Report: Georgia's Garner to decide on UT offer

Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin is targeting another highly touted recruiter for his coaching staff.

Georgia assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Rodney Garner spent much of Saturday in Knoxville interviewing with Kiffin.

Garner, 42, did not immediately return a call seeking comment, however he told Chris Low of ESPN.com that he was offered a job on Kiffin's staff and hopes to make a quick decision.

"It was a good visit. I got to see some old friends, got to meet Monte (Kiffin), Coach (Ed) Orgeron and all the coaches," Garner told ESPN.com. "They're putting together quite a staff, and I hope to come to some conclusion by (Sunday) afternoon."

Garner was also expected to speak with athletic director Mike Hamilton, who was in Kansas with the men’s basketball team Saturday.

According to the Athens Banner-Herald, UT received permission to speak with Garner from Georgia coach Mark Richt.

Garner, who played at Auburn from 1984-88, joined Georgia’s staff in 1998 as defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator. He was promoted to assistant head coach in 2005.

During his two-year tenure at UT (1996-97), Garner helped recruit several key members of UT’s 1998 national championship team.

It is unclear what position Garner would coach if he joined UT’s staff.

Tennessee introduced Orgeron as its assistant head coach, recruiting coordinator and defensive line coach on Friday. However, Garner coached tight ends and offensive tackles at UT and coached tight ends at Auburn from 1990-95, his only other coaching stop.

At Georgia, Garner primarily works with defensive tackles and is the Bulldogs’ highest paid position coach, earning about $250,000 in 2008.

In December, Garner spoke with Auburn athletic director Jay Jacobs about the Tigers’ vacant head coaching position.

Tennessee has at least two vacancies on its coaching staff. Tight ends coach Jason Michael and running backs coach Stan Drayton remain from last year’s staff, and no announcement has been made on their future with the Vols.

© 2009, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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