Mack Brown has recruited ex Georgia Tech head coach as defensive coordinator

Carolina football has a new coach, just days after firing Gene Chizik.

The Tar Heels have selected former Georgia Tech head coach Geoff Collins as their new defensive coordinator, capping off an exceptionally brief job search. This hire came just days after it was reported that Gene Chizik would be leaving the program. Collins will be Mack Brown’s third defensive coordinator in the Mack Brown 2.0 era, owing to the two previous occupants’ difficulties.

Let’s get one thing straight: Geoff Collins’ defenses struggled at Georgia Tech while he was the head coach. However, we’ve seen this happen before with some high-profile coaches in pro and college football — former Atlanta Falcons head coach and current Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn is the most notable name to come to mind — so it’s probably not something to consider when evaluating this hire.

Instead, looking back at what he was able to do as a coordinator with Florida and Mississippi State provides a better representation of his work. Collins began his career at Mississippi State, where he managed a team that finished in the top five in the SEC in total defense, rushing defense, and passing defense. Most importantly, particularly for Carolina supporters, the Bulldogs led the SEC in sacks and red zone defense in 2014.

Collins was once again able to lead a unit that was one of the finest in the country while coaching the Florida Gators. In 2015, the Gators did not allow a single touchdown on the road against three FBS Power Five schools, which had not happened in 20 years. Collins ultimately elected to pursue head coaching after his time in Gainesville, which brought him to Temple before his most recent stop at Georgia Tech.