Brent Key Named Georgia Tech Football’s 21st Head Coach

THE FLATS – Brent Key, a Georgia Tech alumnus and soccer letterwinner, has been formally named the 21^st head coach in Tech soccer historical past, Institute President Dr. Ángel Cabrera and director of athletics J Batt introduced on Tuesday.

Key takes the reins of this system after main the Yellow Jackets to a 4-4 report over the ultimate eight video games of the 2022 season as interim head coach. The 4 wins included two street victories over nationally ranked opponents – a 26-21 win at No. 24 Pitt in his first recreation on the helm on Oct. 1 and a 21-17 triumph at No. 11 North Carolina on Nov. 19. The Jackets overcame a plethora of accidents – together with to its prime two quarterbacks – to complete 5-7 total and 4-4 in Atlantic Coast Convention play after a 1-3 (0-1 ACC) begin. The general and convention win totals had been Tech’s highest since 2018, as was its fourth-place end within the ACC Coastal Division standings (the Jackets defeated all three groups that completed forward of them within the division standings – North Carolina, Pitt and Duke).

“I’m very excited that Brent Key can be our subsequent soccer coach,” Cabrera stated. “As an alum, he understands and cares deeply about this place and our extraordinary student-athletes. He’s not solely extremely aggressive however will do the whole lot he can to verify college students develop as athletes, professionals and human beings. I additionally need to thank A.D. J Batt for his dedication to our program and on a regular basis and care he’s invested previously few weeks to guage our program, conduct an intensive nationwide search, and ensure we discovered the appropriate soccer head coach.”

“I’m honored to formally identify Brent Key the 21^st head coach in Georgia Tech soccer historical past,” Batt stated. “Since I arrived on campus earlier this fall, I’ve noticed first-hand Coach Key’s management, ardour, power and real take care of our student-athletes, our soccer program and the Institute, in addition to how his gamers and workers responded to his management and the real care that they’ve for him. There was robust curiosity from throughout the nation to be the subsequent head coach at Georgia Tech, and we performed an exhaustive nationwide search. In the beginning and finish of the search, it was clear that your best option for Georgia Tech is Brent Key. Please be a part of me in congratulating Coach Key, his spouse, Danielle, and his daughter, Harper.”

A 2001 Georgia Tech graduate (administration), Key’s the fifth Tech alumnus to function the Yellow Jackets’ head coach, becoming a member of William Alexander (1912 graduate; head coach from 1920-44), Invoice Fulcher (1956; 1972-73), Pepper Rodgers (1955; 1974-79) and Invoice Curry (1965; 1980-86). Key performed offensive line for the Jackets from 1997-2000.

“I’m so proud and grateful to be the pinnacle coach at my alma mater, Georgia Tech,” Key stated. “I can’t thank President Cabrera, J and everybody that had a hand within the search sufficient for the religion that they’ve in me to steer our program. Like I’ve stated many occasions over the previous two months, I like this crew, and I couldn’t be extra excited to be their head coach. We are going to work unbelievably onerous to make our followers, alumni and former gamers very pleased with this program. Thanks to everybody who has supported our crew over the previous two months, and we thanks upfront in your continued assist as we start working in the direction of subsequent season. Go Jackets!”

Previous to being named Georgia Tech’s interim head coach on Sept. 26 of this season, Key was in his fourth season because the Yellow Jackets’ assistant head coach, run recreation coordinator and offensive line coach. In his 4 seasons at his alma mater, Georgia Tech’s run recreation produced an all-American, three all-Atlantic Coast Convention honorees and completed within the prime half of the ACC in speeding offense twice. Key has additionally mentored a pair of all-ACC offensive linemen.

Regardless of battling a rash of accidents throughout the offensive entrance all through the season, 2021 marked the second-straight season that Tech’s speeding offense ranked within the prime half of the ACC below Key’s watch, with sort out Devin Cochran incomes honorable-mention all-ACC recognition earlier than occurring to signal with the Nationwide Soccer League’s Cincinnati Bengals.

In 2020, the Jackets ranked fourth within the ACC in fewest sacks allowed (2.3 per recreation) and fifth within the league in speeding (190.8 yards per recreation), all with a real freshman (Jordan Williams) beginning 9-of-10 video games at proper sort out.

Regardless of a large number of accidents, the Jackets’ offensive line improved all through the 2019 season, because it went via the monumental transition from an option-based scheme to a pro-style, unfold assault. Throughout a one late-season three-game stretch, Tech confronted groups that ranked first (Pitt), fourth (Miami) and eighth (Virginia) nationally in sacks. Tech’s offensive entrance allowed simply 5 whole sacks in these three video games, together with none in opposition to eventual ACC Coastal Division champion Virginia. In all, the Jackets didn’t give up a sack in two of its last 4 contests.

Key got here again to his alma mater after three seasons as offensive line coach at Alabama (2016-18), the place he helped lead the Crimson Tide to 2 Southeastern Convention championships, three Faculty Soccer Playoff championship video games and the 2017 nationwide title.

In every of his three seasons at Alabama, Key’s offensive traces had been finalists for the Joe Moore Award, which is introduced yearly to the nation’s prime offensive entrance, and was the one group within the nation to obtain the respect all three seasons. He additionally coached 4 All-People (together with two unanimous picks – sort out Cam Robinson in 2016 and sort out Jonah Williams in 2018) and 9 all-SEC alternatives (together with seven first-teamers) throughout his time with the Tide. Along with being unanimous All-People, Robinson gained the 2016 Outland Trophy because the nation’s finest inside lineman and Williams was a finalist for the award in ’18. Additionally they gained the Jacobs Blocking Trophy (SEC’s prime offensive lineman) in ‘16 and ‘18, respectively.

Seven linemen that Key coached in his three seasons at Alabama went on to be chosen within the Nationwide Soccer League Draft — Jedrick Wills (No. 10 total, Cleveland Browns, 2020), Williams (No. 11 total, Cincinnati Bengals, 2019), Alex Leatherwood (No. 17 total, Las Vegas Raiders, 2021), Robinson (No. 34 total, Jacksonville Jaguars, 2017), Ross Pierschbacher (fifth spherical, Washington Redskins, 2019), Bradley Bozeman (sixth spherical, Baltimore Ravens, 2018) and Deonte Brown (sixth spherical, Carolina Panthers, 2021).

Key was additionally lauded for his work on the recruiting path at Alabama. He was tabbed because the nation’s No. 2 recruiter by 247Sports for his work in touchdown the Crimson Tide’s 2019 class and the No. 1 recruiter within the nation for his efforts with the 2020 class.

Previous to his three-year stint at Alabama, Key spent 11 seasons at UCF (2005-15). He began at UCF as a graduate assistant and labored his means as much as assistant head coach (2012-15) and offensive coordinator (2014-15). He additionally coached tight ends for 3 seasons (2006-08), offensive line for six seasons (2009-14), operating backs for one season (2015), was particular groups coordinator for one season (2008) and recruiting coordinator for six seasons (2007, 2010-14) with the Knights. In 2012, 2013 and 2014, Key was nominated for the Broyles Award, given to the highest assistant coach in faculty soccer.

Throughout Key’s 11 seasons at UCF, the Knights gained 4 convention championships (2007, 2010, 2013 and 2014), highlighted by a 12-1 marketing campaign in 2013, which culminated with a 52-42 win over No. 6 Baylor. The Knights beat two top-10 groups in ’13 (Baylor and No. 8 Louisville) and Key’s offensive entrance, which didn’t enable a sack in opposition to Penn State, Louisville, UConn or Baylor, helped pave the best way for UCF to common 441.5 yards and 34.6 factors per recreation, each among the many highest marks in program historical past. His offensive line additionally offered safety for American Athletic Convention Offensive Participant of the 12 months Blake Bortles.

In his six seasons as UCF’s offensive line coach, eight totally different linemen earned all-conference recognition a complete of 16 occasions and 4 went on to play within the NFL, together with 2011 third-round draft decide Jah Reid. He additionally coached an NFL draft decide at tight finish in Mike Merritt (2008).

Throughout his time at UCF, Key coached below his head coach as a student-athlete at Georgia Tech, George O’Leary.

Key bought his begin in teaching as a graduate assistant at Georgia Tech in 2001-02 and served as tight ends and operating backs coach at Western Carolina in 2004.

Key was a four-year starter in his 4 seasons as a student-athlete at Georgia Tech (1997-2000). Whereas making 44-straight begins at proper guard, Key was part of a senior class that led Georgia Tech to four-straight bowl appearances for the primary time since 1953-56. As a sophomore in 1998, he helped lead Tech to a 10-2 report and a share of the ACC championship. Throughout his junior marketing campaign in 1999, the Jackets ranked No. 1 nationally in whole offense (509.0 ypg). He was voted a crew captain and all-ACC as a senior in 2000. In all, he was a key cog in an offensive entrance that helped the Yellow Jackets lead the ACC in speeding thrice.

A Clay, Ala. native, Key, 44, was an all-state performer at Hewitt-Trussville H.S. He and his spouse, Danielle, have a daughter, Harper.

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING ABOUT BRENT KEY
“I watched very carefully this season as Brent took over and noticed issues transfer in the appropriate path. It was clear that the crew responded to the modifications he made and performed onerous for him. Congratulations to Brent – I do know he’ll do an impressive job. President Cabrera and J made a fantastic resolution, and I sit up for watching the success Brent could have at Georgia Tech.”
– Former Georgia Tech and UCF head coach George O’Leary

“Brent did a fantastic job for us at Alabama and was improbable because the interim head coach for Georgia Tech this 12 months. I do know he’s excited to steer his alma mater, and he’ll do a wonderful job because the Yellow Jackets’ head coach. Brent is a really passionate coach who works tirelessly at his craft. His gamers like to play for him, and he does a fantastic job of placing them in conditions to achieve success. Brent has a beautiful household, and we’re so very completely satisfied for him to have this chance at Georgia Tech”
– Alabama head coach Nick Saban

Aggressive Drive Initiative

In a unified endeavor, Georgia Tech, the Georgia Tech Basis, Georgia Tech athletics and the Alexander-Tharpe Fund have come collectively to speed up funding for student-athlete scholarships with the launch of the Aggressive Drive Initiative. The initiative kicks off with the Speed up GT Match Program, the place any new present to the A-T Fund’s Athletic Scholarship Fund made via Dec. 31 can be matched dollar-for-dollar by the Georgia Tech Basis, as much as $2.5 million. Ought to Speed up GT attain its $2.5 million fundraising aim, the matching present would end in a $5 million influence for Georgia Tech athletics. To study extra and to contribute on-line, go to atfund.org/speed up.

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