Georgia brings back former player and coach to join Kirby Smart’s staff

Bryan McClendon returns to the Georgia football program to serve on Kirby Smart’s staff.

It is a triumphant return to Athens for one Bryan McClendon, as the former Georgia football player and coach has agreed to be the next passing game coordinator/wide receivers coach for Kirby Smart’s program.

McClendon played for Mark Richt in the early 2000s and began his coaching career under him in 2009. When Richt was let go after the 2015 college season, he followed former Georgia player Will Muschamp to South Carolina. McClendon had most recently coached with Mario Cristobal on the Oregon Ducks, before briefly following him to Miami. What a massive get for Georgia here.

With former wide receivers coach Cortez Hankton going back to his native Louisiana to coach the receivers for Brian Kelly, McClendon seized the opportunity to come home. He joins Smart, Muschamp and Mike Bobo as former Dawg players on this 2022 Georgia coaching staff.

Georgia Bryan McClendon returns to Athens to coach alongside Kirby Smart

McClendon brings with him a wealth of experience at several Power 5 jobs. He has always been an ace recruiter, as he played a big part in guys like Nick Chubb and Sony Michel coming to Athens in the first place. Not only can he coach wide receivers, he can coordinate an entire offense and devise a strong running game. However, his speciality has always been as a savvy recruiter.

No doubt about it. This is a huge hire for Georgia. Another one of their own is coming home to help keep the Dawgs on top. Replacing Hankton was not going to be easy, but McClendon was a clear choice. Given that Smart was briefly his coach back in 2005, this makes all the sense in the world. While the rich get richer, Cristobal will have to find a new recruiting ace to offset this massive loss.

The defending national champions will have one of the best coaching staffs in the land yet again.

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