Georgia Tech Football Head Coaching Search: Day Seven Updates

We’re officially a week into Georgia Tech football’s head coaching and here is what we know heading into Wednesday afternoon.

We’ll be honest, outside of information behind pay walls, there’s not much out there about Georgia Tech’s search for their next head football coach. Yesterday, it was reported that Ken Whisenhunt was offered the job and had 48 hours to decide. So far there’s been no news on a decision but a day still remains. That being said, we had to dig for some news here but until more news pops up today, this is what we got.

Todd Stansbury addresses coaching search in email to donors:

First, we’d like to thank the AJC’s Ken Sugiura on sharing the email with readers. With that, Georgia Tech athletic director Todd Stansbury addressed the Yellow Jackets coaching search on Tuesday in an email to Georgia Tech donors. The email which touched on both the coaching search and the Jackets Quick Lane Bowl selection. Here are two quotes that stuck out from his email and what we believe they could mean, of course most of this is speculation.

"“I have been actively working to identify the very best fit for Georgia Tech. That person will be someone who knows who they are, knows who we are, understands that Georgia Tech isn’t a “plug-and-play” situation and has a plan on how to be successful here. The only way to learn who best fits is through the interview process, which is ongoing.”"

In this part of his email, Todd once again stresses he is looking for the best fit for the Yellow Jackets. In the second line, he obviously stresses the idea of the next coaching knowing who Georgia Tech is and understanding the situation that the Yellow Jackets are in academically and financially. In our opinion, this seems to push the idea that Stansbury is looking for a coach with Tech connections, which wouldn’t be anything new in this coaching search. Two coaches that meet that criteria? Ken Whisenhunt and Geoff Collins.

"I know that there have already been media reports concerning this potential candidate or that potential candidate, and that those reports will continue throughout the process. While I don’t intend to conduct the search publicly, I do ask that you don’t put too much stock into the media reports – some might be accurate, but many will be inaccurate."

This is an interesting portion of the email as Todd discusses media reports but doesn’t talk about any in particular. So far, most media reports that haven’t been behind pay walls have focused on Ken Whisenhunt. While it’s been pretty much confirmed that Ken Whisenhunt in fact has received an offer to be Tech’s next head coach, it will be interesting to see what other reports have come out as inaccurate. Only time will tell.

 Georgia Tech now the best job left

It’s no secret that Todd Stansbury and the athletic department want to wrap up this coaching search as soon as possible. That being said, when looking across the country at head coach openings across the country, it’s obvious, that Georgia Tech is the best job left. Only one other Power 5 job is available (Kansas State) while both Akron, Liberty, and Utah State are currently looking for their next head coach among Group of 5 schools.

With that being said, the Yellow Jackets could and should in reality, take a step back and conduct a much more national search or even region based search where you have up-and-comers such as Mike Norvell and Neal Brown. If that does happen, it will only have a chance of happening if Ken Whisenhunt turns down the job offer. Yes, it’s important this coaching search gets wrapped up as soon as possible with early national signing day around the corner but the hiring of an old teammate and a good friend seems like an easy way out for Stansbury. Only time will tell however.