Georgia State’s all-time winningest coach during the program’s short history, Shawn Elliott, has resigned from his position. He’s reportedly going to South Carolina to be the team’s tight ends coach.
Elliott was 41-44 with the Panthers since 2017 with a 4-1 record in bowl games. GSU enjoyed winning seasons four of the last five years. The Panthers were 7-6 overall and 3-5 in Sun Belt play in 2023.
But with Elliott on the way out – as the team is holding spring practices no less – Georgia State needs a new head coach. Here are a few names the Panthers could consider.
Georgia State Offensive Coordinator Trent McKnight
If Georgia State were to promote internally, Trent McKnight would likely be among the leading candidates.
McKnight has been the Panthers’ offensive coordinator since 2022 and has been at Georgia State for seven seasons. He worked with wide receivers from 2017-21, helping guide the Panthers to their first winning seasons beginning in 2017.
McKnight, a former nominee for the Broyles Award which goes to the country’s top assistant, has worked with a number of all-conference players. That includes quarterback Darren Grainger, who declared for the 2024 NFL Draft. Before going to Georgia State, McKnight was an assistant at Samford.
McKnight would make sense for GSU.
Arkansas Running Backs Coach Jimmy Smith
Jimmy Smith is a former Georgia State assistant and earned his master’s degree there. He is also a current Power Five coach, so he could be a great hire for the Panthers.
Smith is currently an associate head coach and running backs coach for the Razorbacks. He’s helped Arkansas enjoy some success on the ground, as the Razorbacks were seventh in the country with 236.7 rushing yards per game in 2022. Their 3,077 rushing yards that season was their most since Darren McFadden and Felix Jones helped break the school record in 2007 with 3,725.
Before beginning his stint at Arkansas in 2020, Smith was Georgia State’s running backs coach in 2019. He coached at the high school level before that after playing for Tennessee State.
Hiring Smith would be a logical decision for several reasons.
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UNLV Offensive Coordinator Brennan Marion
Brennan Marion was in just his first season as UNLV’s offensive coordinator in 2023. However, he’s done well with the Rebels and has other coaching experience as a coordinator.
He also has some experience coaching on the eastern side of the country.
Marion helped UNLV’s offense thrive in 2023. The Rebels were 22nd in the FBS in scoring offense with 34.4 points per game and were 42nd with 412.7 yards per game gained.
Before this, Marion was a passing game coordinator at Texas in 2022, a wide receivers coach at Pitt in 2021, a wide receivers coach at Hawaii in 2020, an offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at William & Mary in 2019, an offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Howard in 2017 and 2018, and a running backs coach at Oklahoma Baptist in 2016.
The expertise he brings would benefit Georgia State.
SMU Offensive Coordinator Casey Woods
SMU’s offense has flourished with Casey Woods as the team’s offensive coordinator. He also has coaching experience in the Sun Belt, having been a wide receivers coach at Arkansas State in 2012.
The Mustangs were 12th in the FBS in points per game (37.2) and 14th in yards per game (472.8) in 2022. This past year, they were eighth (38.7 points per game) and 16th (454.3 yards per game) in those categories.
Before this, Woods was a tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator at Missouri. He’s also been an assistant at Auburn and UAB.
Maybe Woods would want to stay put with SMU going to the ACC. But the Panthers should absolutely consider him.
