- Scheme Complexity: Because the coordinators stay, the playbook can grow deeper every year.
- Player Development: A kid who signs as a freshman has the same position coach for his entire career. That’s rare.
What Most People Get Wrong About the UGA Staff
There’s this myth that Kirby Smart does everything himself. People think he’s just a micromanager who yells at everyone. While he’s definitely "intense" (to put it mildly), his real talent is delegation. He empowers Mike Bobo to call the plays. He lets Glenn Schumann run the defensive meetings.
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The Georgia Bulldogs football staff operates more like a corporate board than a traditional coaching tree. Everyone has a specific vertical. If the offensive line underperforms, that's on Searels, and Kirby holds him accountable—but he also gives him the resources to fix it.
Actionable Insights for the 2026 Season
If you're following the Dawgs this year, keep your eyes on these three staff-related storylines. They’ll tell you more about the season than any box score will.
- Watch the Red Zone Play-calling: This is the ultimate test for Mike Bobo. With a younger quarterback room (Stockton and Puglisi), the staff’s ability to design "easy" throws inside the 20 will determine if they’re playing in Atlanta in December.
- The "Star" Position Development: Andrew Thacker is the key here. Georgia’s defense lives and dies by the "Star" player. If he can get the young guys up to speed, the defense will be top-5 nationally again.
- The Analyst Hires: Pay attention to who Kirby brings in to replace Hill and Metcalf. He usually snags a former head coach or a rising star from the FCS ranks. These are the guys who will be on the "on-field" staff in 2027.
The bottom line? Georgia is a juggernaut because they’ve figured out how to make coaches stay. As long as the core of Bobo, Schumann, and Hartley remains intact, the Bulldogs aren't going anywhere. They’ve built a system that is bigger than any one person, even Kirby himself. But having Kirby at the top certainly doesn't hurt.