Names That Come to Mind with the DB Coaching Vacancy

With the recent news of UGA defensive backs coach Charlton Warren becoming the new defensive coordinator at the University of Indiana. Georgia will have to begin a coaching search to find Warren’s replacement.

Warren spent the last two seasons in Athens after stints at Florida and Tennessee and stopped at North Carolina and Nebraska. Warren is a well-regarded recruiter with connections across the country.

Warren’s eventual successor will have a huge task to take on in his time in Athens as he will oversee a defensive back room that loses key starters like Eric Stokes, Tyson Campbell, and Richard LeCounte to the NFL Draft while Tyrique Stevenson has transferred to Miami.

Nick Williams

Williams is currently a graduate assistant with the Georgia Bulldogs right now. Williams played his collegiate career in Athens. Williams is a well-regarded recruiter as he assists Georgia with recruiting strategy and serves in an off-field role.

Under Smart, Georgia have been known for hiring from within as the Bulldogs continue to fill the support staff with ready-made coaches. Williams will help keep the staff’s all-important continuity as he is familiar with its day-to-day workings.

Jay Valai

Another name that will inevitably pop up in the search to fill the vacancy is Jay Valai. Valai spent the 2020-2021 season serving as the cornerback’s coach at the University of Texas. Jay brings experience as a collegiate and professional coaching experience.

Valai is familiar with Georgia. He served as a quality control coach in Athens’ 2016 and 2017 seasons before moving to the Kansas City Chiefs as an assistant defensive backs coach. Valai would then leave Kansas City to become the defensive backs coach at Rutgers under Chris Ash.

Outside of his experience as a coach at Rutgers and Texas, he brings precious recruiting connections to the state of Texas.