Alabama Defensive Coordinator Kirby Smart will become the Georgia Bulldogs' new football coach, which will be made official as soon as Sunday or Monday sources say. Smart, a UGA alumnus, is the Bulldogs’ “only choice” to replace Mark Richt, a source told ESPN’s Mark Schlabach.
The 39 year-old Smart has been Alabama's Defensive Coordinator since 2008, a run that has included three National Championships, one College Football Playoff appearance and likely a second appearance if the Tide beat Florida as expected Saturday in Atlanta.
Smart was a defensive back at Georgia from 1995-98 and began his coaching career with them in 1999, serving as an administrative assistant. Smart returned to the Bulldogs for one season in 2005 to coach running backs, before joining Nick Saban as the safeties coach for the Miami Dolphins. When Saban left Miami for the Alabama job in 2007, Smart joined him in Tuscaloosa as DB Coach for 1 season before being promoted to Defensive Coordinator.
Georgia fired long-time coach Mark Richt on Sunday after 15 seasons at the school.
This season, the Tide’s defense ranks No. 2 in the nation in total defense. Under Smart's guidance, the school has ranked in the top 5 nationally in total defense in 6 of the past 7 seasons.
In 2013, Alabama made Smart the highest paid Defensive Coordinator in college football. He was named the 2012 AFCA Assistant Coach of the Year in 2012 and was the Broyles Award winner as college football’s top assistant coach in 2009.
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