Florida State tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator John Lilly has been named Bulldogs’ tight ends coach, according to Georgia head coach Mark Richt.

“(Lilly) has exceptional football knowledge, especially regarding the tight end position, and he’s an outstanding recruiter,” Richt said. “But beyond that, John cares not only about how his players do on the field, but also how they mature, work toward their degrees, and become responsible young men.”

“I am extremely excited and feel truly blessed to be joining the coaching staff at the University of Georgia,” Lilly said. “I’m appreciative of Coach Richt giving me this opportunity, and I’m eager to get to work to help in any way possible in making the Bulldogs the top college football program in the nation. I have long considered Coach Richt to be both a mentor and a friend, and I’m honored that he will now be my head coach.”

Under Lilly’s direction, four of FSU’s last six recruiting classes have been ranked in the top four in the nation. While Lilly has spent the past 13 years at Florida State, Georgia’s traditions and deep fan base did not go unnoticed.

“The passion with which the entire state of Georgia views its football has not been lost on me during my years at Florida State,” Lilly said. “Having been a college football fan all my life, I am quite familiar with many of the truly great traditions of Bulldog football and look forward to learning of others and getting involved in the University and the Athens community as a whole.”

- Georgia Sports Communications

Soccer player in legal trouble

A Georgia soccer star was arrested earlier this month after she reportedly lied to a police officer, according to a University Police report.

Freshman defender Kelli Corless was charged Jan. 13 with underage possession of alcohol, possession of a fake ID and false name and date of birth.

The following was taken from a University Police report:

Corless was in the passenger seat of a car pulled over by University Police at the intersection of Thomas Street and Broad Street for not using headlights. The driver was arrested and charged with possession of a fake ID. The officer then asked Corless to drive but noticed the smell of alcohol on her breath. When the officer confiscated Corless’ wallet, he found she had altered the date of birth on the license. She told the officer her name was Kelli Baxter, but he also asked the driver, who gave the name Kelli Corless.

Georgia head soccer coach Patrick Baker released a statement Thursday saying Corless will serve a three-game suspension for the incident.

In an unrelated incident, sophomore midfielder Olivia West was suspended five games for “violation of team rules.”

“Needless to say we are disappointed with the actions of Kelli and Olivia,” Baker said. “They demonstrated a lack of judgment and they will have to pay a price for it.”

Both players also will be assigned community service, Baker said.

Ice Dogs face hazing allegations

The University’s Office of Judicial Programs is reviewing a complaint that a hockey player may have been hazed, said Rodney Bennett, vice president of Student Affairs.

Bennett said he received an e-mail from a man who read an article in The Savannah Morning News stating Scott Friend, a freshman on the University’s club hockey team, was required to shave his head.

Bennett said he “forwarded” the complaint to the Office of Judicial Programs to determine if Friend was hazed. Bennett said he is unsure of when the matter will be resolved.

In order to be registered as a University student organization, Bennett said, the leaders of the group must “acknowledge they are aware of” the University’s anti-hazing policy.

- Staff Reports