clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Georgia Tech football: Al Groh rips the Yellow Jacket program

The ousted defensive coordinator calls the Georgia Tech operation "unprofessional" and "negative."

Josh D. Weiss-US PRESSWIRE

Former Georgia Tech defensive coordinator Al Groh didn't mince words in a recent interview with the Roanoke Times. Yellow Jackets' coach Paul Johnson dismissed Groh on October 8, two days after Georgia Tech lost 47-31 at Clemson. Groh's 3-4 defense was much-maligned and gave up 40 points in three-straight losses before his dismissal. Groh was quite frank in his depiction of the scene in Atlanta.

"Just to say it briefly, this circumstance here was the most unprofessional, divisive and negative environment in which I've ever been," Groh said. "To say more would be unprofessional of myself."

"It was just a bad cultural match."

As SB Nation points out, Groh's defense allowed 468.6 yards per game through the season's first five games. Most glaring was a loss to Middle Tennessee State, in which the Yellow Jackets gave up 510 yards. Groh, a former head coach at Virginia, Wake Forest and the New York Jets, hinted that he would like to remain in coaching. The Yellow Jackets won five of their last eight games after Groh's dismissal.

Photographs by coka_koehler used in background montage under Creative Commons. Thank you.