ATLANTA — Georgia Tech football coach Brent Key has rounded out his first Yellow Jackets staff with the addition of six assistants, including former Georgia Bulldogs quarterback quality control coach Buster Faulkner as offensive coordinator.
Faulkner, who also will work with the tight ends, will be joined by returning quarterbacks coach Chris Weinke, promoted by Key to also serve as co-offensive coordinator.
Faulkner has spent the past three years in the Southeastern Conference with the rival Bulldogs, where he was key to the development of Heisman Trophy finalist and two-time national champion quarterback Stetson Bennett. Faulkner previously spent a total of 10 years as offensive coordinator at Southern Miss, Arkansas State, Middle Tennessee State and Murray State.
"Buster is one of the nation's finest offensive minds and his vision for what he wants to do offensively here on the Flats meshes perfectly with mine and the rest of the offensive staff's," Key said in Wednesday's release announcing his staff.
Key went 4-4 as Tech's interim head coach in 2022 — he was in his fourth year as assistant head coach, running game coordinator and offensive line coach when Geoff Collins was fired in late September after a 1-3 start to his fourth season leading the Jackets — and was promoted to the position on a full-time basis after the season ended with the team just missing out on a bowl.
Andrew Thacker returns as defensive coordinator, but Key's hires included Kevin Sherrer as co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach.
Sherrer brings SEC experience to the Atlantic Coast Conference program; he has been a linebackers coach at both Georgia and Tennessee in addition to two stints at alma mater Alabama. He spent the 2020-21 seasons as an assistant with the NFL's New York Giants and returns to the college ranks after a season out of coaching.
"We're really fortunate to add a coach of Kevin's caliber to our staff," Key said. "He has produced winners at every level that he has ever coached."
The other new assistants are running backs coach/run game coordinator Norval McKenzie — who was most recently at Vanderbilt — wide receivers coach Josh Crawford, offensive line coach Geep Wade and defensive line coach Marco Coleman, who played at Tech and was part of Collins' staff before leaving for Michigan State in 2022.
"He is the prime example of what it means to be a Tech man, and I couldn't be happier to have him back with us," Key said of Coleman.
The other holdovers from last year's staff are defensive backs coach Travares Tillman and Jason Semore, who is special teams coordinator and also works with nickelbacks and safeties .
In addition to the 10 on-field assistants, Tech announced the hiring of Brian Baker as senior analyst for the defensive line.