He took a good program that was contending for top 10 positions, and turned them into a top tier program that won it all. His NC year isn't a flash in the pan, as evidenced by several excellent years that he has produced, and he did it even with a less than stellar, former walk-on quarterback.
He's the opposite of Gene Chizik, who managed to bring on a top notch hired mercenary (Cam "the Scam" Newton) and managed to stumble upon some very, very lucky victories, some against less than stellar opponents.
In a nutshell, Mark Richt was to Georgia what Brian Kelly was to us. Good most of the time, very good at times, and excellent once in a while, but still couldn't get over the hump.
Kirby Smart took them over the hump, and I hope that Marcus Freeman can do the same for us.