Here are names to know for Georgia football's offensive coordinator hire

Kirby Smart has been ready to make a quick move with his recent Georgia football coordinator hires.

When James Coley was replaced as offensive coordinator in January of 2020, it came at the same time Todd Monken was announced as offensive coordinator.

When Dan Lanning was hired at Oregon as head coach in December of 2021, Smart quickly promoted Glenn Schumann and Will Muschamp from his staff to co-defensive coordinators.

Now with Monken headed to the Baltimore Ravens as its new offensive coordinator on Tuesday, former Georgia offensive coordinator Mike Bobo seems like the top candidate, but Smart went outside the program to hire Monken.

Here’s a look at coaches that would make sense to fill the job.

UPDATE: Georgia announced the hire of Mike Bobo late Tuesday morning.

Mike Bobo, Georgia football offensive analyst

The former Georgia offensive coordinator has spent the past season on staff working with Monken in an off-the-field role. His offenses put up record numbers during his run as offensive coordinator under Mark Richt from 2007-14. He’s a close friend with Smart who hired him after one-year stints as offensive coordinator at Auburn and South Carolina after five seasons as Colorado State head coach.

“I know Coach Smart has a next guy if coach Monken were to move on, he has a next guy in the system already, ready to step in and fill those shoes right away,” 2024 quarterback recruit Dylan Raiola of Chandler, Ariz., told UGASports.com

Buster Faulkner, Georgia Tech football offensive coordinator

Faulkner spent all three seasons under Monken on Georgia’s staff as offensive quality control coordinator where he worked with the quarterbacks. He would bring familiarity to the three returning quarterbacks vying for the starting job. Faulkner has offensive coordinator experience at Southern Miss, Arkansas State, Middle Tennessee, and Murray State.

Bryan McClendon, UGA Bulldogs wide receivers coach

McClendon was offensive coordinator for two seasons at South Carolina in 2018-19 and would be another in-house candidate. The former Georgia wide receiver served as interim coach for bowl games at both Georgia and Oregon. He holds the title passing game coordinator now and was a Georgia assistant from 2009-15, coaching running backs for all but the final year.

Dell McGee, UGA running backs coach

McGee is the only Georgia offensive assistant coach who has worked with Smart for all seven of his seasons. He’s had the title of run game coordinator since 2019. Viewed as a head coaching candidate, McGee was interim head coach for a Georgia Southern bowl win and was head coach at Carver High in his hometown of Columbus from 2005-12.

Wildcards from NFL, including Kliff Kingsbury

Smart went the NFL route to snag Monken in 2020. If he’s looking for someone with play-calling experience on that level, former Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury who served as Texas A&M offensive coordinator and Texas Tech coach is a possibility. Former Georgia running back Thomas Brown, a Rams assistant, has interviewed for NFL head coach and coordinator openings including Tampa's OC job this time. Buffalo Bills quarterbacks coach Joe Brady was passing game coordinator for LSU in its national championship season of 2019.

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Names to watch for Georgia football's offensive coordinator hire