Kirby Smart promotes James Coley to UGA’s offensive coordinator

James Coley, who served as co-offensive coordinator at the University of Georgia last season, has been promoted to offensive coordinator, Bulldog head coach Kirby Smart announced Friday.

Coley, who has been on the UGA coaching staff since Smart took over as head coach in 2016, replaces Jim Chaney. Chaney was hired as Tennessee’s offensive coordinator earlier this week.

“James has been an critical part of our staff since we came to Georgia,” said Smart. “He’s done an incredible job in all aspects of his responsibilities including coaching wide receivers for two years, serving as co-offensive coordinator this past season coaching the quarterbacks, and recruiting. James has extensive coordinator experience during his entire coaching career and will transition easily into his new role.”

Coley was named co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Georgia in 2018 after two seasons coaching the Bulldogs’ wide receivers.

He was part of a 2017 staff that led the Bulldogs to a record-tying 13 victories, first SEC championship since 2005, first appearance in the College Football Playoff, first appearance (and victory over Oklahoma) in the Rose Bowl CFP semifinal and first appearance in the College Football Playoff Championship Game. Georgia’s offense finished first in the SEC and ninth nationally in rushing offense (258.4 ypg), third in the SEC in scoring offense (35.4 ppg), fifth in total offense (435.3 ypg), and fourth nationally in red zone offense (0.964).

The Bulldogs followed up in 2018 with another SEC Eastern Division championship, an 11-win season and an appearance in the Sugar Bowl. This past season, the Bulldogs finished first in the SEC in total rushing offense and rushing offense per game, second in the SEC in total offense, touchdowns scored and scoring offense.

Coley’s two seasons of coaching Bulldog receivers produced a pair of NFL draft picks: Isaiah McKenzie (Denver) and Javon Wims (Chicago). In 2018, he coached sophomore quarterback Jake Fromm who posted the second-best completion percentage in school history at 67.3, which was 12th nationally, and second-best passing efficiency for a QB at 171.21, which was fifth nationally.

Coley served as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Miami from 2013-15. Prior to joining the Miami staff, he held the position of offensive coordinator from 2010-12 at Florida State.

At Florida State, Coley coached three first-round draft picks in quarterbacks Christian Ponder, E.J. Manuel and Jameis Winston. The Florida State offenses under Coley were high powered averaging 31.4 points per game in 2010, 30.6 in 2011, and 39.3 in 2012.

While at Miami, the Hurricane offense led the nation in “explosive plays” all three years and they produced two 1,000 yards rushers in Duke Johnson (1,652 yards in 2014) and Joe Yearly (1,002 in 2015).

Coley coached freshman quarterback Brad Kaaya, who earned Freshman All-America honors and broke the single season record for passing yards at Miami. Wide receiver Allen Hurns, currently with the Dallas Cowboys, broke the single season receiving record with 1,162 yards in 2013.

A native of Miami, he served as an offensive assistant with the Miami Dolphins in 2005-06. His coaching resumé also included a stop at 2003 national champion LSU, where he served as a graduate assistant coach.