The Georgia Bulldogs are once again in the market for a new outside linebackers coach after Chidera Uzo-Diribe accepted a job with the Dallas Cowboys. It’s another high-level departure from Kirby Smart’s staff, and it continues a pattern: this position, while not the flashiest on Georgia’s coaching tree, has been a springboard to bigger opportunities. Just look at the track record - Kevin Sherrer moved on to become Tennessee’s defensive coordinator, Dan Lanning took the head job at Oregon, and now Uzo-Diribe is heading to the NFL.
That kind of turnover speaks volumes about the quality of coaching development happening in Athens. And with Georgia’s deep pockets and national profile, you can bet Smart and company will be aggressive - and strategic - in finding the next man up.
So who’s on the radar? Here are five early names to watch as Georgia begins its search. Some bring deep ties to the program, others offer elite SEC experience, and a few are rising stars with intriguing upside.
Jarvis Jones - Head Coach, Carver High School (Columbus, GA)
Few names carry more weight in Athens than Jarvis Jones. The former Bulldog star still holds the school’s single-season sack record (14.5) and was a first-round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2013. After his playing days, Jones returned to Georgia in a support role, working as a player connection coordinator and assisting with the outside linebackers.
This past season, he took over as head coach at Carver High School, his alma mater, and promptly led the team to a perfect 15-0 record and a state championship. That’s a strong debut by any standard.
Jones knows the Georgia culture inside and out, and he’s a name that resonates with recruits and fans alike. The question is whether Smart would hand the keys to a position room in the SEC to someone who hasn’t yet coached at the college level. It would be a big leap - but not an impossible one.
Christian Robinson - Outside Linebackers Coach, Alabama
Robinson is no stranger to Athens - or to Kirby Smart’s staff. He played at Georgia, suited up alongside Jarvis Jones in 2012, and later worked as a graduate assistant and quality control coach for the Bulldogs in 2013 and 2014.
Since then, he’s built a solid résumé across the SEC, with stops at Florida, Auburn, and now Alabama. Over the past two years in Tuscaloosa, Robinson has continued to grow his reputation as a strong recruiter and a developer of talent. Notably, he’s already built relationships with several players currently on Georgia’s roster, including 2026 signee Khamari Brooks.
Georgia had a shot to bring him back in 2021 but opted for Uzo-Diribe instead. Now, with the position open again, Robinson could be a familiar and experienced option worth revisiting.
Coleman Hutzler - Bucks/EDGE Coach, Auburn
If Smart wants someone with a deep SEC résumé and a heavy dose of special teams expertise, Hutzler fits the bill. He’s coached at Florida, South Carolina, Texas, Ole Miss, Alabama, and Mississippi State - mostly working with linebackers and edge defenders.
Hutzler also has a history with Georgia co-defensive coordinator Travaris Robinson; the two have worked together at multiple stops, including Florida, South Carolina, and Alabama. That kind of familiarity can go a long way in building a cohesive defensive staff.
He was just hired by Auburn this offseason, but that hasn’t stopped Georgia before. In recent years, Smart has pulled Uzo-Diribe, Tray Scott, and James Coley away from new jobs to bring them to Athens. If Hutzler is the right fit, don’t be surprised if Georgia makes a move.
Brian Early - Pass Rush Specialist/Edges Coach, Missouri
Early doesn’t have any direct ties to Georgia, but his work at Missouri speaks for itself. The Tigers have been one of the better pass-rushing teams in the SEC over the past few seasons, and they’ve done it without elite five-star talent.
This past year, Missouri finished fifth in the conference in sacks, with Early helping maximize the production of players like Zion Grady and Damon Wilson. Before arriving in Columbia, he was the defensive line coach at Houston from 2019 to 2023, where he also earned a reputation as a strong developer of talent.
At 49, Early is a bit older than some of the other candidates on this list, and it’s unclear how he fits into Georgia’s recruiting-heavy approach. But in an era where on-field production is king and development is more important than ever, he’s a name worth watching.
Nick Williams - Edges Coach and Pass Rush Specialist, Florida State
Williams is another Georgia alum who’s carved out a fast-rising coaching career. He played for the Bulldogs from 2008 to 2010 and later returned as a student and graduate assistant from 2018 to 2020.
Since then, he’s taken on more prominent roles, first as an analyst at Texas A&M, then as an on-field coach at Colorado in 2023. He moved to Syracuse to coach edges in 2024 and 2025 before being hired by Florida State this past December.
Williams is young, energetic, and well-versed in Georgia’s defensive DNA. He’s also been praised for his recruiting chops - a must-have in Athens. With his trajectory pointing upward, this could be the right time for a homecoming.
Final Thoughts
Kirby Smart has shown time and again that he values familiarity, but he’s also not afraid to think outside the box. Uzo-Diribe and Fran Brown were relatively unknown when they were hired, and both proved to be home-run additions. Whether Georgia sticks with someone who knows the program or brings in a fresh face, the expectation remains the same: develop elite edge talent and keep the Bulldogs’ defense among the nation’s best.
The search is on - and as always in Athens, the bar is set sky-high.