College football’s coaching carousel is getting wild. You’ve got GOATs like Bill Belichick possibly flipping the script, ditching the NFL for some college action, and then there’s Steve Sarkisian, turning down NFL offers to stick with Texas. It’s a transformative era. And just when you think you’ve seen it all, Kirby Smart’s throwing his own curveball into the mix.

Let’s face it, Georgia’s 2024 season was a rollercoaster. They snagged the SEC title, sure, but those three losses, especially that Sugar Bowl smackdown from Notre Dame, left a sour taste. Now, everyone’s wondering, ‘What’s next?’ Smart’s been pretty upfront about it, too. He straight up said, “We are a work in progress… We have a very young, inexperienced group.” And you know what? That ‘work in progress’ is starting to look pretty interesting.

Off the field, Smart’s been shaking things up big time. We’ve seen Scott Cochran, the special teams coordinator, and offensive analyst Darrell Dickey both stepping down. That leaves some big shoes to fill, and Smart’s wasted no time. He promoted Kirk Benedict to special teams coordinator, and in a statement, he said, “I want to thank Scott and Darrell for their contributions to Georgia football. We wish them all the best moving forward.” Classic coach speaks, but it’s clear he’s serious about moving on.

But that’s not the only coaching shift happening in Athens. There’s another major move making headlines, something that’s really adding some serious intrigue to Georgia’s evolving staff. We’re talking NFL-level brains coming into the fold. Smart is not just reloading; he is upgrading. It’s a bold move, especially when you consider how many college coaches are jumping ship to the pros. Smart’s going the other way, bringing that pro experience to the college game. You can tell he’s not just sitting back and accepting those three losses.

While change is in the air, Georgia is wasting no time. On Monday, Matt Zenitz dropped a major report, writing, “Georgia is targeting Phil Rauscher and John Lilly for roles on its staff.” So, if the Bulldogs land them, they’ll be adding a veteran coaching duo with deep college and NFL ties. Rauscher brings a wealth of pro experience, while Lilly knows Georgia well from his previous stint in Athens. Seems like Smart is reloading his staff with proven minds, setting the stage for the Bulldogs’ next big run.

Phil Rauscher comes with his 10 years of NFL expertise. Well, for the past three years, he’s been the offensive line coach and run game coordinator for the Jaguars. But now, he’s making his return to the collegiate ranks for the first time since his days as Cal Lutheran’s OC in 2014. Before Jacksonville, Rauscher made his mark in the league with the Redskins, Broncos, and Vikings. So, his resume is stacked, and now he may be set to bring that pro-level expertise to Georgia’s offensive front.

And John Lilly knows his way around Athens. The man who coached Georgia’s tight ends from 2008 to 2015, back in the Mark Richt days? Well, after spending the last few years at UNC as their tight ends coach and run game coordinator, it looks like he might be heading back to Athens. And honestly, that could be a huge deal. Lilly’s a 30-year coaching vet with experience in both college and the NFL. He knows his stuff.

Now, why is this important? Well, Georgia’s tight-end room is stacked. We’re not talking about a couple of guys here. They’ve got Oscar Delp, Lawson Luckie, Jaden Redell, Elyiss Williams, and Ethan Barbour—all top-200 recruits coming out of high school. Plus, they’re already looking ahead to the 2026 class. That’s a lot of talent, and they need a coach who can develop them. With Georgia eyeing him for a return, Lilly’s experience and play-calling expertise could be a valuable addition.

Kirby Smart’s been busy, that’s for sure. He’s not just sitting back after a season with its fair share of ups and downs; he’s actively reshaping the Georgia Bulldogs. You’ve seen the moves: snagging key transfers like Noah Thomas and Zachariah Branch to beef up the offense, and he’s been laying down the law, emphasizing those high standards, especially when it comes to freshman conditioning. It’s clear he’s serious about keeping Georgia at the top of the college football mountain. And even though they didn’t claim the national title, he’s ensuring the mood for next season is positive by giving his coaching staff the credit they deserved for a strong 2024 season.

Kirby Smart praises his coaching staff

Spring football is in full swing, and Georgia is already looking ahead to 2025. But Kirby Smart is still fielding criticism over his coaching staff’s role in what some call a disappointing 2024 season. After all, they finished with a No. 51 overall offense, racking up 405.4 yards per game—their lowest since Smart took the reins. But Smart’s not backing down. In a chat with Josh Pate, he made it clear that he believes his staff delivered their best work ‘easily,’ despite a brutal schedule, key injuries, and unexpected setbacks. Through it all, the Bulldogs fought—and Smart isn’t letting the effort go unnoticed.

In his eyes, Georgia’s 2024 season was a masterclass in coaching. “Best coaching job we have done by far—100%,” Smart told CBS Sports’ Josh Pate. Moreover, he acknowledged the team wasn’t as dominant as in past years, but emphasized they faced “twice the schedule some of the years previous. So, to the naysayers, to the onlookers, to people that don’t know, I respect everyone’s opinion… but I know football, and I know the level of schedule we had to play.”

Kirby Smart didn’t shy away from the truth—Georgia’s 2024 season fell short of the program’s sky-high standards. Still, he found plenty to be proud of. “I was very pleased with what we got out of our team. And it was below the standard, statistically, in a lot of areas. But a lot of that had to do with the schedule we played,” said Smart. The man is proud of his team’s grit and his staff’s resilience, even if the numbers don’t scream perfection. Seems like Smart is not letting anyone forget the fight his team showed, and he’s ready to prove that 2024 was an anomaly, not a trend.