The Georgia Bulldogs have hired James Coley as their next wide receivers coach, according to Matt Zenitz of 247Sports, swiping him from the South Carolina Gamecocks.
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
Coley, 50, was at Georgia from 2016-2019, serving as a wide receivers coach, co-offensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach and, eventually, the full-on offensive coordinator.
Coley worked a stint at Texas A&M from 2020-23 — first as a wide receivers coach from 2020-21, then as a co-offensive coordinator and tight ends coach from 2022-23. He then was hired by South Carolina in January as the wide receivers coach and offensive assistant. Now, he's back at Georgia.
Coley's coaching career began in 1997 as the quarterbacks coach for Miami Senior High School. From there, he coached Miami Norland High as an assistant head coach and offensive coordinator from 2000 to 2002.
After 2002, he mainly was in college football. But he briefly stopped with the Miami Dolphins as an offensive assistant in 2005-06 to assist Nick Saban. He left when Saban departed to become the coach for the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Heading into Georgia for 2024, Coley will work with players such as Rara Thomas, Dillon Bell, Dominic Lovett and more, as wide receiver Ladd McConkey is headed to the NFL.
Fans on X reacted to the news in a variety of ways.
Take note of who says this is a bad hire dawg fans. Then never trust their opinions again. Buddy is an ELITE recruiter.
— Wes Johnson SZN (@Babufrikd) February 24, 2024
"Take note of who says this is a bad hire dawg fans. Then never trust their opinions again. Buddy is an ELITE recruiter," one user said.
Great pick up, they must have thrown lots of money. Coaches like him who studied under Cristobal, Bowden, Saben and Fisher know football but are still young enough to relate to players and change the game through evolution. Great re-hire by Georgia! I wish he was here in Miami
— Jose L. Gonzalez (@Pepi101) February 24, 2024
"Great pick up, they must have thrown lots of money," someone else said. "Coaches like him who studied under Cristobal, Bowden, Saben and Fisher know football but are still young enough to relate to players and change the game through evolution. Great re-hire by Georgia! I wish he was here in Miami."
The Bulldogs' 2023 College Football Playoff hopes were dashed when they lost to the Crimson Tide in the Southeastern Conference Championship Game.
Their 2024 season kicks off on Aug. 31 against the Clemson Tigers.
