University of Georgia Bulldogs

When Georgia looked for a new head football coach after the 2015 season, all arrows pointed to Kirby Smart, former Bulldog player and assistant coach, and longtime University of Alabama defensive coordinator.  Three years later, the decision to bring Smart home has paid handsome rewards.

His impact, along with a stellar group of players who bought into the new system, has put Georgia in the national championship hunt the past two seasons.  The Bulldogs in 2018 posted an 11-1 regular season record, a second straight SEC Eastern Division title, and a ranking as high as number four in the College Football Playoff poll.  Georgia landed in the prestigious Allstate Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1, 2019—the program’s tenth all-time appearance in the New Orleans classic.  It also extended the Bulldogs’ bowl-game streak to a record 22 straight years, second-highest active streak in the country.  For his efforts, Smart was named a semifinalist in the Maxwell Club George Munger National Coach of the Year balloting and a finalist in the Bobby Dodd Trophy Coach of the Year competition. 

Smart’s second season in 2017 was a special one, with an 11-1 regular-season record, an SEC championship, a win over Oklahoma in the Rose Bowl Game (College Football Playoff semifinal) and advancement into the College Football Playoff National Championship Game in the program’s first appearance.  In the SEC championship game, the Bulldogs avenged their only regular-season loss with a 28-7 victory over Auburn.  It was the first conference title since 2005 for the Red and Black.  

Both Smart and his players reaped the bounty of their banner 2017 season.  He was named George Munger National Coach of the Year by the Maxwell Football Club, SEC Coach of the Year by the Associated Press and SEC Coaches, and the Regional Coach of the Year by the AFCA.  Roquan Smith earned first-team All-America honors and the Dick Butkus Award as the nation’s top linebacker.  Smith, Isaiah Wynn and Sony Michel were all taken in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft, which also claimed seniors Nick Chubb, Lorenzo Carter and Javon Wims in subsequent rounds.

In Smart’s first season leading the Bulldogs, Georgia made its 20th straight bowl appearance and posted four fourth-quarter comebacks, including wins over No. 8 Auburn and No. 22 North Carolina.  He led the Bulldogs to an 8-5 final record, which included a victory over TCU in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl.

Smart has also made an immediate impact in recruiting circles by posting the nation’s third-ranked class in 2017, followed by two more classes of signees that ranked either first or second by every authority.  In addition to his coaching duties, Smart oversees the Kirby Smart Family Foundation, which is focused on being champions in the community by supporting needy children and families facing adversity.

Smart officially came home to Georgia on Dec. 6, 2015, but he had unfinished business at Alabama, which was still chasing a national title.  He juggled two jobs for a month until Jan. 11, 2016, when the Crimson Tide won its fourth national championship in a 7-year span.  Twelve hours later, he was at work in Athens, where he remains one of nine head coaches at schools from Power 5 conferences that are coaching at their alma mater.

Smart had served on the Alabama staff the previous nine years, the past seven as defensive coordinator. During his tenure at Alabama, the Crimson Tide won three BCS National Championships, one College Football Playoff national title, three SEC crowns, six SEC Western Division titles, and was ranked in the nation’s final top 10 the last eight years in a row.

Smart was one of the nation’s most respected defensive coordinators. During his time at Alabama, he coached players at three different positions, in addition to his coordinating duties.  He was recognized as the 2012 AFCA Assistant Coach of the Year and the 2009 Broyles Award winner as college football’s top assistant coach.  He also was a finalist for the 2015 Broyles Award.

The 2015 Alabama defense ranked first nationally in rushing defense, third in total defense and third in scoring defense. His 2014 Alabama defense ranked fourth nationally against the run. The Crimson Tide ranked sixth nationally in scoring defense, while ranking 12th nationally in total defense. He helped junior safety Landon Collins earn unanimous First-Team All-America honors while being selected as a finalist for the Nagurski Trophy, Thorpe Award and Lott Trophy.

Smart built another elite Alabama defense in 2013 after losing six more players to the NFL. The Crimson Tide ranked fourth nationally in scoring defense, fifth in total defense, seventh in rushing defense and 11th in pass defense. Alabama was fourth nationally in red zone defense and fourth in fewest first downs allowed. He helped mold C.J. Mosley into the Butkus Award winner as the nation’s top linebacker.

Smart retooled the Alabama defense in 2012, molding a unit that lost six starters to the NFL. The Tide led the nation in total defense, scoring defense and rush defense while ranking seventh in pass defense and pass efficiency defense. The Tide defense featured two First-Team All-Americans in cornerback Dee Milliner and linebacker Mosley.

Smart’s rebuilding job in 2010 was impressive, as the Tide remained one of the nation’s elite defensive units while replacing nine starters. Alabama led the SEC and ranked third nationally in scoring defense and fifth in total defense.

The 2009 season was a special one for Smart, as he not only helped lead Alabama to the national championship but also took home the Broyles Award as the top assistant coach in the country. The Alabama defense again was regarded as one of the nation’s top units, leading the SEC and ranking second nationally in scoring defense pass efficiency defense, rush defense and total defense.

In the 2010 BCS National Championship game against Texas, the Tide recorded four interceptions and scored a defensive touchdown. Three players on Smart’s defense earned First-Team All-America honors — linebacker Rolando McClain, cornerback Javier Arenas and nose guard Terrence Cody.

Prior to joining the Alabama staff in 2007, Smart spent the 2006 season as safeties coach with the NFL’s Miami Dolphins. He served six years on the collegiate level as the running backs coach at Georgia (2005), defensive backs coach at LSU (2004), graduate assistant at Florida State (2002-03), defensive coordinator/linebackers coach (2001) and defensive backs coach (2000) at Valdosta State, and administrative assistant at Georgia (1999).

Smart was the running backs coach for Georgia’s 2005 SEC Championship team. His unit averaged 162.2 rushing yards per game, third in the SEC.  He coached Thomas Brown, Danny Ware and Kregg Lumpkin — all future NFL players.  In 2004 at LSU, he tutored two NFL draft picks: Corey Webster (second round, New York Giants) and Travis Daniels (fourth round, Miami).

As a player, Smart was a four-year letterman at defensive back for Georgia, where he was a First-Team All-SEC pick as a senior. He finished his career with 13 interceptions, a mark that still ranks sixth in UGA annals, and paced the Bulldogs with six interceptions in 1997 and five in 1998.  He led the SEC in interceptions during his final season.  Smart also scored two points as a collegian. He was the first player in UGA history — and one of just two Bulldogs since the rule was introduced in 1988 — to return a blocked PAT for two points, having brought one back 88 yards against New Mexico State in his freshman year of 1995.

A four-time member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll, Smart received his bachelor’s degree in Finance from Georgia in 1998 and his master’s in Physical Education from Florida State in 2003. 

The Bainbridge, Ga., native is married to the former Mary Beth Lycett of McDonough, Ga., a 4-year letterwinner and 2-year starter, on the Georgia women’s basketball team from 2000-03.  The couple met long after their undergraduate days at Georgia, when Lycett — then working in the UGA Athletic Association Business Office — helped arrange Smart’s trip to interview for the Bulldogs’ running backs coaching job in 2005.  They are the proud parents of twins Weston and Julia (born Feb. 8, 2008) and son Andrew (born May 25, 2012).