Continuity is often viewed as a pillar of sustained success in college football, but Georgia Tech head coach Brent Key is betting on new ideas for 2026. After a nine-win season in 2025, Key embraces change, seeing value in new faces in the program.
In a March 18 interview with college football analyst Josh Pate, Key stated, “Continuity breeds complacency in every walk of life in an organization.” The new staff members bring an energy that may have been fading from the building.
The Yellow Jackets will enter 2026 with new coordinators on both sides of the ball: Jason Semore, formerly of Southern Miss, as the defensive coordinator and George Godsey, formerly Baltimore Ravens tight ends coach, taking over the offense after Buster Faulkner departed for Florida.
Why it makes sense for Georgia Tech
Key has built a consistent program, winning 23 games over the past three seasons. But after starting 8-0 in 2025, the Yellow Jackets dropped four of their final five games, a stretch Key points to as a sign of complacency.
“I try to be the same every Sunday when I come in — it’s about correcting mistakes,” Key said. “If you don’t want to have mistakes corrected, do what’s right.”
Hungry coaches bring the energy needed to close those gaps and keep a team engaged throughout a long season.
Why is it risky for Georgia Tech
In the transfer portal era, continuity often determines how teams handle adversity. For Georgia Tech, that stability will be tested in 2026.
The addition of 19 new transfers adds another layer of uncertainty. When players are adjusting to a new system and campus lifestyle, and coaches are learning how to develop their new personnel, the margin of error shrinks.
Cohesion has to develop quickly throughout the program to avoid the same collapse that surfaced late in 2025.
Change is constant in college football
Turnover is part of the coaching profession, as assistants continuously look to climb the ladder and pursue new opportunities. For Key, that reality isn’t something to resist; it’s something to embrace.
“Only one time did I ever see the same staff stick together for two consecutive years,” Key said, a reflection of his belief that change is necessary.
In a sport defined by constant change, Key is betting on adaptability to stabilize and shape the future of the Georgia Tech program.
The first game action for the newly constructed staff will be in the White and Gold game on April 18 at Bobby Dodd Stadium.
