ATHENS - Georgia athletics director Greg McGarity said last night in a brief conversation that any job status update on head football coach Mark Richt would wait until after the season.

Richt is signed through the 2013 season, so if he returns for next season it's very likely that the school will sign him to an extension. It wouldn't help on the recruiting trail to have a coach with only two years left on his deal.

Richt's job status has been the over-riding story of this season, and it didn't look good when the Bulldogs started 0-2. But with an eight-game win streak, and a win over woeful Kentucky all that's standing between an SEC East Division title, it appears Richt's fortunes have turned.

McGarity said prior to the season that he would like to see "improvement" from the football program, which went 6-7 in 2010, its worst showing in 14 seasons. At a minimum, eight wins is obviously an improvement.

Meanwhile, the AJC has a story saying that defensive coordinator Todd Grantham's agent would also like a contract extension for his client. Grantham has one more year on his deal, which pays him $750,000 annually.

Grantham's agent tells the AJC that he's already received some inquiries from teams in the NFL, where Grantham worked for 11 years, as well as some college programs about being a head coach.

Georgia has improved to No. 4 in the nation in total defense in Grantham's second year.