By BJ Bennett
SouthernPigskin.com

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Matt Luke has led the offensive line from the standpoint of a player, position coach and a head coach.

The news of Sam Pittman being named the new head football coach at Arkansas was significant for Georgia. Not only the premier offensive line coach in the game, Pittman had developed into one the elite recruiters nationally, consistently bringing a number of blue-chip prospects to Athens. At a program fresh off three straight SEC Championship Game appearances and a College Football Playoff Final, Pittman had been an important part of Kirby Smart’s infrastructure. His promotion, coming after a disappointing loss in Atlanta no less, left the Bulldogs with leadership to replace.

Georgia, quickly and successfully, found Pittman’s replacement in former Ole Miss head coach Matt Luke. Though duplicating Pittman’s influence and success certainly won’t be easy, and all Bulldogs certainly wish him well in Fayetteville, Luke is the type of coach and person who will also be an asset in Athens. Dismissed by the Rebels after Ole Miss lost to rival Mississippi State in the Egg Bowl, Luke immediately became a rumored name for multiple job openings. In joining Smart as UGA’s offensive line coach and associate head coach, Luke strengthens the Bulldogs both on and off the field.

Luke was the head coach in Oxford from 2017, starting in an interim role, through the end of this past season. Following Hugh Freeze at Ole Miss, Luke helped the Rebels to 15 wins in three years. He, playing center in the mid 1990s, and his father playing defensive back and brother playing quarterback, has long been part of the program profile. Following Luke’s playing career, he debuted as a graduate assistant with the Rebels, later coaching the offensive line on two seperate ocassions.

At Ole Miss in various capacities since 2012, Luke is still well-traveled. He worked under Phillip Fulmer at Tennessee and David Cutcliffe at Duke, coaching offensive line and, with the Blue Devils, also serving as co-offensive coordinator. Starting at Murray State, Luke had nearly two full decades of leading offensive lines before taking over the Rebels. With such a resume, he remains just 43 years of age.

While replacing a star, Luke brings impressive credentials and a lauded reputation to Georgia.

Smart, in hiring Luke, adds notable executive experience to his staff, a veteran head coach from within the SEC. Quite obviously, Luke is well-versed in the rigors of college football’s toughest league and all that it takes, from Smart’s perspective, to be successful. His multi-faceted ability to both set a standard and help maintain it will only benefit the Bulldogs. Luke will be able to reinforce and strengthen Georgia’s infrastructure from the ground-up, bringing rare perspective to his position.

Luke has led the offensive line from the standpoint of a player, position coach and a head coach.

Like Pittman, a coached beloved by many of his former players, much of Luke’s rise has been relationship based. He and Pittman are very similar in that regard. Already on the road, Luke, a recognized name given his profile in the SEC, will start recruiting for Georgia with an established brand. Duplicating Pittman’s efforts obviously won’t be easy, but Luke has a strong foundation off which to build. A Mississippi-native who has coached in the Magnolia State, North Carolina and Tennessee, Luke knows the region well.

All that Luke has done, including playing at a high level as an offensive lineman in the SEC, makes him a standout addition to Smart’s Georgia staff. Luke doesn’t need to be Pittman, rather just be, as he has while climbing through the coaching ranks, himself.

Premier programs lose talented coaches. They also replace them accordingly. The venerable Pittman did tremendous work with the Bulldogs. Luke, respected and welcome, has clearly earned his chance.