Georgia defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator Rodney Garner met Saturday with new Tennessee football coach Lane Kiffin in Knoxville.
A Georgia athletic department official confirmed the trip and said Kiffin did request and receive permission to talk with Garner, who coached tight ends for the Vols in 1996 and tight ends and offensive tackles in ’97. Kiffin has tabbed his father, Monte Kiffin, as defensive coordinator and former Ole Miss coach Ed Orgeron as defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator.
Garner, 42, has a salary of $253,301 this fiscal year, which ranks third among Bulldogs assistants behind defensive coordinator Willie Martinez ($310,300) and offensive coordinator Mike Bobo ($267,500). He has been at Georgia since 1998 and was the only assistant Mark Richt retained from Jim Donnan’s staff.
Looking around is nothing new for Garner, who was courted by LSU in January 2005, interviewed with the New Orleans Saints in February 2006 and interviewed for Auburn’s head-coaching vacancy last month. LSU’s interest resulted in Richt canceling his duties at the Hula Bowl to secure Garner a raise.
David Paschall is a sports writer for the Times Free Press. He started at the Chattanooga Free Press in 1990 and was part of the Times Free Press when the paper started in 1999. David covers University of Georgia football, as well as SEC football recruiting, SEC basketball, Chattanooga Lookouts baseball and other sports stories. He is a Chattanooga native and graduate of the Baylor School and Auburn University. David has received numerous honors for ...
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