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
Dawg48
January 7th, 2012
10:38 pm
Jaglaw
So it must be the same stuff from every week then.
Dawg48
January 7th, 2012
10:40 pm
Dude 60 for new Orleans was holding! How could they miss that it opened up the hole he just ran threw?
jaglaw
January 7th, 2012
10:42 pm
48, I just think NFL refs get caught up in to the ” team that is suppose to win” rather than calling objectively. Haven’t seen many games NO has played this year, but these refs are not being fair and once this group is graded out on this game, I would love to be sitting in the room.
Jerry Blooger
January 7th, 2012
10:43 pm
Say or think what you want but Kirby was NEVER offered that job but times the way they are stories are stretched to fit what you want. It isnt important but thats the truth.
Dawg48
January 7th, 2012
10:45 pm
I’m starting to hate New Orleans.
5150 UOAD
January 7th, 2012
10:45 pm
5150 UOAD
January 7th, 2012
9:43 pm
How Long until STIFFORD throws a PICK?
jaglaw
January 7th, 2012
10:46 pm
Fact is Sueh is a dirty player. Though I have seen good sportsmanship from him tonight. I just hate it when refs decide games. I certainly don’t care for the lions, but they have been hoses tonight. Fights break out from games.like this. If the refs won’t be fair….then why should the lossong team care at some point. There will be a fight before this is over and the story lines will be all about the fight, not the.horrible refs.
5150 UOAD
January 7th, 2012
10:47 pm
Matt AARON Stafford Murray strikes again.
Dawg48
January 7th, 2012
10:47 pm
1 hour and 5 min
jaglaw
January 7th, 2012
10:49 pm
Jerry, which job are u referring?
Dawg48
January 7th, 2012
10:49 pm
Jaglaw
The 2 games I have seen NO play, they have gotten away with a lot of no calls.
Dawg48
January 7th, 2012
10:52 pm
I’m not watching the NC game!
5150 UOAD
January 7th, 2012
10:53 pm
man that was a totally blown coverage bad on the last TD
jaglaw
January 7th, 2012
10:55 pm
NFL…..National Flag Football League.
5150 UOAD
January 7th, 2012
10:56 pm
Still fighting against that Prevent Defense.
5150 UOAD
January 7th, 2012
10:57 pm
12 for 210 nice day at the office for Calvin
Dawg48
January 7th, 2012
10:57 pm
May as well on side kick it they can’t stop NO on offense.
Dawg48
January 7th, 2012
10:59 pm
That Georgia QB makes those recievers look good!
jaglaw
January 7th, 2012
10:59 pm
48…yes they do…so do the Patriots. I see a pattern…posterboy QBs and non agressive defenses. NFL does not appreciate good defense and hard hits on QB. It’s turning into flag football. The ladies panty league hits as hard.
5150 UOAD
January 7th, 2012
11:03 pm
466 yards for Brees
jaglaw
January 7th, 2012
11:03 pm
This is horrible to watch. I actually feel bad for Detroit. Never thought I would say such.
5150 UOAD
January 7th, 2012
11:05 pm
Not nice on ROAD teams today. i think the Falcons do it on the Road tomorrow.
Dawg48
January 7th, 2012
11:06 pm
Jaglaw
5150 was talking earlier about the hitting a defenseless player penalty.
I told him,I agree, the only reason they have those penalties in effect is because the owners pay the players way to much money and they want to protect there investment. The owners put pressure on the league to make that rule, and hitting the QB rule.
Dawg48
January 7th, 2012
11:08 pm
WHO DAT, WHO DAT……WHO DAT gonna work over time so I can feed my kid?
Dawg48
January 7th, 2012
11:09 pm
Nice cheerleader!
5150 UOAD
January 7th, 2012
11:14 pm
Alec Baldwin hosting the NFL Honors? Well that is on show I will not watch. Alec Baldwin is TRASH
bitter duh!
January 7th, 2012
11:15 pm
fire cravell———close your trailer door jeff s.
Dawg48
January 7th, 2012
11:18 pm
5150
Alec sucks, but I like Stephen Baldwin
jaglaw
January 7th, 2012
11:18 pm
I agree in protecting defenseless players. However, some times the WR drops their head causing the helmet to helmet contact. Also, if u fear going over the middle, run the Dang ball….that way u don’t have to pass and put ur QB or WR at risk. Oh, and I didn’t play defense in high school. I played QB.
Dawg48
January 7th, 2012
11:21 pm
Jaglaw
But when the guy catches the ball then gets hit and they call it then, well that’s crap.
5150 UOAD
January 7th, 2012
11:22 pm
Like I said Ronnie Lott would owe more money than he made by the end of the year if he played in this NFL
jaglaw
January 7th, 2012
11:24 pm
This is a violent game. NFL is trying to make it touch football. The last two seasons I have seen soooo many missed tackles by defenders. Pros don’t tackle anymore. Thank god for college football. Also, u don’t see near as many “illegal hit” flags in college FB. The hits still exist, but those kids aren’t paid so no one cares. Capitalism .
Wright
January 7th, 2012
11:30 pm
OMG do what you’re supposed to do, when you’re supposed to do it, and how you’re supposed to do it.
IF RICHT AND BOBO COACHED FOR SABAN BOTH WOULD BE FIRED.
jaglaw
January 7th, 2012
11:45 pm
Wright is right. Except Saban would have never hired Bobo.
5150 UOAD
January 7th, 2012
11:53 pm
Bobo wouldn’t be hired by anybody but UGA.
jaglaw
January 7th, 2012
11:54 pm
Evil, I guess that’s why Valdosta GEORGIA was nominated winnersville USA by ESPN. LA football players like beads….anal beads.
jaglaw
January 7th, 2012
11:57 pm
Come to La. Where mardi gras anal beads will be given to football players and act now for a free ky jelly.
Truth
January 8th, 2012
12:05 am
@5150
Get this folks, 5150 is like 50 years old and he blogs all night bashing UGA. A big tech fan. You younger Tech fans should be proud you have this tool bantering for you……What joke . Going to bed but could not resist after seeing the name time after time….
ugakev
January 8th, 2012
12:09 am
Good for you smart…now go get ready to go coach North Texas because you are nothing but a ray goff if ugakev would of ever been dumb enough to hire you
ugakev
January 8th, 2012
12:11 am
UGA*
daddydog
January 8th, 2012
12:15 am
Don’t see a major school taking a chance on KS. He had a chance to step out and prove he can coordinate a defense, but he chose to remain Saban’s little boy.
Lamar
January 8th, 2012
12:15 am
No way Smart is running Alabama’s defense, Satan is! Would you leave a job where the head coach does the work for you? When and if Smart leaves for a head coaching job, JUST WATCH HIM FALL FLAT ON HIS FACE! The only way he should leave is if SATAN GOES WITH HIM! He needs to stay put on Satan’s leash! GO DAWGS!
jonk
January 8th, 2012
12:28 am
Only way Mr Smart wantsto return to where i callit “Home sweet home” like Uga is when Mark Richt either is fired or retired yeah?
Coronet Blue
January 8th, 2012
7:39 am
Dawgs know this, but with their weak minds, they tend to forget, so here’s a reminder:
Georgia Tech is a very highly ranked academic school that has a football team. Its alumni and fans have real lives and careers that don’t depend on the football team for their happiness.
Georgia, on the other hand, is basically a sell-your-soul-to-the-devil football factory that also gives diplomas – worthless as they are. They have sleazy coaches like Mark Richt who have no scruples or ethics, who recruit morons who barely got through high school, and collect huge paychecks, but still can’t win big games.
Now, can you remember all that?
Dawg Mike
January 8th, 2012
8:15 am
U think Saban is letting Kirby run the defense i THINK NOT Saban runs the whole show . Kirby is a high priced recruiter that all .
Joey
January 8th, 2012
8:25 am
Yeah, right.
So Saban is paying a non-DC $750,000 a year. If that’s so, he’s in second place in the NCAA for “Most Overpaid Coach.”
First Place goes to Mark Richt and his (soon to be) $3.5 – $4 million.
GT
January 8th, 2012
9:07 am
Bob it is about winning. If you hire the guy it is Alabama getting trashed. Smart gets a paycheck from Alabama, he should be trashing Georgia and every other school in the conference. Georgia never finds these guys coming up, they are always wanting to hire them after someone like Nick Saban finds them. He is a Georgia boy, you should have known about him before Saban. I think he really did think Richt was being fired, and hell he should be fired. It is a good reason not to come to Georgia himself, could you imagine leaving Alabama for a assistant coaching job to Richt an inferior coach. As I said, I think you should fire Richt , you are looking for a reason to keep him because he is nice. Richt lost to every team ranked above it this year. Have you been watching the NFL playoffs? There is more Georgia talent out there than any school in the country. I am not talking about the kind Tech has which usually is a niche player, I am talking about all pro type talent, some Canton Hall of Fame players. I seriously do not understand how you lose to anybody, you are you own worse enenies.
East Repeat
January 8th, 2012
9:09 am
Evil Empire- The entire state of Louisiana is a pig stye. I will quote Larry the Cable Guy, “Building a major city below sea level, in a hurricane path, and fill it with Democrats, well that is just genius!” Typical genius of Lousiana, yep! I have some neighbors from Louisiana, and they stink up the entire neighborhood. Don’t follow same rules as other home owners, just real LSU trash. Disgusting state and people!
1eyedJack
January 8th, 2012
9:33 am
I profess no knowledge of this subject, but if there is anyone out there who could answer me this question, who is a successful head coach out of the Nick Satan coaching tree?
Joey
January 8th, 2012
9:46 am
Maybe Saban is like Bellichick – his assistants never do well when they leave. Speaking of Bellichick, I read an article on him about 2 years ago, and he admitted that he took off-season trips to Gainesville and Tuscaloosa annually in the off season to see what innovations his friends, Urban Myer and Nick Saban, were working on. He said those two helped keep the Pats’ offense and defense “ahead of the curve.”
No mention stopping by Athens . . .