Coaches
at
a
Glance
Front Row (kneeling l-r): Tony Ball, Jeremy Pruitt, Head Coach Mark Richt, Mike Bobo, Bryan McClendon Standing: Mike Ekeler, John Lilly, Tracy Rocker, Will Friend, Kevin Sherrer
Jeremy Pruitt Defensive Coordinator/Secondary
Jeremy Pruitt, defensive coordinator at national champion Florida State in 2013, was named defensive coordinator at the University of Georgia on Jan. 14, 2014. He was greeted with the challenge of reconstructing the entire defensive staff, the first time an entire defensive staff had changed since 1964. As defensive coordinator/defensive backs coach at FSU, Pruitt was part of a coaching staff that led the Seminoles to an undefeated season and 2013 BCS National Championship. The FSU defense ended the season ranked first nationally in scoring defense (12.1 ppg). He was a finalist for the Broyles Award, which goes to the nation’s top assistant coach. Pruitt was named FSU’s defensive coordinator in December, 2012, after serving the previous three seasons (2010-12) as Alabama’s defensive backfield coach. A former Alabama defensive back, Pruitt originally joined the Crimson Tide staff in 2007 as director of player development. Pruitt is married to the former Casey East. He has one son, Jayse (18).
Mike Bobo, Offensive Coordinator/ Quarterbacks
Mike Bobo, one of the most prolific passers in Georgia history, was brought home by head coach Mark Richt in January, 2001, to coach the quarterbacks. He was promoted to Offensive Coordinator in 2007. Bobo had served one year as assistant at Jacksonville State after working as an administrative assistant and graduate assistant at UGA in 1998 and ’99. During his 13 years at UGA, he has been part of a staff that has led Georgia to 126 victories, two SEC championships, five SEC Eastern Division titles, eight bowl victories, and seven top ten finishes in the final national polls including No. 4 in 2012, No. 2 in 2007 and No. 3 in 2002. He’s directed Georgia to two consecutive record-setting seasons on offense: Total Yards in a Season (6,547 in 2012
and 6,294 in 2013); Average Yards Per Game (484.2 in ‘13 and 467.64 in ‘12); and Most TD’s in a Season (72 in 2012 and 58 in ‘13). He is married to the former Lainie Meshad. They have five children, Drew (10); triplets - Olivia, Jake and Ava Grace (8) and Kate (6).
Tony Ball, Wide Receivers
Tony Ball was named running backs coach at the University of Georgia on Feb. 14, 2006, after serving as wide receivers coach at Virginia Tech for eight years. He was named Georgia receivers coach in January, 2009, and in his first two years mentored 2011 NFL first round Bengals’ draft choice and Pro Bowl selection A.J. Green. As a running backs coach, Ball mentored Knowshon Moreno, 2009 first round draft choice of the Broncos. He also coached running backs Thomas Brown, Kregg Lumpkin, Danny Ware, and Brannan Southerland. At UGA, he’s been part of a staff that has led Georgia to a record of 5-3 in bowl games and two SEC Eastern Division championships. He’s been part of a staff that has led Georgia to two consecutive record-setting seasons on offense: Total Yards in a Season (6,547 in 2012 and 6,294 in 2013); Average Yards Per Game (484.2 in ‘13 and 467.64 in ‘12); and Most TD’s in a Season (72 in 2012 and 58 in ‘13). Ball is married to the former Maria Ann Slayden. They have two children: Anthony (23) and Keshea (22).
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Mike Ekeler, Inside Linebackers/ Defensive Special Teams Coordinator
Mike Ekeler, linebackers coach at Southern Cal in 2013, was named Inside Linebackers Coach at the University of Georgia on Feb. 6, 2014. He also coordinates the defensive special teams. Ekeler had previously served as linebackers coach and co-defensive coordinator at Indiana (2011-12). A native of David City, Neb., he had served as linebackers coach at Nebraska for three seasons (200810) under head coach Bo Pelini. During his
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