Georgia State: a football coaching history
See Georgia State’s full 91-year Zeitgeist History →← all coaches
Stature and coaches, 2013–2026
The program’s standing over time, with every coach’s tenure beneath it — read down to see who was there for each rise and fall.
DynastyBlue BloodPower ProgramNational ProgramRegional Program
Run↔pass identity, by season
Every coach
Big movers show how many stature points they built or lost against what they inherited; steadier tenures show the tier they reached instead. A small blue arrow marks a real System Shift at that changeover — how hard the offense’s run/pass identity flipped.
2024–now
Dell McGee Steady
Dell McGee held Georgia State at Regional Program IV for 3 seasons.
No outlier style signal this stint
−2.8 pts over 3 seasons · top 48% of 3-5-season tenures (717 in sample)
Closest comparable run: Mick Dennehy’s Utah State run (2000–2004)
3rd-best Georgia State tenure of 3 by the numbers.
Followed Shawn Elliott (2017–2024).
System Shift, on arrival
| Season | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record & result | ||||
| Record | 3-9 | 1-11 | 4-4 | |
| Postseason | — | — | — | |
| Recruiting rank | #120 | #67 | #84 | |
| Style — pass rate | ||||
| Pass rate | 55.5 | 56.5 | 45.1 | |
| Coordinators | ||||
| OC | Jim Chaney | Hue Jackson | Hue Jackson | |
| DC | Kevin Sherrer | Travis Pearson | Cam Clark / John Haneline | |
| Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile | ||||
| Offense | 35 | 33 | 66 | |
| Defense | 17 | 12 | 45 | |
| Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script | ||||
| 1st-down pass% | 50.5 | 48.1 | 46.5 | |
| Red-zone pass% | 53.3 | 46.2 | 37.5 | |
| 4th-down go%opp. territory | 34.1 | 47.4 | 33.3 | |
Recruiter or developer?
Underperforms his recruiting talent, on both sides of the ball.
Offense vs. talent
-12.3 pts
#157 of 208 · bottom quarter
Defense vs. talent
-32.5 pts
#200 of 208 · bottom quarter
Recruiting talent is team-wide (no offense/defense split exists in the source data) -- both sides are scored against the same talent input, only the outcome is side-specific.
Roster construction · portal era
A portal-built roster.
Portal arrivals
91
3.1★ avg rating
Portal departures
110
left via the portal
Net portal flow
-19
#7 of 187 FBS stints
Who they bring in
Typical size for position, once adjusted for position mix.
A typical class-year mix of incoming transfers.
Avg. size (raw)
6′2″, 242 lbs
across 52 of 91 arrivals — unadjusted for position mix
Size vs. position-typical
+2.0 lbs
#191 of 255 · middle half
Avg. class year
Jr
#169 of 255 · middle half
Top states: GA (22), FL (7), CA (3), TX (3), LA (3)
Who won the portal our read
Talent added
56.2
position-weighted
Talent lost
56.2
position-weighted
Net
+0.0
arrivals minus departures
Best addition: Christian Veilleux (QB) from Pittsburgh
Biggest loss: TJ Finley (QB) to Incarnate Word
Position-value-weighted (QB/CB weighted highest, depth-decayed within each position) — the same scoring engine as the Portal Heat feed, not a separate grade.
Does the system survive a coordinator change?
OC: Hue Jackson → Hue Jackson · 2026
1-season window either side — numbers shown, not enough to badge a verdict.
1st-down pass rate: 48.1% → 46.5% (-1.7 pts)
Confound, shown not hidden: only 46% of offensive production returned the year the coordinator changed — the roster turned over at the same time, not just the play-caller.
DC: Travis Pearson → Cam Clark (co) / John Haneline (co) · 2026
1-season window either side — numbers shown, not enough to badge a verdict.
Roster size, by position
Skill positions · usage-weighted (real participation)
Quarterback
215 lbs
6′4″ avg · #311 of 767 · middle half
Running back
201 lbs
5′10″ avg · #600 of 791 · bottom quarter
Wide receiver
183 lbs
6′0″ avg · #748 of 791 · bottom quarter
Tight end
244 lbs
6′3″ avg · #424 of 731 · middle half
Trench & secondary · recruited roster, not confirmed starters
Interior line
300 lbs
6′4″ avg · #694 of 779 · bottom quarter
D-line
294 lbs
6′2″ avg · #175 of 753 · top quarter
Linebacker
224 lbs
6′1″ avg · #611 of 772 · bottom quarter
Safety
191 lbs
6′0″ avg · #301 of 346 · bottom quarter
Offensive-line size is one undifferentiated bucket — the source data almost never distinguishes tackle from guard from center, so we can't split them out.
Where the roster comes from, by position
Buys Punter via the portal
100%
#1 of 29 stints
Buys Quarterback via the portal
80%
#5 of 206 stints
1 NFL Draft pick: Ted Hurst (2026)
AI Narratives — “Georgia State — stat check”.
−2.8
8-24
2017–2024
Shawn Elliott Steady
Shawn Elliott held the Panthers at Regional Program IV for 7 seasons.
2018 defense ranked in the 3th percentile nationally — historically bad
+2.7 pts over 7 seasons · top 49% of 6-9-season tenures (368 in sample)
Closest comparable run: Terry Hoeppner’s Miami (OH) run (1999–2004)
1st-best Georgia State tenure of 3 by the numbers.
Followed Trent Miles (2013–2016) · succeeded by Dell McGee (2024–now).
System Shift, on arrival
| Season | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record & result | |||||||||
| Record | 7-5 | 2-10 | 7-6 | 6-4 | 8-5 | 4-8 | 7-6 | 0-0 | |
| Postseason | W bowl | — | L bowl | W bowl | W bowl | — | W bowl | — | |
| Recruiting rank | #105 | #95 | #98 | #110 | #101 | #99 | #115 | — | |
| Style — pass rate | |||||||||
| Pass rate | 48.5 | 43.2 | 39.2 | 41.0 | 34.7 | 33.9 | 41.7 | — | |
| Coordinators | |||||||||
| OC | Travis Trickett | Travis Trickett | Brad Glenn | Brad Glenn | Brad Glenn | Trent McKnight | Trent McKnight | — | |
| DC | Nate Fuqua | Nate Fuqua | Nate Fuqua | Nate Fuqua | Nate Fuqua | Nate Fuqua | Chad Staggs | — | |
| Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile | |||||||||
| Offense | 25 | 53 | 50 | 56 | 81 | 54 | 53 | — | |
| Defense | 43 | 3 | 7 | 65 | 80 | 68 | 26 | — | |
| Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script | |||||||||
| 1st-down pass% | 45.5 | 35.1 | 31.3 | 31.3 | 31.0 | 31.6 | 42.2 | — | |
| Red-zone pass% | 37.2 | 31.2 | 31.6 | 31.4 | 31.7 | 15.7 | 27.0 | — | |
| 4th-down go%opp. territory | 21.6 | 41.4 | 41.9 | 24.2 | 24.2 | 48.6 | 36.4 | — | |
Recruiter or developer?
Performs about as expected for his recruiting talent, on both sides of the ball.
Offense vs. talent
+11.0 pts
#61 of 208 · middle half
Defense vs. talent
-1.4 pts
#114 of 208 · middle half
Recruiting talent is team-wide (no offense/defense split exists in the source data) -- both sides are scored against the same talent input, only the outcome is side-specific.
Roster construction · portal era
A typical amount of portal roster-building.
Portal arrivals
26
2.7★ avg rating
Portal departures
42
left via the portal
Net portal flow
-16
#140 of 187 FBS stints
Who they bring in
Brings in smaller-than-position-typical players than most.
Recruits older, more experienced transfers than most.
Avg. size (raw)
6′1″, 228 lbs
across 24 of 26 arrivals — unadjusted for position mix
Size vs. position-typical
-5.8 lbs
#254 of 255 · bottom quarter
Avg. class year
Sr
#1 of 255 · top quarter
Top states: GA (8), SC (2), AL (2), VA (2), MD (2)
Who won the portal our read
Talent added
45.8
position-weighted
Talent lost
52.4
position-weighted
Net
-6.6
arrivals minus departures
Best addition: Steven Krajewski (QB) from UConn
Biggest loss: Keilon Brown (QB) to the portal
Position-value-weighted (QB/CB weighted highest, depth-decayed within each position) — the same scoring engine as the Portal Heat feed, not a separate grade.
Does the system survive a coordinator change?
OC: Travis Trickett → Brad Glenn · 2019The system held
2-season window either side.
1st-down pass rate: 40.3% → 31.3% (-9.0 pts)
Confound, shown not hidden: only 72% of offensive production returned the year the coordinator changed — the roster turned over at the same time, not just the play-caller.
OC: Brad Glenn → Trent McKnight · 2022The offense slipped
2-season window either side.
1st-down pass rate: 31.1% → 36.9% (+5.8 pts)
Confound, shown not hidden: only 84% of offensive production returned the year the coordinator changed — the roster turned over at the same time, not just the play-caller.
DC: Nate Fuqua → Chad Staggs · 2023
1-season window either side — numbers shown, not enough to badge a verdict.
Roster size, by position
Skill positions · usage-weighted (real participation)
Quarterback
220 lbs
6′4″ avg · #176 of 767 · top quarter
Running back
202 lbs
5′10″ avg · #576 of 791 · middle half
Wide receiver
191 lbs
6′0″ avg · #494 of 791 · middle half
Tight end
246 lbs
6′3″ avg · #332 of 731 · middle half
Trench & secondary · recruited roster, not confirmed starters
Interior line
290 lbs
6′3″ avg · #767 of 779 · bottom quarter
D-line
274 lbs
6′1″ avg · #593 of 753 · bottom quarter
Linebacker
227 lbs
6′1″ avg · #472 of 772 · middle half
Cornerback
186 lbs
6′0″ avg · #603 of 771 · bottom quarter
Safety
188 lbs
5′11″ avg · #326 of 346 · bottom quarter
Offensive-line size is one undifferentiated bucket — the source data almost never distinguishes tackle from guard from center, so we can't split them out.
Where the roster comes from, by position
Grows Kicker from high school
75%
#49 of 56 stints
Grows Tight end from high school
100%
#164 of 188 stints
Postseason detail2017: Beat Western Kentucky 27-17 Autonation Cure Bowl2019: Lost to Wyoming 17-38 Bowl2020: Beat Western Kentucky 39-21 LendingTree Bowl2021: Beat Ball State 51-20 TaxAct Camellia Bowl2023: Beat Utah State 45-22 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
1 NFL Draft pick: Travis Glover (2024)
+2.7
41-44
2016
Tim Lappano Short tenure
No outlier style signal this stint
1-1
2013–2016
Trent Miles Steady
Trent Miles held the Panthers at Regional Program IV for 4 seasons.
2014 defense ranked in the 2th percentile nationally — historically bad
2nd-best Georgia State tenure of 3 by the numbers.
Succeeded by Shawn Elliott (2017–2024).
System Shift, on departure
| Season | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record & result | |||||
| Record | 0-12 | 1-11 | 6-7 | 2-8 | |
| Postseason | — | — | L bowl | — | |
| Recruiting rank | #111 | #104 | #123 | #125 | |
| Style — pass rate | |||||
| Pass rate | 54.2 | 53.3 | 54.9 | 55.5 | |
| Coordinators | |||||
| OC | — | Jeff Jagodzinski | Jeff Jagodzinski | Luke Huard | |
| DC | — | Jesse Minter | Jesse Minter | Jesse Minter | |
| Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile | |||||
| Offense | 30 | 28 | 57 | 32 | |
| Defense | 28 | 2 | 79 | 78 | |
| Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script | |||||
| 1st-down pass% | 50.0 | 49.6 | 52.3 | 45.1 | |
| Red-zone pass% | 54.2 | 41.0 | 49.5 | 47.9 | |
| 4th-down go%opp. territory | 39.3 | 26.3 | 22.7 | 20.6 | |
Recruiter or developer?
Performs about as expected for his recruiting talent on offense and outperforms his recruiting talent on defense.
Offense vs. talent
+10.6 pts
#62 of 208 · middle half
Defense vs. talent
+42.4 pts
#2 of 208 · top quarter
Recruiting talent is team-wide (no offense/defense split exists in the source data) -- both sides are scored against the same talent input, only the outcome is side-specific.
Does the system survive a coordinator change?
OC: Jeff Jagodzinski → Jeff Jagodzinski · 2015
1-season window either side — numbers shown, not enough to badge a verdict.
1st-down pass rate: 49.6% → 52.3% (+2.7 pts)
Confound, shown not hidden: only 88% of offensive production returned the year the coordinator changed — the roster turned over at the same time, not just the play-caller.
Where the roster comes from, by position
Grows Tight end from high school
100%
#164 of 188 stints
Grows Edge from high school
100%
#191 of 208 stints
Postseason detail2015: Lost to San José State 16-27 Autonation Cure Bowl
1 NFL Draft pick: Robert Davis (2017)