Brent Key

Key grew up in Trussville, Alabama, a suburb of Birmingham, Alabama. He attended and played football at Hewitt-Trussville High School.{{Cite news |last=Green |first=Shannon |date=August 2, 2015 |title=Key season at UCF |page=C5 |work=The Orlando Sentinel |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/110258723/key-season-at-ucf/ |access-date=September 26, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com}} Key played guard at Georgia Tech under coach George O'Leary, starting all four years.{{Cite news |last=Holls |first=John |date=November 20, 2001 |title=Outcome critical to former captain |page=F5 |work=The Atlanta Constitution |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/110259197/outcome-critical-to-former-captain/ |access-date=September 26, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com}} During his four-year playing career, Georgia Tech would go on to four straight bowl appearances, finish the season in the AP poll top-25 four times, beat rival Georgia three straight times, and rank No. 1 nationally in total offense in 1998. He was voted team captain and all-ACC as a senior in 2000.

Key served as a graduate assistant under George O'Leary at Georgia Tech during the 2001 season. He would later join O'Leary at UCF.[http://www.ramblinwreck.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/key_brent00.html Brent Key.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140810082637/http://www.ramblinwreck.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/key_brent00.html |date=August 10, 2014 }} Georgia Tech Athletics Association. Key also served as tight ends and running backs coach at Western Carolina in 2004.{{Cite web |date=2019-01-10 |title=Brent Key |url=https://ramblinwreck.com/coach/brent-key-ac/ |access-date=2025-05-11 |website=Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets |language=en-US}}

Key was hired in 2004 as a graduate assistant for UCF in 2005. At various points during his tenure with UCF, Key was the offensive coordinator, assistant head coach, offensive line coach, special teams coach, tight ends coach, and recruiting coordinator for the UCF Knights.[http://www.ucfknights.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/key_brent00.html Brent Key.] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140811123406/http://www.ucfknights.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/key_brent00.html |date=August 11, 2014 }} UCF Athletics Association. After the 2012 season, Key was promoted to assistant head coach and then to offensive coordinator following the 2013 season. While as an assistant at the University of Central Florida (UCF), Key was selected to be the heir apparent to George O'Leary following his retirement.[http://www.ucfknights.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/112112aaa.html UCF Football's Key a Nominee for the Broyles Assistant Coach Award.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140811124515/http://www.ucfknights.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/112112aaa.html |date=August 11, 2014 }} UCF Athletics Association. Date November 21, 2012. Following the 2013 season in which UCF won the Fiesta Bowl, Key reportedly declined the head coaching job at UAB to remain with the Knights.[http://www.foxsports.com/college-football/story/ucf-knights-george-oleary-sources-considering-stepping-down-2014-080914 Sources: UCF's O'Leary strongly considering stepping down in 2014.] FOX Sports. Date August 9, 2014. Key left UCF following their 0-12 2015 season, which would be O'Leary's last with the team. In 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2020 Key was nominated for the Broyles Award, given for the top assistant in college football.{{Cite web |title=Brent Key - Football Coach |url=https://rolltide.com/sports/football/roster/coaches/brent-key/805 |access-date=2025-05-11 |website=Alabama Athletics |language=en}}

On February 15, 2016, Key was hired as the offensive line coach at the University of Alabama, replacing Mario Cristobal. Cristobal remained on staff as tight ends coach.{{cite web | last=Talty | first=John | title=Why Nick Saban shook up his staff to hire Brent Key | website=AL.com| date=2016-03-16 | url=https://www.al.com/alabamafootball/2016/03/why_nick_saban_shook_up_his_st.html | access-date=2025-01-05}} Cam Robinson, Ross Pierschbacher, and Jonah Williams are a few of Key’s linemen who would go on to be named All-Americans during his tenure at Bama. Alabama would go on to win one national championship (2017) and two SEC championships (2016, 2018).

During his tenure, Key was widely regarded as one of the top offensive line coaches in college football. Offensive lines coached by Key have been a finalist for the Joe Moore Award, presented annually to the top offensive line in the nation, three times in his career.{{Cite web |agency=Associated Press |date=2019-01-11 |title=Georgia Tech hires Brent Key from Alabama |url=https://www.wvtm13.com/article/georgia-tech-hires-brent-key-from-alabama/25851363 |access-date=2025-05-11 |website=WVTM |language=en}}

Key left Alabama for his alma mater Georgia Tech in 2019, serving as assistant head coach and offensive line coach under newly hired head coach Geoff Collins. Following a 10-22 record over 4 seasons, Collins was fired in early 2022 and Key was named interim head coach. He went 4–4 as interim head coach, with notable wins over #24 Pittsburgh and #13 North Carolina. Because of the team’s improvement during his tenure, the interim tag was taken off on November 29 as Key was named Georgia Tech’s 21st head football coach.{{Cite web |date=November 29, 2022 |title=Brent Key Named Georgia Tech Football's 21st Head Coach |url=https://ramblinwreck.com/brent-key-named-georgia-tech-footballs-21st-head-coach/ |access-date=November 30, 2022 |website=Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets |language=en-US}}

In 2023, Key led Georgia Tech to a 7-6 record, reaching its first bowl game and achieving its first winning season since 2018.{{Cite web |date=2022-09-26 |title=Brent Key |url=https://ramblinwreck.com/coach/brent-key/ |access-date=2025-05-11 |website=Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets |language=en-US}} This season was notable for a homecoming upset of #17 North Carolina and a last second victory over #17 Miami, in which Georgia Tech scored a touchdown with 2 seconds left in the game following former colleague Mario Cristobal's decision to not take a knee in the final 40 seconds of the 4th quarter.{{Cite web |date=2024-11-09 |title=Everything Miami's Head Coach Mario Cristobal Said After Upset Loss To Georgia Tech |url=https://www.si.com/college/miami/football/everything-miami-s-head-coach-mario-cristobal-said-after-upset-loss-to-georgia-tech-01jc9eq5v54e |access-date=2025-05-11 |website=Miami Hurricanes On SI |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2023-10-09 |title=Cristobal owns up to Miami kneel-down meltdown |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/38616616/miami-mario-cristobal-made-wrong-call-not-kneeling-down |access-date=2025-05-11 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}

Key began the 2024 season in Dublin, Ireland with an upset victory over the #10 Florida State Seminoles. Key and the Yellow Jackets started the season 2-0 for the first time since the 2016 season. After struggling with numerous injuries including quarterback Haynes King, running back Jamal Haynes, and linebacker Kyle Efford, the Jackets would later upset previously-undefeated #4 Miami at Bobby Dodd Stadium at homecoming. With the win over Miami, Georgia Tech became bowl eligible for two consecutive seasons for the first time since 2013-2014. The following week, in a thrilling Thursday night win over NC State in which backup quarterback Aaron Philo scored a go-ahead touchdown with 22 seconds left, Georgia Tech clinched back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 2013-2014.{{Cite web |date=2025-03-09 |title=CBS Sports Ranks Brent Key's Contract As One Of The Best In College Football |url=https://www.si.com/college/georgiatech/football/cbs-sports-ranks-brent-key-s-contract-as-one-of-the-best-in-college-football-01jnyj00xnjb |access-date=2025-05-11 |website=Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets On SI |language=en-US}}

In December 2024, Georgia Tech agreed to a five-year extension of Key's contract, extending his tenure as coach through 2029.{{Cite web |date=2024-12-06 |title=Ga. Tech adds more years, money in new Key deal |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/42819598/georgia-tech-agrees-new-5-year-deal-brent-key |access-date=2025-05-11 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}

Brent Key earned his degree in management from Georgia Tech in 2001. During his time at UCF, he met his wife, Danielle Key, who worked on the marketing team for the university's athletic department. Together, they have a daughter named Harper.{{Cite web |date=April 30, 2024 |title=Georgia Tech Head Football Coach Brent Key, Mgt 01, brings hard work and hope to the Flats.

|url=https://ramblinwreck.com/brent-key-named-georgia-tech-footballs-21st-head-coach/ |access-date=April 30, 2024|website=Georgia Tech Alumni Magazine |language=en-US}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Start | type = coach | team = | conf = | bowl = | poll = no }}

{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead

| name = Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

| conf = Atlantic Coast Conference

| startyear = 2022

| endyear =

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 2022

| name = Georgia Tech

| overall = 4–4{{efn|group=record|Key replaced Geoff Collins after four games}}

| conference = 4–3

| confstanding = 4th (Coastal)

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 2023

| name = Georgia Tech

| overall = 7–6

| conference = 5–3

| confstanding = T–4th

| bowlname = Gasparilla

| bowloutcome = W

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 2024

| name = Georgia Tech

| overall = 7–6

| conference = 5–3

| confstanding = T–4th

| bowlname = Birmingham

| bowloutcome = L

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal

| name = Georgia Tech

| overall = 18–16

| confrecord = 14–9

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record End

| overall = 18–16

| bowls = no

| poll = no

| polltype =

| legend = no

}}

{{Notelist|group=record}}

{{Reflist}}

• [https://ramblinwreck.com/coach/brent-key/ Georgia Tech profile]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20140811123406/http://www.ucfknights.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/key_brent00.html UCF profile]

{{Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football coach navbox}}

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Category:1978 births

Category:Living people

Category:American football offensive guards

Category:Alabama Crimson Tide football coaches

Category:Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football coaches

Category:Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football players

Category:UCF Knights football coaches

Category:Western Carolina Catamounts football coaches

Category:Players of American football from Birmingham, Alabama

Category:Coaches of American football from Alabama