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UGA Legend Hines Ward Says He Would Come Back to Coach the Bulldogs

In a recent interview, Georgia Bulldogs great WR Hines Ward said he would "love to come back" to Georgia and coach the Dawgs.

Ethan Offutt

UGA Legend Hines Ward Says He Would Come Back to Coach the Bulldogs
UGA Legend Hines Ward Says He Would Come Back to Coach the Bulldogs /
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The Georgia Bulldogs and Kirby Smart have done an excellent job since the start of Smart's head coaching career at Georgia at keeping former and current players around for a very long time. Smart mentioned during SEC Media days how retention has been one of the biggest positives to the Bulldogs program. Smart has brought back former teammates of his days playing at UGA, such as Mike Bobo and Will Muschamp. In a recent interview, one of their teammates, UGA legend Hines Ward, said he would come back to coach the Bulldogs. 

Ward was teammates with Smart, Bobo, Muschamp, Champ Bailey, and many more during the mid-90s, and they tore opponents apart in the silver britches. Ward sat down with J.C. Shelton from UGA Wire recently for an interview, in which Shelton asked Ward about the possibility of coming back and coaching the Dawgs. His response was emphatic, just like the player he was for the Pittsburgh Steelers that earned him a trip to Canton, OH, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame. 

"I'll quit whatever I'm doing. I'm coming here. I would love to come back. Like I said, we took that oath a long time ago. When we committed to the University of Georgia, it was trying to keep the best players in state. At the time when we all said back in 1994 we were the best of the best players in high school football, and we all took a vow to change things around. Certain players, their career took off. Some made it to the NFL; some got injured, some not - this is like the dream job for all of us. Mike Bobo, growing up in Thomasville, to come in his home state to help this team, help this university stay on the map of being one the best colleges in all of football, that's what it's all about. It would be a great dream job, God has a plan for me and if that's in the path then so be it. But this would be a dream job, this would be one of those ones - and I don't want people asking everybody and putting stuff - but I would quit whatever I am doing to come back and be a part of that because that's the oath I took back in 1994."

11/1/97--On the opening kickoff of the 1997 Florida-Georgia game in Jacksonville, the Bulldog's # 19, Hines Ward, makes a big run to the Gator's 47-yard line. (Vintagefloridageorgia 19971101 Spt Flgawardrun971101p). (Bob Self/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK) / Bob Self

Ward's response to this question is exciting in the thought of having arguably the greatest wide receiver to come through Georgia back and coaching his Dawgs, but it tells a deeper story than that. It tells us the type of love and care that he and many other UGA graduates carry for the university. With 26 alumni on the football staff for Georgia and recognizable faces such as Maria Taylor and Ernie Johnson consistently sharing how much the university means to them, it shows us that Bulldog Nation is truly special. 

This weekend, Bulldog Nation can cheer on another UGA great, Mark Richt, as he will be honored during the No. 9 Ole Miss versus No. 2 Georgia Bulldogs top-ten matchup this weekend Between the Hedges. The game will kickoff at 7 p.m. EST and will air on ESPN. 

How to Watch Georgia vs. Ole Miss

  • Gameday: Saturday, Nov. 11. 2023
  • Game time: 7:00 pm ET
  • TV: ESPN
  • Location: Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium (Athens, Georgia)
  • Live stream on fuboTV: Start with a 7-day free trial!
  • Stream on ESPN - HERE
  • Broadcast Call: Chris Fowler (play-by-play) and Kirk Herbstreit(Color) will be on the call

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Ethan Offutt
ETHAN OFFUTT

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