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THE CAPITAL • ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND • HOMETOWNANNAPOLIS.COM • CAPITALONLINE.COM

Georgia Tech pursuing Johnson
Navy coach also sought by SMU

By BILL WAGNER, Staff Writer
Published December 06, 2007

Good news Navy football fans.

As of press time this morning, Paul Johnson was still the head coach at the Naval Academy.

Johnson arrived at Ricketts Hall around 8 a.m. this morning and was due to eventually meet with athletic director Chet Gladchuk. Johnson had not called a meeting of the Navy football players, a strong indication that his departure was not imminent.

Johnson traveled to Atlanta yesterday for a second meeting with Georgia Tech athletic director Dan Radakovich. All indications are that Radakovich was discussing contractual terms with Johnson and his Atlanta-based agent Jack Reale.

Sources close to the situation are unsure how much Georgia Tech is willing to pay for a football coach. Gailey, who was fired on Nov. 25, made slightly more than $1 million per year. Georgia Tech was forced to pay in excess of $4 million to buy out the remaining four years of Gailey's contract.

According to sources with knowledge of the deal, Gailey also received two cars and a country club membership. He was not provided with a home.

Johnson is believed to have a total compensation package in the range of $1.5 million. His deal also includes a spacious home, luxury automobile, annuity and life insurance policy, all of which are paid for by the Naval Academy Athletic Association.

Johnson returned from Atlanta late last night and it was unclear whether he had been officially offered the job at Georgia Tech. Multiple sources in Dallas and Annapolis have confirmed that Southern Methodist University did make a formal offer to Johnson and that athletic director Steve Orsini is willing to pay at least $2 million to lure the successful head coach away from Navy.

Johnson traveled to Dallas aboard a private plane owned by SMU booster Gerald Ford on Monday night along with his wife. He spent most of Tuesday touring the SMU campus and checking out the football facilities.

Orsini, a former assistant athletic director at Navy, has clearly made Johnson his top target. SMU is also reported to be interested in Baltimore Ravens assistant Rick Neuheisel and former Auburn head coach Terry Bowden among others.

Since firing head coach Phil Bennett on Oct. 28, Orsini has raised $10 million for the purpose of attracting a high-profile head coach.

Meanwhile, Georgia Tech has reportedly narrowed its search to Johnson and interim head coach Jon Tenuta, who serve as defensive coordinator under Gailey. Auburn defensive coordinator Will Muschamp was eliminated from consideration on Tuesday while Georgia Southern athletic director Sam Baker said Wednesday there is no apparent serious interest from Georgia Tech in the Eagles' current coach, Chris Hatcher.

"They have never called me for permission to speak with coach Hatcher," Baker said. "I think they had some exploratory calling. Since no request was made, I'm assuming there was no serious discussion. ... I think he's not in their picture."

Hatcher is Georgia Southern's third coach in three years, and Baker said he is "thrilled" it appears he will keep his coach: "We love coach Hatcher, he's done a great job here," Baker said.

College football writers with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution said Georgia Tech had not called a press conference to announce a new head football coach as of 10 a.m. this morning.

Johnson compiled a 62-10 record and captured two Division I-AA national championships at Georgia Southern. He remains popular in the state and annually speaks at the Atlanta Touchdown Club.

Since taking over at Navy in 2002, Johnson has compiled a 45-29 record, including 11-1 against service academy rivals Army and Air Force. The Midshipmen are 43-19 with five consecutive bowl appearances over the past five seasons and have captured the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy every year since 2003.

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