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Georgia State coaching candidates: It’s mid-February. And the Panthers need a new leader.
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Georgia State coaching candidates: It’s mid-February. And the Panthers need a new leader.

Shawn Elliott has taken an assistant job at South Carolina. Georgia State is already two spring practices in. Who will get in the mix at the Panthers' new coach?

Matt Fortuna's avatar
Matt Fortuna
Feb 17, 2024
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The Inside Zone
The Inside Zone
Georgia State coaching candidates: It’s mid-February. And the Panthers need a new leader.
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Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

A 31st FBS head coaching job is open. Will it be the last?

Georgia State is in the market for a head coach after Shawn Elliott left to become an assistant at South Carolina. Elliott was the fifth sitting FBS coach to leave for an assistant job this cycle. More importantly, for the Panthers’ purposes, they were already two spring practices in, meaning everything is put on pause as they go about hiring a new head coach.

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GSU AD Charlie Cobb has his work cut out for him with this one. Parker Executive Search is handling the search, and it is not expected to be as quick as most recent searches.

Still, timing factors heavily any time a coach leaves in February. GSU already postponed its March 7 spring game, and re-acclimating this roster — which has plenty of transfers on it — with a new boss is always a tricky balance.

So, who could get in the mix? Let’s take a look.

Rusty Wright, Chattanooga. Wright is 30-22 in five seasons with the Mocs and is coming off an appearance in the FCS playoffs. The year before that, Chattanooga finished nationally ranked. He landed the job after a two-year stint on Georgia State’s staff as inside linebackers coach, special teams coordinator and recruiting coordinator. The majority of his career has been spent in Georgia, Tennessee or the Carolinas. He is probably the most qualified legitimate candidate available this late in the game, with any sitting FBS head coach likely off the market.

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