Georgia Football’s Coaching Shake-Up: Kirby Smart’s Bold Moves for 2025
The college football coaching carousel is heating up, and Georgia’s Kirby Smart is making waves with major staff changes. After a rollercoaster 2024 season—where the Bulldogs secured the SEC title but suffered three disappointing losses, including a Sugar Bowl defeat to Notre Dame—Smart is reloading for a stronger 2025 campaign.
Georgia’s 2024 Season: A Mixed Bag
Georgia is targeting Phil Rauscher and John Lilly for roles on its staff, sources tell @CBSSports/@247Sports.
Rauscher was the Jacksonville Jaguars’ offensive line coach the last three years. Lilly, a 30-year coaching vet, has been a tight ends coach in both college and the NFL.… pic.twitter.com/F16U4n9FzF
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) March 24, 2025
Despite finishing with an SEC title, Georgia’s season had its share of setbacks. Smart has been transparent about the team’s challenges, stating, “We are a work in progress… We have a very young, inexperienced group.” That sentiment is driving his aggressive moves to revamp the coaching staff and bring in new talent.
Staff Changes and NFL Influence
Smart wasted no time reshuffling his coaching staff. Special teams coordinator Scott Cochran and offensive analyst Darrell Dickey have both stepped down, leading to key promotions and potential new hires. Kirk Benedict has been elevated to special teams coordinator, and reports indicate that Smart is targeting Phil Rauscher and John Lilly to join his staff.
Phil Rauscher brings over a decade of NFL coaching experience, most recently serving as the offensive line coach and run game coordinator for the Jacksonville Jaguars. If he joins Georgia, it will mark his first return to college football since 2014. His extensive NFL background with the Redskins, Broncos, and Vikings could provide the Bulldogs with an edge in offensive line development.
John Lilly, a familiar face in Athens, coached Georgia’s tight ends from 2008 to 2015. Currently at UNC as tight ends coach and run game coordinator, Lilly’s potential return could be huge for a Georgia team loaded with top-tier tight-end talent, including Oscar Delp, Lawson Luckie, and Jaden Redell.
Kirby Smart’s Game Plan for 2025
These changes indicate that Smart isn’t just looking for a reset—he’s upgrading his staff with experienced minds, particularly from the NFL. While many college coaches are making the jump to the pros, Smart is doing the opposite, ensuring Georgia remains competitive at the highest level.
Beyond coaching shifts, Smart has also strengthened Georgia’s roster through key transfer additions, including wide receivers Noah Thomas and Zachariah Branch. He has doubled down on maintaining the program’s high standards, especially with freshman conditioning.
Addressing Criticism and Looking Ahead
While Georgia’s offense ranked No. 51 in 2024—its lowest since Smart took over—he has stood by his coaching staff. In a conversation with Josh Pate, Smart defended his team’s efforts, calling it “the best coaching job we have done by far.” He acknowledged that Georgia’s schedule was tougher than previous years, contributing to statistical struggles, but he remains confident in his staff’s work.
Looking ahead to 2025, Smart is focused on refining his team’s execution and ensuring they return to national title contention. His NFL-inspired coaching revamp could be the key to Georgia’s comeback.
What do you think? Will Smart’s changes lead to a stronger 2025 season for Georgia?