State's McCollum headed to Ga. Tech

Andy McCollum, who coached linebackers for three seasons at N.C. State, is leaving to join Georgia Tech's staff.

Pending formal approval by the school, McCollum will serve as defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator for the Yellow Jackets.

McCollum, 50, grew up in Marietta, Ga. He had recruited Georgia for N.C. State.

He said it was difficult to leave the school and head coach Tom O'Brien, but he couldn't turn down the opportunity to work near his 76-year-old father and other family members after 30 years of being away.

McCollum said he coached the current group of N.C. State linebackers "when they were puppies" and said it's difficult to leave them now that they are maturing and have some bite.

"It's hard," he said. "When you care about something, it's hard. The Wolfpack Nation, I've been a lot of places, and this is a special place."

McCollum served as Middle Tennessee State's head coach from 1999 to 2005. He helped N.C. State land eight players from Georgia in the Class of 2009.

Those players included Rashard Smith, who started at cornerback as a freshman before a season-ending injury, and promising center Camden Wentz.

"We will be happy to have a coach with the experience and knowledge that Andy will bring to our program," Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson said in a statement. "I have coached against and recruited against him for a long time, and I am confident he will do an outstanding job here at Tech."