ATHENS — Losing a key assistant coach like Dell McGee is never a good thing for Kirby Smart
But many who either root for or are attached to the Georgia program were thrilled to see McGee get a head coaching job. After working as Georgia’s running backs coach for the past eight seasons, McGee was hired as the head coach at Georgia State on Friday.
Given McGee’s ties to the state, it seems like a no-brainer for the Panthers.
“I’ve spent 20-plus years coaching in Georgia. As a native of this state, this opportunity to develop student-athletes here has always been the blessing I knew I was preparing for,” McGee said in a statement released by Georgia State. “I am forever grateful for Coach Smart and the University of Georgia for supporting me in my dream of being of a college head coach. Georgia State is primed for success. As a premier institution in the best city in America, I can’t wait to lead the football program as we compete for championships.”
Shortly after the hire of McGee was made official, support poured in on social media for the long-time Smart assistant.
McGee will get the chance to coach his son Austin, who signed as a member of Georgia State’s 2024 signing class.
McGee becomes the fifth Georgia assistant coach to be hired directly off of Smart’s staff and into the role of head coach. He joins Mel Tucker, Sam Pittman, Dan Lanning and Fran Brown in doing so.
McGee was the last remaining offensive assistant from Smart’s first staff at Georgia, as McGee has been with Smart all eight seasons at Georgia.
In that time, McGee produced six running backs who were drafted. Three of them became Pro Bowlers in Nick Chubb, James Cook and D’Andre Swift.
McGee played an integral part in building Georgia into the championship program it has become. In addition to developing running backs, McGee was instrumental in recruiting the state of Georgia for the Bulldogs. McGee is from Columbus, Ga. Prior to coming to Georgia, he worked at Georgia Southern. He was also a state champion-winning high school coach as well.
McGee is the fourth Georgia assistant coach to depart the program this offseason, as Brown, Will Muschamp and Bryan McClendon will no longer be on-field assistants for the Bulldogs. Muschamp is still with the program but will be an analyst this coming season.
McClendon, who was also a candidate for the Georgia State job, recently became the wide receivers coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Georgia does have to replace its two leading rushers in Kendall Milton and Daijun Edwards. But McGee doesn’t leave behind an empty cupboard. The Bulldogs added Florida transfer Trevor Etienne, along with three 2024 running back signees.
Branson Robinson, Andrew Paul and Roderick Robinson also return this season for Georgia.
McGee has long expressed his desire to be the head coach of a college football program. Thanks to his time at Georgia, McGee can now say that he has earned that job title.
“Coach Smart has been a blessing to me. I really want to thank him for affording me the opportunity to be the running backs coach here,” McGee said in August of 2022. “Also the opportunities that he allows me to be in front of our football team, and in front of our offensive staff as well. Coach Smart has done everything as a mentor that you could do as a head coach and assistant coach. He’s very, very positive when it comes to his assistants moving on.”
Georgia State went 7-6 last season. McGee will take over for Shawn Elliott, who is now the tight ends coach at South Carolina. An introductory press conference will be held for McGee on Monday morning.
