Georgia Tech lost defensive-line coach Jim Panagos to Minnesota, but coach Geoff Collins has quickly filled his spot on the staff with Yellow Jackets great Marco Coleman. The athletic department confirmed an AJC report Saturday with a news release announcing the hre.
Coleman, an All-American defensive end who was part of the Yellow Jackets’ 1990 national-championship team, had been an assistant defensive line coach with the Oakland Raiders this past season, his first coaching job at the college or pro level.
The hire was not out of the blue. Collins spoke briefly with Coleman about joining the staff before the hire of Panagos. He could be joining the staff as early as Saturday. He will coach defensive ends and linebackers. Larry Knight, who had been assigned that position, will now coach defensive line.
The opening on Collins’ staff was created when Panagos, who had coached at Temple with Collins, accepted a position on the staff of Gophers coach P.J. Fleck.
Coleman becomes the fourth former Tech player on Collins’ on-field coaching staff, joining running backs coach Tashard Choice, offensive-line coach Brent Key and safeties coach Nathan Burton. Former Tech wide receiver Will Glover has also been hired as a quality-control specialist for the offense.
After his Tech career, during which he became the Tech and ACC all-time sack leader, Coleman became played 14 NFL seasons. After his retirement from football, Coleman finished his college degree and became a financial advisor and then a partner at an investment advisory firm.
In 2017, Coleman took part in a minority coaching fellowship with the Philadelphia Eagles during their training camp before he served as defensive coordinator at a high school in Jacksonville, Fla.
