coaching staff Tracy Rocker Assoc. Head Coach / Defensive Line Tracy Rocker, one of the state of Georgia’s greatest college players of all time, was named defensive line coach at UGA in January of 2014, and added the title of Associate Head Coach in 2015. Rocker came to UGA after three years as defensive line coach with the NFL’s Tennessee Titans. He is a former Auburn All-America defensive tackle, 1988 Outland Trophy and Lombardi Award winner, and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2004. Rocker coached three years with the Titans (2011, ’12, ’13). In 2012, they ranked 10th in the NFL in sacks (39). In his first season with the Titans, DT Karl Klug led all NFL rookie tackles with seven sacks, ranking fourth among all NFL DT’s. An 18-year veteran of college coaching, Rocker spent time with five programs and helped a number of players reach All-American honors. As a player, Rocker was a two-time All American at Auburn and the 1988 Outland (best offensive or defensive lineman) and Lombardi winner. He was the first SEC player to earn both awards. He was named SEC Player of the Year after his final season (1988). A native of Atlanta, Rocker and his wife Lalitha have a son, Kumar.
Additional Defensive Assistants For the 2016 TaxSlayer Bowl Sam Petitto Director of Player Personnel
Courtney Coard Graduate Assistant Defense
Todd Hartley Director of Recruiting Special Teams Coach For TaxSlayer Bowl
Kevin Sherrer Inside Linebackers Kevin Sherrer, defensive coordinator at South Alabama in 2013, was named a defensive assistant at Georgia on January 24, 2014. Sherrer will assume defensive play-calling duties at the 2016 TaxSlayer Bowl. Sherrer, who served as Director of Player Development at Alabama for three years prior to joining the South Alabama staff, coached defensive backs for the Jaguars. The 2013 South Alabama defense ranked second in the Sun Belt Conference in total defense (384.3 yards per game) and second in scoring defense (25.2 points per game). Prior to joining the staff at Alabama, Sherrer was an assistant at Hoover (Ala.) High (2005-09) including serving as defensive coordinator the final three. The Buccaneers claimed the state 6A title in 2005 and 2009, and advanced to the title game in two other years. Sherrer was also the DB coach at Spain Park (Ala.) High School (2001-04), where he helped the Jaguars win 16 games his last two seasons. He began his career as an assistant at Tuscaloosa County (Ala.) High (1996-97). Sherrer is a 1996 graduate of Alabama with a degree in physical education, and he earned his master’s degree in higher education administration from the school in 2000. Sherrer and his wife Carrie have twin sons, Kaleb and Kyle.
Mark Hocke Director of Strength & Conditioning Mark Hocke was named Director of Strength and Conditioning at the University of Georgia on Dec. 14, 2014, after serving as University of Alabama Co-Associate Football Strength and Conditioning Coach. Hocke has served the previous six years under Alabama Director of Strength and Conditioning Scott Cochran. During that time, he was part of a program that won three SEC championships, three national championships and 72 games in last six seasons. While serving at Alabama, he helped developed several NFL draft choices including first rounders Dre Kirkpatrick, Julio Jones, and Mark Ingram. Prior to joining the Alabama staff, Hocke served five seasons as assistant football coach and head strength coach at his alma mater, Jesuit High School in New Orleans. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Business from the University of New Orleans.
37