IRVING, Texas -- The University of Georgia announced the hiring of Dallas Cowboys defensive line coach Todd Grantham as its defensive coordinator Friday.

"I'm excited," Grantham said Friday. "It's an opportunity to be a coordinator, coach in the SEC. They've won a lot of games there. They haven't quite been as good on defense as they would have liked over the past couple of years. Hopefully we can go in and get them back to being one of the premiere teams in the SEC."

Grantham's contract with the Bulldogs is for three years at $750,000 per season.

Grantham spent the past two seasons as the Cowboys' defensive line coach, helping nose tackle Jay Ratliff earn two Pro Bowl invitations and one All-Pro selection.

Grantham, the Cleveland Browns' defensive coordinator the previous three seasons, contributed to a defense that allowed the fewest points in the NFC this season.