Barring a last-minute snag in negotiations, Alabama’s Kirby Smart will become Georgia’s new football coach. An announcement could come as soon as Sunday or Monday.
Smart, 39, is the Crimson Tide’s defensive coordinator. He worked at Alabama for the last nine years, helping it win three national championships. The No. 2-ranked Crimson Tide will face Florida in the SEC Championship game on Saturday. It won’t be until after Smart fulfills his duties in that game that an announcement could be made, persons familiar with the negotiation told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Smart will bring in his own staff but is expected to retain some members of Georgia’s current staff, including running backs coach Thomas Brown and recruiting coordinator/wide receivers coach Bryan McClendon.