Georgia Football has welcomed a familiar face as their new wide receiver coach for the upcoming season. James Coley is returning for his second stint with the Dawgs, having previously served as the wideout coach from 2016 to 2019, including a stint as offensive coordinator in 2019.
After leaving Georgia, Coley spent four years at Texas A&M before being slated to join South Carolina as their wideout coach. However, he recently accepted the position with Georgia, causing some discontent among fans on Twitter. Despite the mixed reactions, Coley’s re-hiring is largely attributed to his prowess in recruiting, particularly in South Florida, where he’s credited with bringing in notable talents like James Cook, Tyson Campbell, and Tyrique Stevenson, as well as addressing critical needs like securing Lawrence Cager as a receiver.
Georgia is expected to hire James Coley as wide receivers coach, sources tell @247sports.
Coley, who was previously at Georgia from 2016-19, had recently accepted a job at South Carolina but is now instead on the verge of heading back to Athens. Worked at Texas A&M the last… pic.twitter.com/dC3mPILPPm
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) February 24, 2024
While some fans may still harbor reservations about Coley’s previous stint as offensive coordinator in 2019, it’s evident that head coach Kirby Smart prioritizes recruiting prowess in coaching hires, as evidenced by Coley’s return alongside the hiring of T-Rob. This emphasis on recruiting remains unchanged despite any past disappointments, with Smart continuing to view it as vital for the program’s success.
James Coley was the LAST UGA COACH TO SECURE A FIVE STAR RECEIVER AT GEORGIA:
George Pickens🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Players James Coley recruited to Georgia:
Tyson Campbell
Isaiah Wilson
Georgia Pickens (The last Five star WR we landed)
Dom Blaylock
Tyrique Stevenson
James Cook
Kearis… pic.twitter.com/IKZLhBl2be— 🚫 LEE Ring (@HBTFD1) February 24, 2024
With one coaching position still vacant following Dell McGee’s departure, the focus remains on securing another adept recruiter before spring practice begins in March. Despite any lingering concerns, Coley’s hiring as wide receiver coach is generally seen as a positive move, particularly given that he has not been reinstated as offensive coordinator. As recruiting remains a cornerstone of Georgia’s strategy, it’s expected that the Dawgs will continue to attract talent from South Florida and beyond in the upcoming cycles.
