Kirby Smart coached a defensive position in each year of his young coaching career entering the 2005 season. That is, until an opportunity to return to his alma mater in Athens came to fruition.
Smart was in search of work after Nick Saban left LSU for other opportunities in 2004, but got hired for a defensive position with the Bulldogs. He had a friend in Mike Bobo (Georgia’s quarterbacks’ coach at the time) and former offensive coordinator Neal Callaway fought for Smart to have a role — on the offensive side.
“There was a defensive position open on the staff that I didn’t get hired for,” Smart said Monday morning.