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Kirby Smart

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Kirby Smart
Current position
TitleHead coach
TeamGeorgia
ConferenceSEC
Record0–0
Annual salary$3,750,000
Biographical details
Born (1975-12-23) December 23, 1975 (age 48)
Montgomery, Alabama
Playing career
1995–1998Georgia
Position(s)Defensive back
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1999Georgia (AA)
2000Valdosta State (DB)
2001Valdosta State (DC)
2002–2003Florida State (GA)
2004LSU (DB)
2005Georgia (RB)
2006Miami Dolphins (S)
2007Alabama (AHC/DB)
2008–2015Alabama (DC)
2016–presentGeorgia
Accomplishments and honors
Awards
AFCA Assistant Coach of the Year (2012)
Broyles Award (2009)

Kirby Paul Smart[1] (born December 23, 1975) is an American football coach and former player. He currently serves as head football coach at the University of Georgia. He previously served as the defensive coordinator at the University of Alabama.

Early life

Smart was born in Montgomery, Alabama but grew up in Bainbridge, Georgia. The son of a high school football coach, Smart began his playing career at Bainbridge High School and went on to play college football at the University of Georgia, where he was teammates with defensive linemen Antonio Cochran, Emanos Leroy, linebacker Brandon Tolbert, and future All-Pro cornerback Champ Bailey. Smart was a four-year letterman at defensive back for Georgia and a first-team All-SEC selection as a senior. He finished his career with 13 interceptions, which ranks fourth all-time at Georgia, and led the Bulldogs with six interceptions in 1997 and five in 1998. He also was a four-time member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll.[2] Smart graduated from Georgia in 1999 with a degree in finance. He went undrafted in the 1999 NFL Draft and signed a free agent contract with the Indianapolis Colts. He spent the 1999 preseason with the team but was cut before the start of the regular season.[3]

Coaching career

Smart began his coaching career with the University of Georgia in 1999, serving as an administrative assistant. He then moved to Valdosta State where he spent one season as defensive backs coach before being promoted to defensive coordinator for the 2001 season. From 2002–2003 , Smart worked as a graduate assistant under Bobby Bowden at Florida State while pursuing a master's degree. He received his master's degree from FSU in 2003. Smart then spent one season as defensive backs coach at LSU under head coach Nick Saban in 2004. Smart rejoined the Georgia Bulldogs football program to serve as running backs coach for the 2005 season. His only season in the NFL came in 2006, during which time he coached under Nick Saban again, this time as the Miami Dolphins safeties coach.

Alabama

Smart followed Nick Saban to the University of Alabama in 2007. He was hired by Saban as an assistant coach on January 9.[4] On February 27, 2008, Smart was promoted to defensive coordinator.[5] On December 8, 2009, Smart was awarded the Broyles Award as the nation's best assistant coach. He is the first Alabama assistant coach to win the award.[6] Smart considered a lucrative contract to be the defensive coordinator at his alma mater, the University of Georgia, but chose to stay with the Tide in early January 2010. On March 27, 2012, the University of Alabama System's Board Of Trustees voted to increase Smart's salary and extend his contract. Smart remains the highest-paid football assistant on head coach Nick Saban's staff.[7] On November 20, 2012, Smart was recognized as the 2012 AFCA FBS Assistant Coach of the Year.[8] On April 16, 2013, Smart was granted a $200,000 salary increase to make him the highest-paid defensive coordinator in college football.[9]

Georgia

On December 6, 2015, Smart was announced as the 26th head football coach at the University of Georgia.[10]

Personal life

Smart was a member of the Georgia Beta chapter of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, and he is married to Mary "Beth" Elizabeth Lycett, who played basketball for the University of Georgia.[1] They have three children.

Head coaching record

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs Coaches# AP°
Georgia Bulldogs (Southeastern Conference) (2016–present)
2016 Georgia 0–0 0–0 (Eastern)
Georgia: 0–0 0–0
Total: 0–0
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

Coaching tree

Notable head coaches under whom Smart has served:

References

  1. ^ a b Lycett-Smart families (October 8, 2006). "Lycett-Smart wedding". Athens Banner-Herald. Retrieved December 3, 2015.
  2. ^ "Kirby Smart - RollTide.com". RollTide.com. Retrieved 2008-02-27.
  3. ^ http://alabama.scout.com/a.z?s=14&p=8&c=1&nid=1813364
  4. ^ "'Bama's Saban Names Three Assistants". CSTV.com. 2007-01-09. Retrieved 2008-02-27.
  5. ^ "Saban Announces Football Staff Addition as well as Two Promotions". RollTide.com. 2008-02-27. Retrieved 2008-02-27. [dead link‍]
  6. ^ Kausler, Don, Jr. (December 8, 2009), "Frank Broyles Award goes to Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart", The Birmingham News{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ "Kirby Smart salary upped to $950,000", ESPN, March 27, 2012
  8. ^ Kausler, Jr., Don (November 20, 2012). "Alabama's Kirby Smart named the assistant coach of the year by the AFCA". AL.com. Retrieved November 21, 2012.
  9. ^ Scarborough, Alex (April 16, 2013). "Alabama approves coach contracts". ESPN.com.
  10. ^ http://www.georgiadogs.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120615aab.html
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