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Brent Key

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Brent Key
Key in 2019
Current position
TitleHead coach
TeamGeorgia Tech
ConferenceACC
Record17–14
Annual salary$2,800,000[1]
Biographical details
Born (1978-08-01) August 1, 1978 (age 46)
Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.
Playing career
1997–2000Georgia Tech
Position(s)Right guard
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
2001–2002Georgia Tech (GA)
2004Western Carolina (RB/TE)
2005UCF (GA)
2006–2007UCF (TE/RC)
2008UCF (ST/TE/RC)
2009–2011UCF (OL/RC)
2012–2013UCF (AHC/OL/RC)
2014–2015UCF (AHC/OC/OL/RC)
2016–2018Alabama (OL)
2019–2022Georgia Tech (AHC/OL/RGC)
2022Georgia Tech (interim HC)
2023–presentGeorgia Tech
Head coaching record
Overall17–14
Bowls1–0
Accomplishments and honors
Awards

Donald Brent Key (born August 1, 1978) is an American college football coach and former player. Key is the head football coach at his alma mater, Georgia Tech as of November 2022.[2]

Playing career

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Key grew up in Trussville, Alabama, a suburb of Birmingham, Alabama. He attended and played football at Hewitt-Trussville High School.[3] Key played guard at Georgia Tech under coach George O'Leary, starting all four years.[4] During his four-year playing career, Georgia Tech would go on to four straight bowl appearances, finish the season in the AP poll top-25 four times, beat rival Georgia three straight times, and rank No. 1 nationally in total offense in 1998. He was voted team captain and all-ACC as a senior in 2000.

Coaching career

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Early career

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Key served as a graduate assistant under George O'Leary at Georgia Tech during the 2001 season. He would later join O'Leary at UCF.[5] Key also served as tight ends and running backs coach at Western Carolina in 2004.

UCF

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Key was hired in 2004 as a graduate assistant for UCF in 2005. At various points during his tenure with UCF, Key was the offensive coordinator, assistant head coach, offensive line coach, special teams coach, tight ends coach, and recruiting coordinator for the UCF Knights.[6] After the 2012 season, Key was promoted to assistant head coach and then to offensive coordinator following the 2013 season. While as an assistant at the University of Central Florida (UCF), Key was selected to be the heir apparent to George O'Leary following his retirement.[7] Following the 2013 season in which UCF won the Fiesta Bowl, Key reportedly declined the head coaching job at UAB to remain with the Knights.[8] Key left UCF following their 0-12 2015 season, which would be O'Leary's last with the team. In 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2020 Key was nominated for the Broyles Award, given for the top assistant in college football.

Alabama

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On February 15, 2016, Key was hired as the offensive line coach at the University of Alabama, replacing Mario Cristobal. Cristobal remained on staff as tight ends coach.[9] Cam Robinson, Ross Pierschbacher, and Jonah Williams are a few of Key’s linemen who would go on to be named All-Americans during his tenure at Bama. Alabama would go on to win one national championship (2017) and two SEC championships (2016, 2018). Widely regarded as one of the top offensive line coaches in college football, Key’s lines have been a finalist for the Joe Moore Award, presented annually to the top offensive line in the nation, three times in his career.

Georgia Tech

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Key left Alabama for his alma mater Georgia Tech in 2019, serving as assistant head coach and offensive line coach under newly hired head coach Geoff Collins. Following a 10-22 tenure, Collins was fired in 2022 and Key was named interim head coach. He went 4–4 as interim head coach, with notable wins over #24 Pittsburgh and #13 North Carolina. Because of the team’s improvement during his tenure, the interim tag was taken off on November 29 as Key was named Georgia Tech’s 21st head football coach.[10]

In 2023, Key led Georgia Tech to a 7-6 record, resulting in its first bowl game and winning season since 2018. This season was notable for a homecoming upset of #17 North Carolina and a last second victory over #17 Miami, in which Georgia Tech scored a touchdown with 2 seconds left in the game following former colleague Mario Cristobal's decision to not take a knee in the final 40 seconds of the 4th quarter.

Key began the 2024 season in Dublin, Ireland with an upset victory over the 10th-ranked Florida State Seminoles. Key and the Yellow Jackets started the season 2-0 for the first time since the 2016 season.

Personal life

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Brent Key earned his degree in management from Georgia Tech in 2001. During his time at UCF, he met his wife, Danielle Key, who worked on the marketing team for the university's athletic department. Together, they have a daughter named Harper.[11]

Head coaching record

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Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (Atlantic Coast Conference) (2022–present)
2022 Georgia Tech 4–4[a] 4–3 4th (Coastal)
2023 Georgia Tech 7–6 5–3 T–4th W Gasparilla
2024 Georgia Tech 6–4 4–3
Georgia Tech: 17–14 13–9
Total: 17–14
  1. ^ Key replaced Geoff Collins after four games

References

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  1. ^ Brent Key. 247Sports. Date May 12, 2014.
  2. ^ Fortuna, Matt; Schultz, Jeff. "Georgia Tech hires Brent Key as full-time head coach". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 12, 2024.
  3. ^ Green, Shannon (August 2, 2015). "Key season at UCF". The Orlando Sentinel. p. C5. Retrieved September 26, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ Holls, John (November 20, 2001). "Outcome critical to former captain". The Atlanta Constitution. p. F5. Retrieved September 26, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ Brent Key. Archived August 10, 2014, at the Wayback Machine Georgia Tech Athletics Association.
  6. ^ Brent Key. Archived August 11, 2014, at the Wayback Machine UCF Athletics Association.
  7. ^ UCF Football's Key a Nominee for the Broyles Assistant Coach Award. Archived August 11, 2014, at the Wayback Machine UCF Athletics Association. Date November 21, 2012.
  8. ^ Sources: UCF's O'Leary strongly considering stepping down in 2014. FOX Sports. Date August 9, 2014.
  9. ^ "Why Nick Saban shook up his staff to hire Brent Key". AL.com.
  10. ^ "Brent Key Named Georgia Tech Football's 21st Head Coach". Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. November 29, 2022. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
  11. ^ "Georgia Tech Head Football Coach Brent Key, Mgt 01, brings hard work and hope to the Flats". Georgia Tech Alumni Magazine. April 30, 2024. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
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