Kevin Sherrer excited to be back on Georgia’s staff, regardless of future role

Kevin Sherrer is glad to be coming back.

There was a period of uncertainty after Mark Richt was fired and Kirby Smart was hired as Georgia’s head coach. But Sherrer eventually was retained and will continue to be a part of the program.

Sherrer, who Smart kept along with defensive line coach Tracy Rocker, admitted the process was tough at first because he and his family didn’t know what would happen or what his next step would be. Sherrer seemed relieved when he found out he would stay with the Bulldogs.

“I’m excited. First off, it’s a great place,” Sherrer said outside of Georgia’s locker room following the team’s 24-17 win over Penn State on Saturday in the TaxSlayer Bowl. “I really like it at the University of Georgia. I have the opportunity to work with people I know — Coach Rocker and Coach Smart. Some of the offensive coaches I’ve had an opportunity to meet are good people. It’s a big relief because it’s stressful on the family.”

Sherrer will now wait and see what his role will be on the next staff. When asked, Sherrer said he was unsure whether he would stick with the outside linebackers or move elsewhere. For the TaxSlayer Bowl, Sherrer spent most of his time with the inside linebackers since Mike Ekeler left to take the defensive coordinator job at North Texas.

Smart hasn’t hired a defensive coordinator yet, and Sherrer could be a possibility for the position. Other prospective options include two Alabama assistants — defensive backs coach Mel Tucker or outside linebackers coach Tosh Lupoi.

“I think the staff is still open,” Sherrer said. “A lot of it is there are still some dynamics Coach Smart has to work out.”

Smart does have two assistants left to hire when it comes to his on-field staff. If he decides to hire a special teams coordinator, he will also have to coach a position. If Smart brings over Tucker to be the defensive coordinator, then Sherrer could resume coaching outside linebackers. If Smart adds Lupoi, Sherrer could easily move to defensive backs or inside linebackers.

“Whatever it is, he knows I’ve coached multiple positions,” Sherrer said.

Sherrer’s retention, along with Rocker’s, should make things easier for the returning defensive players who won’t have to deal with an absolute overhaul.

By bringing those two back, it’s apparent Smart wants to include plenty of the defensive principles that were already in place under Jeremy Pruitt, who is taking Smart’s position at Alabama.

“(Sherrer) can coach every position,” senior inside linebacker Jake Ganus said. “He does a good job coaching up the secondary, the D-line, the outside linebackers, the inside linebackers, whoever he needs to. He does a really good job of that.”

Sherrer said he sensed relief among Georgia’s returning defenders once he told them he was coming back. Part of the job, at times, is dealing with change, and Sherrer said it has been on the Georgia coaches to help the players out since Richt’s dismissal.

Now that he’s in place and working toward the 2016 season, Sherrer said he’ll continue to guide Georgia’s returning players along amidst the coaching change. 

“There was a two-week run there when their world got turned upside down,” Sherrer said. “It’s our job to come in and be a familiar face and give them everything we can give them as a coach. And make them comfortable. They’re still kids. Some of them may be 23 years old but none of them have ever had a full-time job. We can handle those things. It’s our job to be there, love them up and make sure they know we got their back.”

This story was originally published January 4, 2016 at 1:07 PM with the headline "Kevin Sherrer excited to be back on Georgia’s staff, regardless of future role."