University of Georgia Athletics
Smart Ready To Lead Bulldogs
December 07, 2015 | Football
By John Frierson
UGAAA Staff Writer
Eight days ago, something longstanding and successful came to a close. On Sunday, something new and full of possibilities began.
Welcome to the Kirby Smart era of Georgia football. His hiring was announced Sunday and he went public Monday with his introductory news conference at the Georgia Center.
"I've thought about this day all of my life," he said.
Nobody knows how this will go, not even Smart, the former Bulldog All-SEC defensive back (1995-98) who went on to become one of the nation's top defensive coordinators. Now, in his first head coaching job, the Bainbridge, Ga., native has the difficult task of replacing Mark Richt. Georgia and Richt parted ways after 15 seasons last Sunday.
Smart worked as Richt's running backs coach in 2005 and often sounded like his former boss during his opening comments Monday. He spoke of "the Georgia way," that the "student comes first" in student-athletes, and he thanked Richt for that opportunity in 2005 and "also for laying a foundation of integrity at this university."
The gathering inside the Mahler Room at the Georgia Center at times felt like a reunion. Smart's family was there, including his parents, his wife Mary Beth (a former Georgia women's basketball player), their three children, and a lot more.
Former Georgia coach Jim Donnan, who coached Smart his final three seasons after replacing Ray Goff, was also on hand. Donnan gave Smart his start in coaching by hiring him as an administrative assistant for the 1999 season.
"He's really had a good background and he's always been a good leader," Donnan said. "I think it will be easier for him than just about anybody coming in here because he knows the lay of the land."
He knows UGA, he knows recruiting in the state of Georgia and he knows what it's like as a player to go through a coaching change. All of those things stood out to Bulldogs sophomore tight end Jeb Blazevich.
"I think the main thing for me is it means a lot and it's very comforting that he's been in my seat," said Blazevich, who met his new coach at a team meeting Sunday night. "He's been on the practice field working out and he's done everything in Athens and he's been through the same kind of coaching change.
"I think the wisdom he'll have and being able to remember and sympathize with us, as well as direct us and guide us the way that we need to go, it's really comforting."
Smart said part of his message to the team Sunday was about what it takes to get to the highest level of college football. As Alabama's defensive coordinator the past eight seasons, Smart has played a vital role in helping the Crimson Tide get to the top, winning national titles in 2009, 2011 and '12, and the Tide are among the four playoff teams this season.
"We're going to challenge them and demand toughness and effort out of every person and every aspect of their life," he said. "We're going to push them harder than they've ever been pushed. But I think to be excellent, they have to do that."
The Richt era of Georgia football spanned 15 seasons and in that time the Dogs won 145 games and two SEC crowns (2002 and 2005). By any measure it was a good run, especially the 13-2 record against Georgia Tech. But that didn't mean the program couldn't benefit from a change and a new voice.
"It was the best decision for the University of Georgia and I felt like it was the right way to go, so here we are today with a new coach and a new direction," J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics Greg McGarity said.
If you think Smart is worried about walking into a job loaded with high expectations, guess again. If this wasn't a place that had big goals and the capability of reaching and surpassing them, he probably wouldn't be here.
"There's no greater pressure than (the pressure) I put on myself, I can tell you that," Smart said. "That's the way it should be. You put pressure on yourself and you demand excellence from everybody in your organization. We're going to go out there and have the intent to win every game we play."
Smart has had numerous job offers the past few years, numerous opportunities to take the next step and become a head coach. His father, Sonny Smart, a longtime high school coach, said his son patiently waited for the right situation.
"He had no idea that this would ever come open and he'd been torn the last couple of years about should he go or not. But Alabama was paying him a lot, he had a great job and his family was happy," Sonny Smart said. "He had some opportunities, but it just was not right."
This is right. This is home. This is the future of Georgia football.
John Frierson is the staff writer for the UGA Athletic Association and curator of the ITA Men's Tennis Hall of Fame. You can find his work at: Frierson Files. He's also on Twitter: @FriersonFiles and @ITAHallofFame.
