By Kevin Thomas
SouthernPigskin.com

Follow us at Twitter.com/SouthernPigskin.  Become a fan at the SouthernPigskin.com Facebook Page

Top head coaching targets for Georgia Tech

The Geoff Collins era is over in Atlanta. While it started with a lot of sizzle, it produced no steak. What remains is mostly scattered, smothered, and covered. While moving away from the option was billed as a tall task, the program actually appears much worse four seasons in. For all of the talk of a program built on effort and intensity, those qualities were often found lacking on Saturday afternoons. It appeared many times on the field to be a rudderless ship with no direction, no identity and no real map of where it was headed. The next hire will be crucial in setting the program back on its path. The task is a large one where winning fans back will be as important as winning games. Here are a few names that should be in consideration to lead the program.

Brian Bohannon, Kennessaw State Head Coach As former Georgia Bulldog, Bohannon interesting enough has ties to the Yellow Jacket program. He served for five seasons under former head coach Paul Johnson. While Bohannon would likely mean a return to an option-based offense, Georgia Tech was vastly more successful running that scheme than the most recent iteration. He left Tech in 2013 to start the FCS-level program at Kennesaw State. In his seven seasons leading the Owls, he has amassed four 10 win seasons, three conference championships, and four FCS playoff berths. He has made the Owls consistent contenders at the FCS level and a mainstay in the top 25. Could he be ready for the gig at a Power 5 program?

Tashard Choice, Texas RB Coach Choice is also a former Yellow Jacket who became famous during his time at Georgia Tech for his hard-nosed play, his leadership, and his passion for his teammates. Following a six-year NFL career, Choice entered the coaching ranks in 2017 as a Grad Assistant at North Texas. In 2018, Choice was named a finalist for Running Backs Coach of the Year. Upon his move to Georgia Tech, with Geoff Collins, Choice helped usher in one of the best recruiting classes in school history helping to land the highly touted Jahmyr Gibbs. Choice is currently at the University of Texas coaching the likes of Bijan Robinson. Should the Yellow Jackets go this route it would be one similar to the risk Clemson took in hiring Dabo Sweeney. Choice has no coordinator or head coach experience, but at every stop he commands the love and respect of the players and has coached his position group to be consistently tops on the team. His passion and drive could make him a dark horse candidate in this search.

George Godsey, Baltimore Ravens TE Coach The former Yellow Jacket QB still holds several passing records at the school. While Godsey has no Head Coaching experience to his resume, He understands the environment on North Avenue and what it takes to win on the Flats. With 18 years of coaching experience between the NFL and college, Godsey has learned from some of the best during his time including Bill Bellichek and George OLeary. While he might not be choice number 1, with a hefty buyout of Geoff Collins, he could provide a potential cheaper option for the Yellow Jackets to pursue.

Dell McGee, University of Georgia RB Coach While the thought of hiring a Georgia Bulldog might not sit well with the Tech fanbase, McGee has deep roots in the state of Georgia. McGee spent 10 years involved in coaching at the High School level, winning a State Championship in 2007. The last 8 years have been spent coaching collegiately in the Peach State at Georgia Southern and the University of Georgia. McGee was interim head coach for the very first bowl win in Georgia Southern history winning the 2015 GoDaddy Bowl. Well known as a players coach and a solid recruiter, he has presided over one of the best running back rooms in the country the past seven seasons in Athens. McGee knows the landscape in the state and could up the talent level quickly in Atlanta.

Bill OBrien, Alabama OC OBrien coached for 8 seasons in Atlanta as a grad assistant, running backs, coach and eventually Offensive Coordinator. As a collegiate head coach, he may be most known for taking over a Penn State program in the aftermath of the Jerry Sandusky scandal. While not to the level of Penn State, the Yellow Jacket program is certainly a mess in need of a stabilizing face. He has an impressive resume working with Bill Bellichek and the Patriots, six years as Head Coach of the Houston Texans with 4 AFC South Titles, and most recently OC at Alabama tutoring Bryce Young. Many have found success picking from the Saban tree in college and for Georgia Tech this may well be the route to go.