Glenn Schumann to be among top coaching candidates, but does he jump?
Georgia’s Glenn Schumann has been a known name in coaching circles for quite some time. Each offseason, the defensive coordinator gets mentioned among the top candidates for different openings. Each time – so far – he’s stayed in Athens, but On3’s Andy Staples isn’t sure how much longer that streak will last.
“Glenn Schumann kind of came through the Alabama, Nick Saban machine, started out very young there, and the world at large doesn’t know as much about him because he’s worked at Alabama and Georgia and those are two kind of ‘one voice programs’ where you haven’t heard much from him,” Staples said. “You see what he does at Georgia, but you haven’t been able to hear much from him. I think ADs want to kind of get to know him a little bit, but I do think even big SEC jobs, if they were to open, he’s going to get considered for them.”
“He’s taken kind of the same path as Dan Lanning,” Staples continued. “If you look at what Lanning’s doing at Oregon, let’s say he does take that next step because you’ve heard me say a bunch of times, ‘Lanning needs to take the roster he’s built and turn that into championship opportunities, Playoff opportunities,’ and I think he can do that, but everybody’s going to be looking for the next Dan Lanning. Well, Glenn Schumann looks like the next Dan Lanning. I think he’s going to get serious consideration for jobs after this season.”
Schumann, despite what Staples said implying that he’s a product of the Nick Saban tree, has his descendancy come from Kirby Smart. A young Schumann joined Smart is Athens as the inside linebackers coach on his first staff and acts as the final remaining coach who hasn’t left for another position.
It’s not because Schumann hasn’t done a good job that he hasn’t left. In fact, he was promoted to take over Georgia’s defensive coordinator position in 2022 when Dan Lanning left for Oregon – waiting for his right opportunity to depart. Now, Schumann seems to be on the same path.
In eight seasons at Georgia, Schumann has helped develop six NFL Draft selections including a pair of Butkus Award winners (Roquan Smith – 2017, Nakobe Dean – 2021). Several of the nation’s top linebackers have hitched their wagon to Schumann in an attempt for a successful collegiate career, and more often than not, it’s worked.
So what’s next for Schumann? Well, it could be exactly what Staples thinks. If the right job opens up this offseason, Georgia could be breaking in a new defensive coordinator this time next year. If it’s not the kind of opportunity Schumann knows he’s capable of taking over, he’s proven to be perfectly content staying on board in Athens until the right one presents itself.
