After being fired from Georgia Tech, Geoff Collins took a year off from coaching, but is now back as defensive coordinator for the North Carolina Tar Heels, who the Yellow Jackets will play on October 12. After practice this week, Collins was asked about his firing from Georgia Tech and here is what he had to say:

“It’s always like that,” Collins said. “Because my whole career, it’s been success, success, success, success. And when you go through that, you become very thoughtful, self-reflective. A lot of people can just point fingers and blame and deflect everything, instead of going within and going through the process of what you could have done differently, what you could have done better. Of course, everyone knows the circumstances that happen. But that doesn’t matter. What could I have done better next time?

“That’s the advantage for me: I was able to take the year to refocus and reflect. And then I get to work for a Hall of Famer and watch him do it day in and day out. It’s been wonderful for my career and my soul. And I get to just come here every day and support these young men, a culture and a program that’s set up for success,” Collins said.

Collins finished as head coach of the Yellow Jackets with a record of 10-28 and 0-2 against Georgia, losing in two meetings by a combined score of 97-7.

After Collins was fired, Brent Key took over as interim head coach and was named permanent head coach at the end of the season. Key led the Yellow Jackets to a 7-6 record that season, including their first bowl win since 2016.