**Shake-Up in Athens: Kirby Smart’s Inner Circle Hit Again as Another Bulldog Great Walks Away**
In a move that has sent ripples through the Georgia Bulldogs football program, **Jarvis Jones**, a beloved former All-American linebacker and rising coaching star, is leaving Athens to take on a new challenge. Jones, who has been an integral part of **Kirby Smart’s coaching staff**, is departing to become the **head coach at Carver High School in Columbus, Georgia** [A](https://sports.yahoo.com/article/former-georgia-american-jarvis-jones-205456039.html?copilot_analytics_metadata=eyJldmVudEluZm9fY2xpY2tEZXN0aW5hdGlvbiI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC9zcG9ydHMueWFob28uY29tXC9hcnRpY2xlXC9mb3JtZXItZ2VvcmdpYS1hbWVyaWNhbi1qYXJ2aXMtam9uZXMtMjA1NDU2MDM5Lmh0bWwiLCJldmVudEluZm9fY2xpY2tTb3VyY2UiOiJjaXRhdGlvbkxpbmsiLCJldmVudEluZm9fbWVzc2FnZUlkIjoiOGVFVlRFWFdNcHpmU2dwa2t6cER6IiwiZXZlbnRJbmZvX2NvbnZlcnNhdGlvbklkIjoidlVuM0xhQ1BBNDdKNXpyczVQYlpaIn0%3D&citationMarker=9F742443-6C92-4C44-BF58-8F5A7C53B6F1).
### A Bulldog Legend Moves On
Jones, a **two-time All-American** at Georgia, was one of the most dominant defensive players in the program’s history. His **record-setting 14.5 sacks and 24.5 tackles for loss in 2012** cemented his legacy as one of the greatest linebackers to ever wear the red and black [B](https://www.onlineathens.com/story/sports/college/bulldogs-extra/2025/05/25/georgia-football-jarvis-jones-carver-columbus/83855879007/?copilot_analytics_metadata=eyJldmVudEluZm9fbWVzc2FnZUlkIjoiOGVFVlRFWFdNcHpmU2dwa2t6cER6IiwiZXZlbnRJbmZvX2NsaWNrU291cmNlIjoiY2l0YXRpb25MaW5rIiwiZXZlbnRJbmZvX2NsaWNrRGVzdGluYXRpb24iOiJodHRwczpcL1wvd3d3Lm9ubGluZWF0aGVucy5jb21cL3N0b3J5XC9zcG9ydHNcL2NvbGxlZ2VcL2J1bGxkb2dzLWV4dHJhXC8yMDI1XC8wNVwvMjVcL2dlb3JnaWEtZm9vdGJhbGwtamFydmlzLWpvbmVzLWNhcnZlci1jb2x1bWJ1c1wvODM4NTU4NzkwMDdcLyIsImV2ZW50SW5mb19jb252ZXJzYXRpb25JZCI6InZVbjNMYUNQQTQ3SjV6cnM1UGJaWiJ9&citationMarker=9F742443-6C92-4C44-BF58-8F5A7C53B6F1). After a stint in the **NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers**, Jones returned to Georgia in **2019** as a student assistant and later became a **player connection coordinator**, helping develop the next generation of Bulldogs [A](https://sports.yahoo.com/article/former-georgia-american-jarvis-jones-205456039.html?copilot_analytics_metadata=eyJldmVudEluZm9fY2xpY2tEZXN0aW5hdGlvbiI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC9zcG9ydHMueWFob28uY29tXC9hcnRpY2xlXC9mb3JtZXItZ2VvcmdpYS1hbWVyaWNhbi1qYXJ2aXMtam9uZXMtMjA1NDU2MDM5Lmh0bWwiLCJldmVudEluZm9fbWVzc2FnZUlkIjoiOGVFVlRFWFdNcHpmU2dwa2t6cER6IiwiZXZlbnRJbmZvX2NsaWNrU291cmNlIjoiY2l0YXRpb25MaW5rIiwiZXZlbnRJbmZvX2NvbnZlcnNhdGlvbklkIjoidlVuM0xhQ1BBNDdKNXpyczVQYlpaIn0%3D&citationMarker=9F742443-6C92-4C44-BF58-8F5A7C53B6F1).
His departure marks another significant change in **Kirby Smart’s inner circle**, following previous coaching staff shake-ups. While Jones was not a primary position coach, his presence was deeply felt in the locker room and on the practice field, where he worked closely with Georgia’s **outside linebackers** [B](https://www.onlineathens.com/story/sports/college/bulldogs-extra/2025/05/25/georgia-football-jarvis-jones-carver-columbus/83855879007/?copilot_analytics_metadata=eyJldmVudEluZm9fY2xpY2tEZXN0aW5hdGlvbiI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC93d3cub25saW5lYXRoZW5zLmNvbVwvc3RvcnlcL3Nwb3J0c1wvY29sbGVnZVwvYnVsbGRvZ3MtZXh0cmFcLzIwMjVcLzA1XC8yNVwvZ2VvcmdpYS1mb290YmFsbC1qYXJ2aXMtam9uZXMtY2FydmVyLWNvbHVtYnVzXC84Mzg1NTg3OTAwN1wvIiwiZXZlbnRJbmZvX21lc3NhZ2VJZCI6IjhlRVZURVhXTXB6ZlNncGtrenBEeiIsImV2ZW50SW5mb19jbGlja1NvdXJjZSI6ImNpdGF0aW9uTGluayIsImV2ZW50SW5mb19jb252ZXJzYXRpb25JZCI6InZVbjNMYUNQQTQ3SjV6cnM1UGJaWiJ9&citationMarker=9F742443-6C92-4C44-BF58-8F5A7C53B6F1).
### A New Chapter at Carver High
Jones is returning to his roots, taking over as **head coach at Carver High School**, where he first made a name for himself as a standout recruit in **2009** [A](https://sports.yahoo.com/article/former-georgia-american-jarvis-jones-205456039.html?copilot_analytics_metadata=eyJldmVudEluZm9fY2xpY2tEZXN0aW5hdGlvbiI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC9zcG9ydHMueWFob28uY29tXC9hcnRpY2xlXC9mb3JtZXItZ2VvcmdpYS1hbWVyaWNhbi1qYXJ2aXMtam9uZXMtMjA1NDU2MDM5Lmh0bWwiLCJldmVudEluZm9fY29udmVyc2F0aW9uSWQiOiJ2VW4zTGFDUEE0N0o1enJzNVBiWloiLCJldmVudEluZm9fY2xpY2tTb3VyY2UiOiJjaXRhdGlvbkxpbmsiLCJldmVudEluZm9fbWVzc2FnZUlkIjoiOGVFVlRFWFdNcHpmU2dwa2t6cER6In0%3D&citationMarker=9F742443-6C92-4C44-BF58-8F5A7C53B6F1). His appointment comes after **Pierre Coffey**, Carver’s previous head coach, was hired as a principal at Stewart County High [B](https://www.onlineathens.com/story/sports/college/bulldogs-extra/2025/05/25/georgia-football-jarvis-jones-carver-columbus/83855879007/?copilot_analytics_metadata=eyJldmVudEluZm9fY29udmVyc2F0aW9uSWQiOiJ2VW4zTGFDUEE0N0o1enJzNVBiWloiLCJldmVudEluZm9fY2xpY2tEZXN0aW5hdGlvbiI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC93d3cub25saW5lYXRoZW5zLmNvbVwvc3RvcnlcL3Nwb3J0c1wvY29sbGVnZVwvYnVsbGRvZ3MtZXh0cmFcLzIwMjVcLzA1XC8yNVwvZ2VvcmdpYS1mb290YmFsbC1qYXJ2aXMtam9uZXMtY2FydmVyLWNvbHVtYnVzXC84Mzg1NTg3OTAwN1wvIiwiZXZlbnRJbmZvX21lc3NhZ2VJZCI6IjhlRVZURVhXTXB6ZlNncGtrenBEeiIsImV2ZW50SW5mb19jbGlja1NvdXJjZSI6ImNpdGF0aW9uTGluayJ9&citationMarker=9F742443-6C92-4C44-BF58-8F5A7C53B6F1).
Carver High, the **defending Georgia 2A State Champions**, is getting a coach with **NFL experience, college football dominance, and a deep understanding of leadership**. Jones’ ability to connect with young athletes and his firsthand knowledge of what it takes
