Georgia Hires Alabama Defensive Assistant

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Kirby Smart is adding another Nick Saban disciple to his staff.

Alabama defensive backs coach Travaris Robinson was announced as Georgia's co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach Saturday morning.

Join us in welcoming the newest member of our staff, Travaris Robinson.

Welcome to the Classic City, @Coach_TRob!#GoDawgs pic.twitter.com/GefwQHgDcz
— Georgia Football (@GeorgiaFootball) January 13, 2024

Robinson played at Auburn and began his coaching career there and has now made stops at five different SEC schools including Auburn, Florida, South Carolina, Alabama and now Georgia.

He had been with Alabama since the 2021 season, and with Kevin Steele retiring, Robinson was thought to be a candidate for the Crimson Tide's vacant defensive coordinator position. However, with Nick Saban also retiring and Alabama hiring Kalen DeBoer has the new head coach, DeBoer will have the opportunity to bring in his own staff at all positions.

Robinson was the primary recruiter for many of Alabama's returning defensive backs in 2024, including Caleb Downs, Dezz Ricks and Jahlil Hurley. He also recruited some highly-touted members of Alabama's 2024 recruiting class, such as 5-star Jaylen Mbakwe and 4-star Zavier Mincey.

Robinson takes over Will Muschamp's role on the Bulldogs' staff, who is stepping down into an analyst role to "spend more time with his family."

Robinson marks the third assistant that Georgia head coach Kirby Smart has poached from Alabama to join him in Athens. When Smart was first hired in 2016, he brought longtime strength and conditioning coach Scott Cochrane in to be his special teams coordinator, and brought graduate assistant Dan Lanning as well, who climbed the Georgia ladder and is now the head coach at Oregon.