Brent Key

Brent Key, a Georgia Tech alumnus and football letterwinner, was officially named the 21^st head coach in Tech football history on Nov. 29, 2022.

In his first full season as the Yellow Jackets’ head coach in 2023, Key led his alma mater to a 7-6 overall record (Tech’s best since 2018), capped by a 30-17 win over UCF in the Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl in Tampa, Fla. (the Jackets’ first bowl victory since 2018). Among the team’s many other accomplishment’s in ’23, the Jackets collected wins over No. 17 Miami (Fla.) and No. 17 North Carolina to move to 4-0 against nationally ranked Atlantic Coast Conference opponents in Key’s 21 games as head coach and finished 5-3 overall in ACC play, good for a tie for fourth place in the 14-team conference after being picked to finish 12th in the league’s preseason poll.

Key took the reins of the program in 2023 after leading the Yellow Jackets to a 4-4 record over the final eight games of the 2022 season as interim head coach. The four wins included two road victories over nationally ranked opponents – a 26-21 win at No. 24 Pitt in his first game at the helm on Oct. 1 and a 21-17 triumph at No. 11 North Carolina on Nov. 19. The Jackets overcame a plethora of injuries – including to its top two quarterbacks – to finish 5-7 overall and 4-4 in Atlantic Coast Conference play after a 1-3 (0-1 ACC) start.

Prior to being named interim head coach on Sept. 26, 2022, Key served as the Yellow Jackets’ assistant head coach/offensive line coach/run game coordinator for three-plus seasons. In his four seasons at his alma mater, Georgia Tech’s run game has produced an all-American, three all-Atlantic Coast Conference honorees and finished in the top half of the ACC in rushing offense twice. Key has also mentored a pair of all-ACC offensive linemen.

Key returned to Georgia Tech in 2019 after three seasons as offensive line coach at Alabama (2016-18), where he helped lead the Crimson Tide to two Southeastern Conference championships, three College Football Playoff championship games and the 2017 national title. His coaching resume also includes a successful 11-year stint at UCF, where he helped lead the Knights to four conference championships and eight bowl appearances, one season as an assistant coach at Western Carolina and two seasons as a graduate assistant at Georgia Tech. In addition to his reputation as a top-notch coach, he is also widely regarded as one of the nation’s top recruiters.

Key was a four-year starter at guard for the Yellow Jackets from 1997-2000. He was a team captain and all-ACC performer as a senior and graduated from Tech in 2001 with a management degree. He and his wife, Danielle, have a daughter, Harper.

FULL BIOGRAPHY

Brent Key, a Georgia Tech alumnus and football letterwinner, was officially named the 21^st head coach in Tech football history by Institute President Dr. Ángel Cabrera and director of athletics J Batt on Nov. 29, 2022.

After winning just 10 of its previous 38 games, Georgia Tech is 11-10 in Key’s 21 games as the head coach at his alma mater, including a 7-6 mark in his first full season at the helm in 2023. The winning season was Tech’s first since 2018 and was capped by a 30-17 win over UCF in the 2023 Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl in Tampa, Fla., which was the Yellow Jackets’ first postseason victory since 2016.

The Jackets’ 7-6 mark in 2023 included wins over No. 17 Miami (Fla.) and No. 17 North Carolina, which moved Georgia Tech to 4-0 against nationally ranked Atlantic Coast Conference opponents in Key’s 21 games as head coach. Tech finished 5-3 overall in ACC play in ’23, good for a tie for fourth place in the 14-team conference after being picked to finish 12th in the league’s preseason poll.

The Yellow Jackets’ success in 2023 was highlighted by one of the nation’s most prolific offenses. Befitting Key’s background as an all-ACC offensive lineman and one of college football’s most successful offensive line coaches, the Jackets led the ACC and ranked among the top 15 nationally in rushing offense (203.8 ypg – 12th nationally) and sacks allowed (1.15 pg – 15th) in ’23.

However, the offense wasn’t the only area where the Jackets reflected their head coach’s identity in ’23, as they also ranked among the ACC and national leaders in blocked kicks (four – good for first in the ACC and a tie for third nationally), turnovers forced (25 – second in the ACC and ninth nationally) and fewest penalties (5.15 pg – third in the ACC).

Seven different Yellow Jackets earned all-ACC recognition in 2023, highlighted by all-America safety Jaylon King. Additionally, three freshmen – PK Aidan Birr, OL Ethan Mackenny and WR Eric Singleton Jr. – earned freshman all-America honors, putting a spotlight on the Jackets’ bright future under Key.

Key took the reins of the program on a full-time basis after leading the Yellow Jackets to a 4-4 record over the final eight games of the 2022 season as interim head coach. The four wins included two road victories over nationally ranked opponents – a 26-21 win at No. 24 Pitt in his first game at the helm on Oct. 1 and a 21-17 triumph at No. 11 North Carolina on Nov. 19. The Jackets overcame a plethora of injuries – including to its top two quarterbacks – to finish 5-7 overall and 4-4 in Atlantic Coast Conference play after a 1-3 (0-1 ACC) start. The overall and conference win totals were Tech’s highest since 2018, as was its fourth-place finish in the ACC Coastal Division standings (the Jackets defeated all three teams that finished ahead of them in the division standings – North Carolina, Pitt and Duke).

A 2001 Georgia Tech graduate (management), Key is the fifth Tech alumnus to serve as the Yellow Jackets’ head coach, joining William Alexander (1912 graduate; head coach from 1920-44), Bill Fulcher (1956; 1972-73), Pepper Rodgers (1955; 1974-79) and Bill Curry (1965; 1980-86). Key played offensive line for the Jackets from 1997-2000.

Prior to being named Georgia Tech’s interim head coach on Sept. 26 of this season, Key was in his fourth season as the Yellow Jackets’ assistant head coach, run game coordinator and offensive line coach. In his four seasons at his alma mater, Georgia Tech’s run game produced an all-American, three all-Atlantic Coast Conference honorees and finished in the top half of the ACC in rushing offense twice. Key has also mentored a pair of all-ACC offensive linemen.

Despite battling a rash of injuries across the offensive front throughout the season, 2021 marked the second-straight season that Tech’s rushing offense ranked in the top half of the ACC under Key’s watch, with tackle Devin Cochran earning honorable-mention all-ACC recognition before going on to sign with the National Football League’s Cincinnati Bengals.

In 2020, the Jackets ranked fourth in the ACC in fewest sacks allowed (2.3 per game) and fifth in the league in rushing (190.8 yards per game), all with a true freshman (Jordan Williams) starting 9-of-10 games at right tackle.

Despite a multitude of injuries, the Jackets’ offensive line improved throughout the 2019 season, as it went through the monumental transition from an option-based scheme to a pro-style, spread attack. During a one late-season three-game stretch, Tech faced teams that ranked first (Pitt), fourth (Miami) and eighth (Virginia) nationally in sacks. Tech’s offensive front allowed just five total sacks in those three games, including none against eventual ACC Coastal Division champion Virginia. In all, the Jackets didn’t surrender a sack in two of its final four contests.

Key came back to his alma mater after three seasons as offensive line coach at Alabama (2016-18), where he helped lead the Crimson Tide to two Southeastern Conference championships, three College Football Playoff championship games and the 2017 national title.

In each of his three seasons at Alabama, Key’s offensive lines were finalists for the Joe Moore Award, which is presented annually to the nation’s top offensive front, and was the only group in the nation to receive the honor all three seasons. He also coached four All-Americans (including two unanimous picks – tackle Cam Robinson in 2016 and tackle Jonah Williams in 2018) and nine all-SEC selections (including seven first-teamers) during his time with the Tide. In addition to being unanimous All-Americans, Robinson won the 2016 Outland Trophy as the nation’s best interior lineman and Williams was a finalist for the award in ’18. They also won the Jacobs Blocking Trophy (SEC’s top offensive lineman) in ‘16 and ‘18, respectively.

Seven linemen that Key coached in his three seasons at Alabama went on to be selected in the National Football League Draft — Jedrick Wills (No. 10 overall, Cleveland Browns, 2020), Williams (No. 11 overall, Cincinnati Bengals, 2019), Alex Leatherwood (No. 17 overall, Las Vegas Raiders, 2021), Robinson (No. 34 overall, Jacksonville Jaguars, 2017), Ross Pierschbacher (fifth round, Washington Redskins, 2019), Bradley Bozeman (sixth round, Baltimore Ravens, 2018) and Deonte Brown (sixth round, Carolina Panthers, 2021).

Key was also lauded for his work on the recruiting trail at Alabama. He was tabbed as the nation’s No. 2 recruiter by 247Sports for his work in landing the Crimson Tide’s 2019 class and the No. 1 recruiter in the nation for his efforts with the 2020 class.

Prior to his three-year stint at Alabama, Key spent 11 seasons at UCF (2005-15). He started at UCF as a graduate assistant and worked his way up to assistant head coach (2012-15) and offensive coordinator (2014-15). He also coached tight ends for three seasons (2006-08), offensive line for six seasons (2009-14), running backs for one season (2015), was special teams coordinator for one season (2008) and recruiting coordinator for six seasons (2007, 2010-14) with the Knights. In 2012, 2013 and 2014, Key was nominated for the Broyles Award, given to the top assistant coach in college football.

During Key’s 11 seasons at UCF, the Knights won four conference championships (2007, 2010, 2013 and 2014), highlighted by a 12-1 campaign in 2013, which culminated with a 52-42 win over No. 5 Baylor in the Fiesta Bowl. The Knights beat two top-10 teams in ’13 (Baylor and No. 8 Louisville) and Key’s offensive front, which did not allow a sack against Penn State, Louisville, UConn or Baylor, helped pave the way for UCF to average 441.5 yards and 34.6 points per game, both among the highest marks in program history. His offensive line also provided protection for American Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year Blake Bortles.

In his six seasons as UCF’s offensive line coach, eight different linemen earned all-conference recognition a total of 16 times and four went on to play in the NFL, including 2011 third-round draft pick Jah Reid. He also coached an NFL draft pick at tight end in Mike Merritt (2008).

During his time at UCF, Key coached under his head coach as a student-athlete at Georgia Tech, George O’Leary.

Key got his start in coaching as a graduate assistant at Georgia Tech in 2001-02 and served as tight ends and running backs coach at Western Carolina in 2004.

Key was a four-year starter in his four seasons as a student-athlete at Georgia Tech (1997-2000). While making 44-straight starts at right guard, Key was a part of a senior class that led Georgia Tech to four-straight bowl appearances for the first time since 1953-56. As a sophomore in 1998, he helped lead Tech to a 10-2 record and a share of the ACC championship. During his junior campaign in 1999, the Jackets ranked No. 1 nationally in total offense (509.0 ypg). He was voted a team captain and all-ACC as a senior in 2000. In all, he was a key cog in an offensive front that helped the Yellow Jackets lead the ACC in rushing three times.

A Clay, Ala. native, Key, 46, was an all-state performer at Hewitt-Trussville H.S. He and his wife, Danielle, have a daughter, Harper.

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING ABOUT BRENT KEY

“I watched very closely this season as Brent took over and saw things move in the right direction. It was clear that the team responded to the changes he made and played hard for him. Congratulations to Brent – I know he’ll do an outstanding job. President Cabrera and J made a great decision, and I look forward to watching the success Brent will have at Georgia Tech.”
– Former Georgia Tech and UCF head coach George O’Leary

“Brent did a great job for us at Alabama and was fantastic as the interim head coach for Georgia Tech this year. I know he is excited to lead his alma mater, and he will do an excellent job as the Yellow Jackets’ head coach. Brent is a very passionate coach who works tirelessly at his craft. His players love to play for him, and he does a great job of putting them in situations to be successful. Brent has a wonderful family, and we are so very happy for him to have this opportunity at Georgia Tech”
– Alabama head coach Nick Saban