NEWS: Dell McGee, a former Auburn player, has been appointed head football coach at Georgia State.

Georgia State announced on Friday that Dell McGee, a former football player for Auburn, has been appointed head coach.

Since 2016, the 50-year-old McGee has served as Georgia’s running backs coach. During that time, the Bulldogs have won three SEC titles and two national titles. During his first three seasons at UGA, he also served as assistant head coach; however, in 2019, he was appointed run game coordinator.

Coach Dell McGee is our head football coach, and we are delighted to announce him,” Charlie Cobb, Georgia State athletics director, stated. “Coach McGee is a remarkable and genuine man who has a tremendous love for helping young men grow. I have no doubt that he will guide our football team to its highest points given his history of competitive success in both high school and college. Linda and Dell are cordially welcomed to Georgia State University!

Shawn Elliott, who quit last week to take a position as tight ends coach at South Carolina, is replaced by McGee. When Elliott left, the Panthers had already started spring practice. However, they received special approval from the NCAA and Sun Belt Conference to postpone practice and their spring game until after a new coach was hired.

Originating from Columbus, Georgia, McGee spent several years as Auburn’s starting defensive back in the early 1990s. His most well-known interception came late in the fourth quarter of the 1993 Iron Bowl, which helped the Tigers defeat Alabama 22–14 and end the season 11-0.

In addition to spending time in the XFL, the Arena Football League, and NFL Europe, McGee played four seasons in the NFL. In 2013, Gus Malzahn at Auburn recruited him as an analyst after he had spent several years coaching high school in his own state, where he had served as head coach at Carver High School in Columbus for eight of those seasons.

In 2014, McGee was hired by Georgia Southern to coach running backs after he helped the Tigers win the SEC and go to the BCS Championship game. After Willie Fritz left for Tulane to coach in the 2015 GoDaddy Bowl, he took over as interim head coach and guided the Eagles to a 58-27 victory over Bowling Green.

Then, in 2016, McGee was brought on as Kirby Smart’s first employee in Georgia. Recognized as one of the nation’s best recruiters, he was voted National Recruiter of the Year in 2018 by 247 Sports and Rivals.com.

McGee expressed his gratitude to President Brian Blake, Athletic Director Charlie Cobb, and the whole search committee for giving him the chance to lead Georgia State University’s football program. “I have been a coach in Georgia for more than 20 years. This is my home state, so having the chance to cultivate student-athletes here has always been a blessing I thought I was ready for.

“I will always be appreciative to Coach Smart and the University of Georgia for helping me realize my dream of being a head coach in higher education. Georgia State is ready for big things. I’m excited to take the helm of the football program as we aim to win championships at a top university in America’s greatest city.

After defeating Utah State 45–22 in the renowned Idaho Potato Bowl, McGee takes over a Georgia State squad that finished 7–6 in 2023. The Panthers play their first game of 2024 on August 31 at Georgia Tech.