Coaching Changes Announced to the DawgNation....

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During a media teleconference Wednesday, Georgia coach Mark Richt fielded questions regarding his decision to make changes on his staff. He announced defensive coordinator and secondary coach Willie Martinez, defensive co-cordinator and linebacker coach John Jancek, and defensive ends coach Jon Fabris will not return in 2010.

Rich indicated the aforementioned coaches did not know about his decision until he met with them today, and that he informed the team at a meeting at 4 p.m.

"I did not take any pleasure in the decision," said Richt. "It was a very difficult thing to do. After painstaking reflection and time to think about the whole situation, I felt like this was the best decision for Georgia right now. I will say this; I spent a lot of time with these men. We spend much more time with each other than our families. In season, we work 80 hours a week if not 100, and you get to know them, meet with them daily, watch their children grow up, you bleed with them, there are defeats with them and wonderful celebrations with them, Christmas parties and all those things. We've accomplished quite a lot in this time frame. It's not been anything easy at all.

"This was not a one year knee-jerk reaction to this season," Richt added. "It was more of a decision that was made over the course of time. As difficult as today was, the time spent deciding what to do was not an easy time."

All three of the aforementioned coaches have been asked by Richt to coach through the bowl, however Richt indicated that he does not know if they will.

"I want them too, at this point, they've been invited to, and I hope they do," said Richt. "We'll have a better idea after some time passes."

Richt said the bottom line is he wants to get Georgia back to the top of the Eastern Division and the top of the Southeastern Conference.

"We want to make sure we're playing Georgia ball, playing with the type of speed and intensity that it takes to be champions, that's what we're looking for," Richt added.

He said there is no timetable for the new additions to his staff.

"The plan is to bring in the right people, the right coaches. Coaches that are competent and buy in to the philosophy I have as a head coach," said Richt. "That doesn't happen overnight, and I don't think it's right to be out there shopping around until I talked to the men I did today.

"If you're bringing in a top-notch coordinator, every coordinator has one or two people he has worked with in the past, and I wanted him to have some freedom to suggest some folks, and I would have to feel comfortable with who he wants to have on the defensive staff. I know I was coordinator at one time."

In relation to recruiting, Richt said the remaining coaches on his staff would pick up the load, as Martinez, Jancek and Fabris would not have anymore recruiting responsibilities even if they decide to coach the bowl.

In relation to the possibility of any further changes to his staff, Richt said "all the other coaches are in good shape."