LSU's Stacy Searels Named Offensive Line Coach At UGA
January 06, 2007 | General
ATHENS --- Stacy Searels, offensive line coach at LSU the past four years, has been named to the same position at the University of Georgia according to an announcement Saturday by Bulldog head coach Mark Richt.
Searels replaces Neil Callaway who was recently named head coach at UAB.
A native of Trion, Ga., and 1990 graduate of Auburn, Searels was an All-America lineman for the Tigers in 1987 when he was a teammate of current Georgia defensive line coach Rodney Garner. Prior to joining the LSU staff, he coached the offensive line at Cincinnati (2000-02), Appalachian State (1994-2000), and served as a graduate assistant at Auburn (1992-93).
"We've played LSU a few times since Stacy's been there and we've also had a chance to see his offensive lines while studying tape on other opponents as well," said Richt. "Their line has been impressive - they're well coached, they play hard, and they've been as good as any line we've played against in recent years. Certainly the success they've had speaks for itself."
LSU's offensive unit in 2006 finished first in the SEC in total offense and scoring offense and was third in rushing offense and passing offense.
"I'm tremendously excited about coming to Georgia and working for Coach Richt and the rest of the staff," said Searels. "I'm looking forward to being part of the Georgia football program that has such great tradition and one that I know has a great future."
Searels made a habit of producing All-America linemen for LSU. In four years as LSU's offensive line coach, Searels coached two First-Team All-Americans in Stephen Peterman and Ben Wilkerson and a Second-Team All-America in
Andrew Whitworth.
In addition, during that four-year stretch, LSU's offensive line produced a pair of First-Team Academic All-Americas in Rodney Reed and Rudy Niswanger. LSU had an offensive lineman named First-Team Academic All-America four straight years.
Niswanger became the most decorated student-athlete in school history in 2005, winning the Draddy Award as college football¹s top scholar-athlete as well as being the inaugural recipient of the Wuerffel Trophy. Niswanger also claimed the SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award for football following the 2005 season and was named the recipient of the McWhorter Award, which goes to the overall top scholar-athlete in the SEC.
Searels coached five former Tigers to roster spots in the NFL with Whitworth being a second round pick of the Cincinnati Bengals in 2006; Peterman a fourth round pick of the Dallas Cowboys in 2004; and Wilkerson, Niswanger and Nate Livings signing free agent contracts.
Searels' 2004 offensive line consisted of Rimington Award winner (Ben Wilkerson) along with First Team All-SEC offensive tackle Whitworth. LSU led the SEC in rushing that year with over 193 yards per contest.
Searels joined the staff at LSU after a two-year stint as offensive line coach at Cincinnati. During his two-year stay with the Bearcats, Cincinnati played in two bowl games as well as winning the school's first conference title since 1964 by capturing the 2002 Conference USA crown. In 2002, Searels coached an offensive line that helped Cincinnati lead Conference USA
in total offense (397.5 yards per game), while averaging 29.2 points a contest.
Prior to joining Cincinnati, Searels served as an assistant coach at Appalachian State from 1994-2000, helping the I-AA squad to five playoff appearances and to a pair of Southern Conference titles. He also coached players to five All-America and 15 all-conference honors in seven years as an offensive line and tight ends coach at Appalachian State.
While at Appalachian State, Searels was presented with the NCAA Award of Valor, which has been given only eight times since its inception in 1974, for his for act of courage following a head-on collision involving a van carrying members of the Mountaineer football team and support staff on Sept. 30, 2000.
With the Appalachian State van burning, Searels pulled out two staff members, who were trapped in the vehicle (11 other passengers in the van were able to escape on their own). Moments after Searels got the two staff members to safety, the van was engulfed in flames. Searels, who had been traveling on the team bus behind the van, had saved the life of his student
assistant coach (Jonathan Taylor) and assistant athletic trainer (Tony Barnett). Taylor, who was airlifted to a hospital, spent three weeks in intensive care before making a complete recovery.
The NCAA Award of Valor honors those who, "when confronted with a situation involving personal danger, averted or minimized potential disaster by courageous action or noteworthy bravery."
Searels got his start in coaching as a graduate assistant at Auburn in 1992, working with the Tiger squad that posted a perfect 11-0 mark in 1993.
As a player, Searels earned First Team All-America honors from both the Associated Press and Football News as a senior at Auburn in 1987. Searels was a three-year starter for Auburn, blocking for Heisman Trophy winner Bo Jackson in 1985 and All-America Brent Fullwood in 1986. He participated in four bowl games as a member of the Auburn football team.
A First-Team All-Southeastern Conference selection as both a junior and senior, he was honored with the team's Ken Rice Award as the school's best blocking lineman in 1987. He played in both the Japan Bowl and the Senior Bowl following the 1987 season.
In 1990, the Birmingham Post-Herald named Searels to the Auburn team of the 1980's.
Searels was a fourth round draft pick by the San Diego Chargers in 1988, playing two seasons there before moving to the Miami Dolphins for the 1990 season. He ended his professional career in 1991 with the New York/New Jersey Knights of the World League of American Football.
Searels graduated from Auburn in with a degree in marketing and transportation in 1990. He followed that with a Master's degree in higher education administration from Auburn in 1995.
Searels is married to the former Patricia Hale and the couple has two daughters, Taylor (8) and Savannah (5).
Quotes from new University of Georgia offensive line coach Stacy Searels during his teleconference on Friday, Jan. 12:
On one of the factors for taking the job at Georgia:
"One of the big factors for me was my mother (Maxine) still living in Trion (Ga.). On Dec. 23, my family and I left Baton Rouge at about 7 p.m. and drove to Trion for Christmas and arrived there at 4 a.m. It's going to be pretty nice to be this close to home and this close to my mom."
On what the differences are between coaching at Georgia and at LSU:
"At Georgia, there are a lot of similar things in the offense as there are at LSU. Learning the new terminology here is the biggest thing for me. But football is football - it's not rocket science. I'm hoping to take some things from my time at LSU and try to make Georgia's offense even better."
On what advice former Georgia offensive line coach Neil Callaway gave him:
"Coach (Neil) Callaway gave me his ideas on some guys and a heads-up on some of them. But the guys have to go on the field and prove themselves."
On what led him to accept his job offer at Georgia:
"About a year ago I had a chance to go somewhere else, but Dad (Wayne) had cancer and we ended up staying at LSU. But my mom drove eight hours to every game at LSU so when I had a chance to get closer to home, I jumped on it. Georgia and LSU have been neck-in-neck in the SEC for the last several years and they are both great programs, but this one is just closer to home. This was also an attractive since I would get to work with Coach Richt and that fired me up."
On what his duty will be as he gets started at Georgia:
"My job is to put the best five guys on the field and we will make that decision as a staff. I owe that to Georgia as well as to my family and daughters (Taylor and Savannah)."
On coming to Georgia this close to the National Signing Day on Feb. 7:
"I am coming into an established staff who knows what they're doing as far as recruiting goes. I get on the road on Sunday and do not return until Thursday or Friday so I will hit the road running with our recruiting."
On getting to know the Georgia offensive linemen:
"As a coach, you have to be a father-figure, a disciplinarian, a teacher and a psychologist. Each kid has different ways to motivate them and that's my job to figure that out. My biggest job right now is learning the terminology here."
On Georgia's lack of depth on the offensive line for 2007:
"We have a huge challenge. We have two returning guys and five new guys on campus right now. I would like for those guys to redshirt for a year, but they have to step up and play right now. One good thing is that I come in with new guys and don't have to change the way they play."
On football in the Southeastern Conference:
"I think the SEC takes great pride in being the best conference in the country. I think they proved that this year. There are so many athletes who can run and play and are physical. I would put this conference up against anybody."
