Garrick McGee to UAB

[batonrougesooner]

Didn't see it posted.

He's been the OC at Arkansas for those that don't know. UAB hired him as head coach. For those who don't know who he is he played QB for OU in the early 90's.

Good for him. Hope he does well.

[birddog]

he moved up very quickly in such a short time. boy done gud.

[SoCal]

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- Official confirmation from UAB that Garrick McGee is the Blazers' new head football coach came about 32 hours after his former employer announced the news.

Arkansas head coach Bobby Petrino issued a statement Saturday congratulating his offensive coordinator for accepting the position as head coach at UAB. However, UAB officials weren't ready to pull the trigger Saturday or for most of the day on Sunday.

McGee and his wife, Tiffany, arrived in Birmingham on Sunday and spent the day touring the campus and meeting with UAB Athletics Director Brian Mackin and other university officials. The negotiations weren't complete and documents signed until about 8 p.m. Once that was done, UAB had its fourth head football coach in school history.

A news conference introducing McGee is scheduled for 9 a.m. today in the Green and Gold Room at Bartow Arena.

"When we began the process a week ago to find a new coach to lead our football program, it was our goal to find a coach who met a certain profile who could be successful at UAB," Mackin said in a statement released by the university. "Garrick McGee brings all of the qualities to UAB that we were looking for in a coach. Coach McGee brings energy and passion to our program, and will get out in the community to sell UAB football. We are extremely excited to have Garrick McGee as our football coach."

McGee became the UAB head coach just seven days after Neil Callaway was fired. Callaway had an 18-42 record in his five seasons on the Southside.

McGee began talking immediately about turning a struggling program into a winning program.

"I'm very excited about the opportunity at UAB and the fact that this is an academic institution first and one that values education," McGee said in his statement Sunday night. "My responsibilities are to make this a competitive program on the field. I expect to win here and win the Conference USA championship. I think when you're in a state that values the sport of football the way that this state does, then there should be no reason why we can't compete for the conference championship."

McGee is expected to leave the Arkansas team immediately. He'll return to Arkansas today for Tuesday's Broyles Award banquet in Little Rock. The award is given annually to the nation's top assistant coach and McGee is a finalist along with Alabama assistant head coach/linebackers coach Sal Sunseri, LSU defensive coordinator John Chavis, Michigan defensive coordinator Greg Mattison and Wisconsin offensive coordinator Paul Chryst.

Soon after that he'll start putting together his Blazers coaching staff and working on filling up a recruiting class. Callaway's staff had commitments from 15 players and the Blazers are looking at signing a full complement of 25.

McGee is considered one of college football's top recruiters as well as one of the country's top offensive assistants.

A former Oklahoma quarterback, McGee took over as Arkansas' offensive coordinator in 2010 after Paul Petrino left for Illinois. He helped the Razorbacks make a BCS bowl for the first time in 2010 and directed an offense that set 11 single-season school records. This season, he directed a unit that leads the SEC in total offense.

He was the offensive coordinator at Northwestern for two seasons and had major college assistant stops at Toledo and UNLV. He also served for two seasons as an offensive assistant and quality control coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Before the 2005 season, McGee was one of 10 coaches selected to participate in the NCAA Expert Coaching Academy.

http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2011/12/garrick_mcgee_is_the_choice_fo.html

[Sabanball]

Apparently UAB prefers coaches with DUI's on their record.....

http://legalschnauzer.blogspot.com/2011/12/uab-makes-habit-of-hiring-football.html

[westbrooke]

Good for him! He was at OU during some difficult times, the Gary Gibbs hangover after the Switzer party. I'm glad he's doing well!