Georgia Tech's Brent Key on defensive staff changes: "I felt it was the right time to make a change"

Kevin Sherrer is now the defensive coordinator for Georgia Tech

Author:
Jackson Caudell
Publish date:
Oct 3, 2023 3:24 PM EDT

In this story:

Georgia Tech has had one of the top offenses in the ACC this season, but their defense has left a lot to be desired. After a performance against Wake Forest where they sacked the quarterback eight times and forced five turnovers, there was hope that they were building something and improving.

And then Saturday rolled around.

Bowling Green came into town as a three-touchdown underdog, but they thoroughly outplayed Georgia Tech. The Falcons had a 150-yard rusher, and were 10-17 on third down, and the Yellow Jackets defense had another poor tackling performance, which has occurred in nearly every game this season. Georgia Tech is near the bottom of the country in most major defensive categories and on Sunday, head coach Brent Key opted to make a change on that side of the ball.

Linebackers coach Kevin Sherrer was promoted to the defensive coordinator spot, while Andrew Thacker, defensive coordinator of the program since 2019, was moved to coaching the safeties.

For the first time since making that move, Key met with the media on Tuesday to discuss the move:

"I felt that it was the right time to make a change and have a new voice and a new type of energy leading the group on defense. This was not a knee jerk reaction, this is something that we evaluate every week on all sides of the ball and all of the coaches and at the end of the day, performance is what matters, that is where we stand and that is why the decision was made, to make an adjustment and a change on the defensive side of the ball."

Brent Key made changes to the defensive staff
Nathaniel Caudell

When asked about how the players responded, here is what Key had to say:

"You obviously don't have the chance to talk to every single player. I made the decision, I obviously don't ever want to make an emotional decision immediately after a football game or anything so I was able to go back to watch the game a couple of times and think through the different options and then as I came in that morning I watched it again and and went through the processes of what would take place and I informed the staff 30 minutes before I informed the team. I went into the team room, just myself and no other coaches, no support, just myself and the team and I told them exactly what was done and why it was done and exactly what is needed going forward."

Key was also asked how the decision to retain Thacker after last season reflected on him, considering he is already making a change:

"I don't care what it reflects on me. That is why I am the head coach. I have thick skin, I could care less and you guys know that. I care what it matters most to those players and Georgia Tech. That is what every decision will go back to. It's not about my feelings or what people think, I don't have social media anymore so I don't know what y'all say so."

The defense is going to perhaps face its toughest test of the season on Saturday against Miami. The Hurricanes are off to an excellent start on offense and have a punishing ground game as well as an explosive passing game under new offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson.