Kirby Smart says he’s ready to make jump to head coach
Kirby Smart was sought after as a defensive coordinator, but now he seems ready for top job. (AP photo)
NEW ORLEANS — Two years after saying no to his alma mater, Kirby Smart can take comfort in one thing: The next time somebody picks up the phone to offer him a job, it won’t be for a lateral move.
Georgia wanted Smart back as their defensive coordinator, a position he already held at Alabama. But there was a thought by some in Athens, including Mark Richt, that the promise of a more-than-doubled salary – and the option of an attractive escape route from under Nick Saban’s thumb – could lure Smart back to the Bulldogs.
It didn’t happen — and that was the wisest decision Smart ever made.
When Alabama faces LSU on Monday night, Smart will have a chance to win his second BCS championship in three seasons. He no longer is viewed as merely a hot young assistant ready to jump at any head coaching job. He sounds more head coach-ready than ever before, and, to a large degree, he can be choosy about any offers that come his way.
“I definitely think I’m ready to take the next step,” Smart said. “It’s gotta be the right place, the right opportunity. That hasn’t really presented itself. I’m completely happy being the defensive coordinator at Alabama. It’s the greatest non-head coaching job in the country.”
When Georgia started this season 0-2 and Mark Richt’s job security was tenuous, Smart frequently was referenced as a logical candidate to replace him. An unexpected 10-game winning streak blew up that scenario, and Richt’s not going anywhere now.
Smart will tell you he doesn’t pay attention to rumors. Coaches need to operate with tunnel vision. So it follows that when he was asked Saturday, given his aspirations, if he ever allowed himself to take notice when another major program struggled this season, he laughed.
“If you start doing that, you lose your own job,” he said.
Don’t doubt a man who works for Nick Saban.
Smart presided over a defense that allowed the fewest yards (191.2) and points (8.83) per game this season. LSU’s offense has averaged over 38 points. Alabama held the Tigers to three field goals in November (albeit, they were enough for a 9-6 overtime win).
Smart even looks and sounds like a head coach.
The defense is not all about Smart having Saban above him and great athletes below. He has grown as an assistant in the past two years.
“I look at things from a different perspective now,” he said. “I used to look at things from the secondary, then as a coordinator. Now it’s like, ‘What would I do as a head coach?”
We have been hearing for two years that Saban’s demanding style will wear on the 36-year-old Smart and chase him out of Tuscaloosa. It must mean something that he’s still there.
“When you say, ‘demanding,’ to me the definition of demanding is they require you to do what you’re supposed to do, when you’re supposed to do it, and how you’re supposed to do it,” Smart said. “That’s what [Saban] does. So is he demanding? Yeah. He requires you to do your job. And I appreciate that. That gives me job security knowing that everyone in the organization is held accountable.”
(Is it just me, or is he starting to sound like Saban?)
Continuing: “To me that’s probably the greatest feature I’ve learned or will take with me when I become a head coach, is you have to be demanding. You have to be able to confront people if they’re not doing their job or not doing it the way you want it.”
Are you sold yet?
Smart officially said no to Georgia on Jan. 11, 2010. Alabama matched the Dogs’ offer ($750,000 annually, which equated to a $390,000 raise). Smart said at the time he “wouldn’t have even considered discussing the [coordinator] position with any other school.”
He added this Saturday: “I felt I still needed to develop as a coach so I could be a head coach, and what better way to do that than under Nick Saban?”
He made the right decision to stay. Before long, somebody will make the right decision to phone him.
By Jeff Schultz
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382 comments Add your comment
5150 UOAD
January 7th, 2012
5:46 pm
48 All Politicians don’t make campaign promises they can’t keep just like all recruiters don’t negative recruit. C’ mon man. I am sure Gardner never did it too right?
Dawg48
January 7th, 2012
5:48 pm
Lol
I’m sure UGA does
5150 UOAD
January 7th, 2012
5:49 pm
WTF were the Bengals thinking with that challenge?
Beast from the East
January 7th, 2012
5:51 pm
Recruiting can be a nasty business. They all do the negative stuff…some more than others. Saban is the type to do whatever it takes and at the end of the day, can you really fault him? He’s turned that relentless mindset into a $5,000,000 a year job in which he’s treated like a god over in Tuscaloosa. He may be a snake, but he’s a dang smart one.
poopdawg
January 7th, 2012
5:52 pm
Kirby’s ready to get as far away from Saben as possible. Who allowed Smart to do this interview?
Send'em Uhauls
January 7th, 2012
6:00 pm
Muschamp Won his bowl game. Richt gave ours away.
THE REAL PHIL
January 7th, 2012
6:03 pm
He’s another Muschamp at best. He’s really not even a DC
Send'em Uhauls
January 7th, 2012
6:03 pm
Why cant our coaching staff get some of these recruits to declare already for UGA? Because they are asleep at the wheel.
5150 UOAD
January 7th, 2012
6:03 pm
Great PLAY going into the half to take a 7 point lead.
Send'em Uhauls
January 7th, 2012
6:05 pm
I agree The Richt and BOO BOO experiment aint working out too well. Hire the Smart DAWG!
5150 UOAD
January 7th, 2012
6:05 pm
THE REEL FILL he sure is getting paid like a DC.
Watcher
January 7th, 2012
6:06 pm
In other words, “Nick S. is driving me nuts!” – Kirby.
5150 UOAD
January 7th, 2012
6:09 pm
The first game kittys are not looking great with all those SEC players. Heheheheeh
Dawg48
January 7th, 2012
6:10 pm
Send’em Uhauls
January 7th, 2012
6:05 pm
I agree The Richt and BOO BOO experiment aint working out too well. Hire the Smart DAWG!
Do you think Smart would fore Bobo?
5150 UOAD
January 7th, 2012
6:12 pm
48 why would Smart hit Bobo with a golf club?
5150 UOAD
January 7th, 2012
6:12 pm
Fore!
Dawg48
January 7th, 2012
6:13 pm
Lol
Spell check again! FIRE bobo.
u got to be kidding
January 7th, 2012
6:15 pm
tulane wants him
katherine
January 7th, 2012
6:22 pm
hey guys whats up?
5150 UOAD
January 7th, 2012
6:23 pm
Kat I guess we are just waiting until CHOKE comes on during the Aints game.
Dawg48
January 7th, 2012
6:23 pm
What’s up katherin, are you going to watch Matt stafford and the lions take down the saints tonight?
katherine
January 7th, 2012
6:23 pm
ahhh I see lol that should be ummm entertaining?
Send'em Uhauls
January 7th, 2012
6:27 pm
I thought McGarity had a pair. Fire McGarity if he doesnt fire Bobo.
TampaGator
January 7th, 2012
6:27 pm
As one poster stated…….Muschamp will win a championship at Florida (maybe more than just one) before Richt wins one at Georgia (which may be never). Georgia fans can only pray that Smart will some day be the head coach at Georgia…..but I think he will be gone from Bama long before Georgia is done with accepting just Richt’s 6 to 10 win seasons.
Muschamp inherited a very tough situation at Florida this year (depth wise…especially on offense). He is correcting that problem with his recruiting this year. If the Gators get the OC from Boise (and keep him away from Bama)…..then things will get even better on the offensive side of the ball. It is already very good on the defensive side….and geting even better.
Send'em Uhauls
January 7th, 2012
6:29 pm
Dawg48……Smart would demote Bobo. If it still didnt work out he would say buh bye to the clown.
He will land a head job soon
January 7th, 2012
6:31 pm
Spurrier will retire end of next year. After NOT WINNING the SEC EAST AGAIN in 2012, he will see that at his age, he will have lost it. By this time next year, he will also have lost his running back, Lattimore to the NFL, if not sooner in the 2012 season, to gimpy, chalky knees and tendons made out of rubber bands. No, this time next year, Spurrier will be wrapping up another Cap One Bowl IF ………IF he is lucky. He is toast.
Kirby will likely get that job. It is a natural. If not SC, then maybe MSU will need a coach when their current guy Mullins ( once hot, now not) is fired. Kirby also could be considered for a job out in Texas, maybe. Brown will be fired like cheap socks if they end up like this past year. Mack Brown is on the HOT SEAT like GT’s CPJ.
Texas or SC for Kirby. What he does with it ……………anyone’s guess. His playmate Will MUSCHUMP might be fired within two more years, if they do not do any better in the EAST than they did this year. He has two years to rocket Florida to the top or he will be dumped like bad bar b q.
Life is funny. Kirby is on the ups right now and now Muschamp, once hot, now not, could be on the descent.
Richt? Ascending baby like, UGA is with an all Soph and Junior led team and MY MAN CTG.
Dawg48
January 7th, 2012
6:31 pm
Tampagator
When will you learn we don’t give a crap about the gators!
travis
January 7th, 2012
6:31 pm
5 star DE Jonathan Bullard just said he’s coming to Gainesville.
Go Gators!
and Jordan Jenkins is next muschamp will have a nasty defense no doubt and thats more then half the battle in the SEC
Dawg48
January 7th, 2012
6:33 pm
Send’em Uhauls
I disagree.
CRO MAGNON MAN
January 7th, 2012
6:35 pm
5150 UOAD
January 7th, 2012
3:33 pm
Truth being Unkind….you just keep holding on to all those 10 win seasons and no BCS CG shots. Richt and Bobo don’t Scare any Defensive Coordinators in the SEC.
WHAT ABOUT THE DC AT GT? BEAT Y’ALL WITHOUT A RUNNING BACK!!!!
TampaGator
January 7th, 2012
6:36 pm
Dawg48……
When did Shultz’s blog site become a Dawg site? It is an AJC blog site….duh….I do believe the AJC does have Dawg blog sites. Why don’t you go there with you nonsense. But….obviously…..you do care about the Gators or you would not read my post…..duh……..
Dawg48
January 7th, 2012
6:40 pm
Tampa
I never said it was a dawg site…..
All you ever do is come on blogs talking up your gators.
When the topic has nothing to do with them.
TampaGator
January 7th, 2012
6:41 pm
Travis…..
Bullard, another 5 star get at DE, is a BIG TIME get for the Gators. Clemson and SC pushed hard to get him….and Muschamp won another. I think he is going to beat Saban for Jenkins on Monday. Just a very strong feeling based on the Tyriq McCord deal last week. McCord is good, wanted to be a Gator, but was told that the Gators did not have a spot for him (he would have played the same postion that Jenkins would play for the Gators…..to me…..2 plus 2 = 4. But I could be wrong. I hope not. Jenkins would or is going to be a terror in the SEC playing in the hybrid LB position in the Gator 3-4. And….my gosh….the Gator secondary is going to be unbelieveble with the players they already have and the players committed…..and those who are going to still commit. The Gator D is going to be very, very good…..and very, very deep….just like LSU.
katherine
January 7th, 2012
6:43 pm
Dawg48
January 7th, 2012
6:23 pm
What’s up katherin, are you going to watch Matt stafford and the lions take down the saints tonight?
Yes!!!
CRO MAGNON MAN
January 7th, 2012
6:43 pm
Send’em Uhauls
January 7th, 2012
6:27 pm
I thought McGarity had a pair. Fire McGarity if he doesnt fire Bobo.
UHAULS, EVERYBODY GOT A PAIR EXCEPT YOU…BOBO SHOULD GET COACH OF THE YEAR MANAGING THE LACK OF TALENT HE HAS ON OFFENSE…WR PROBABLY THE BEST POSITION STARTING SPRING…NO PROVEN RUNNINGBACK….UHAULS HAS NEVER BEEN IN THE ARENA…..NEVER COMPETED….HIDES OUT ON THE BLOG….
TampaGator
January 7th, 2012
6:43 pm
Dawg 48…..
First, that is NOT all I do.
Second, using your logic….what does Smart wanting to be a head coach have to do with Georgia….other than he graduated from there. I believe Georgia has a head coach!!!!!
TampaGator
January 7th, 2012
6:45 pm
katherine……
Do you really think the Lions are going to take down the Saints????? Really????? In New Orleans????
LakeDawg
January 7th, 2012
6:45 pm
“To me that’s probably the greatest feature I’ve learned or will take with me when I become a head coach, is you have to be demanding. You have to be able to confront people if they’re not doing their job or not doing it the way you want it.”
Memo to CMR
5150 UOAD
January 7th, 2012
6:45 pm
They got something Head at Uga not sure it is a Coach though TAMPA.
LakeDawg
January 7th, 2012
6:46 pm
Mark Richt must go.
katherine
January 7th, 2012
6:46 pm
TampaGator
January 7th, 2012
6:45 pm
katherine……
Do you really think the Lions are going to take down the Saints????? Really????? In New Orleans????
Well anything is possible…so you never know
5150 UOAD
January 7th, 2012
6:47 pm
WOW HOW did he not have that for a Pick 6?
Hawg Head
January 7th, 2012
6:48 pm
TampaGator
January 7th, 2012
6:27 pm
As one poster stated…….Muschamp will win a championship at Florida (maybe more than just one) before Richt wins one at Georgia (which may be never). Georgia fans can only pray that Smart will some day be the head coach at Georgia…..but I think he will be gone from Bama long before Georgia is done with accepting just Richt’s 6 to 10 win seasons.
Muschamp inherited a very tough situation at Florida this year (depth wise…especially on offense). He is correcting that problem with his recruiting this year. If the Gators get the OC from Boise (and keep him away from Bama)…..then things will get even better on the offensive side of the ball. It is already very good on the defensive side….and geting even better.
*******************************************************************************************************************
You know, now for 2 plus years I have read your post and you have held your ground pretty well against UGA and all of their bs and excuses. But after readin post after post after post from you lately it may be time for you to let the play of Florida speak for itself in the upcoming season. Last year in Urban’s final season you defended some very poor play by some players who by all accounts were head and shoulder above everyone else in the recruiting business. Players who were just not ready to get in the system, a coach whose system was dissected by a couple of DC’s and HC’s and could shut it down without much effort.
Here lately you have posted about all these great players committing and how they will make a difference. You said the same thing last year about Driskell and how he could play right away and make life tough for your SEC opponents. You bragged about how good your defense was and how much speed your Gators had on both sides of the ball and how Charlie Weiss was going to be a great OC in the SEC.
Well, after review we all now with all that talent and speed, and OC genius and Defensive minded Muschamp that UF was a 4th place team in a very very weak East. Driskell was not ready, Weiss was to fat and not ready for NFL type defense speed by your opponents and Muschamp needed to grow into the job.
Now, I have no doubt Muschamp will be a great head coach one day, but you need him to win a game of importance before you continue to make the BOLD statements and on the way feel free to beat UGA as we all know they think they are better than sliced bread while in reality they are pretty stale and moldy.
5150 UOAD
January 7th, 2012
6:50 pm
Kat you are right anything is possible. Hell I could get Leonardo Dicaprio’s throwaways, but I ain’t betting on it either. LOL
5150 UOAD
January 7th, 2012
6:52 pm
48 I fear one set of Kittys are going down in this game.
5150 UOAD
January 7th, 2012
6:52 pm
48 I fear one set of Kittys are going down in this game.
Hawg Head
January 7th, 2012
6:52 pm
LakeDawg
January 7th, 2012
6:46 pm
Mark Richt must go.
You are another one, brag brag brag on how good UGA and CMR was and you defended a team that has lost 4 games to top 25 teams, 3 being average teams, one great team and getting blasted in three of them.
I hope this time you can stay consistent.
Dawg48
January 7th, 2012
6:52 pm
Come on Bengals! Dang it!
DawgByte
January 7th, 2012
6:54 pm
I think Kirby Smart is ready for a head coaching job. I wish him and all former Dawgs nothing but the best, except when they oppose us in a game.
Georgia fans need to focus on our program and their own attributes. We’ve got a lot of growing up to do as a fan base. The fact that there are moron bloggers out there still looking to find a replacement for Richt and showing up late for games turns my stomach.
Stephen A.Dawg: Smart to Tennessee in 2013.
January 7th, 2012
6:54 pm
UGA won’t have the priviledge of bringing the Smart Dawg back home. They tried it once by offering CKS the DC position and he turned it down. Georgia eventually landed Coach Grantham. Smart Dawg only has to wait one more year and he can pick his destination. Tennessee will be immediately hiring and the Tex-ass Shorthorns will be needing a head coach if they flop in 2012. It appears USC’s Spurrier has two more years left, but a win or loss this year to UGA could be the variable he uses to determines to stay or go. No matter how you slice it Smart won’t have a chance at landing at UGA unless Richt stumbles to another 6-7 in 2012. Not likely, Richt wins 8 off his creampuff schedule by accident.