LSU hires Georgia passing game coordinator Cortez Hankton
Georgia passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach Cortez Hankton is joining Brian Kelly’s staff at LSU as wide receivers coach, sources told On3Sports’ Matt Zenitz. Hankton coached the Bulldogs to a National Championship win over Alabama last Monday.
On Monday, LSU confirmed the hire in a statement from Kelly, adding passing game coordinator to Hankton’s title.
“Cortez is a tremendous coach who has developed outstanding receivers everywhere he’s been,” Kelly said in a release. “He understands what it takes to win at the highest level having spent the past seven years in the SEC. Our players will benefit from Cortez and all that he has to offer – on the field and off the field. The experience he brings to our program will help create a championship culture at LSU.”
The New Orleans native built a strong reputation as a recruiter and the former St. Augustine High standout is now returning to Louisiana to continue his coaching career.
During his tenure at UGA, Hankton has been part of teams that became the first in school history to win 11 or more games three straight seasons (2017-19), won three SEC Eastern Division titles (2018-19, 2021), and earned three consecutive appearances in a New Year’s Six Bowl game (2019 Allstate Sugar, 2020 Allstate Sugar, 2021 Chick-fil-A Peach).
The Bulldogs also finished in the top 10 in the final CFP rankings five straight years (2017-2021). The 2019 and 2020 senior classes won 44 games—tied for most in school history.
At UGA, Hankton has coached SEC All-Freshman wide receiver George Pickens, the MVP of the 2020 Allstate Sugar Bowl victory over Baylor. Additionally, he coached several big-play receivers in 2018 in senior Terry Godwin and juniors Mecole Hardman and Riley Ridley who combined for 1,475 receiving yards. All three were drafted in the 2019 NFL draft: Hardman, 2nd round, Kansas City; Ridley, 4th round, Chicago; and Godwin, 7th round, Carolina.
Hankton joined the Georgia staff in February, 2018, after coaching wide receivers for three seasons at Vanderbilt, where he coached veteran receivers C.J. Duncan and Trent Sherfield along with Caleb Scott and Kalija Lipscomb. Sherfield ended his career among the program’s best in receptions (136) and 1,869 yards.
Prior to his tenure at Vanderbilt, Hankton coached receivers for three seasons at Dartmouth in the Ivy League (2012-14). During that time, he helped the Big Green to a 20-10 overall record, including an 8-2 mark in 2014.
Hankton was signed as an undrafted rookie free agent in April, 2003, by Jacksonville. In his four years with the Jaguars, he caught 34 passes for 310 yards and a pair of touchdowns, both of which came in 2004. Hankton signed with Minnesota in 2007 and spent the entire 2008 season on injured reserve with Tampa Bay.
Kelly’s first staff at LSU is now complete with offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock and defensive coordinator Matt House at the helm with Brian Polian directing special teams. Quarterbacks will be coached up by Joe Sloan, running backs will be coached by Frank Wilson and offensive line tutored by Brad Davis.
Defensively, the Tigers hired Jamar Cain as defensive line coach away from Oklahoma, cornerbacks coach Robert Steeples away from the Minnesota Vikings and safeties coach Kerry Cooks away from Notre Dame, where he was an analyst.
