Smart weighs return to UGA
(Updated 9:30 p.m.)
Kirby Smart, the defensive coordinator of newly crowned national champion Alabama, apparently is considering a return to Georgia, his alma mater, for the same job but considerably more money.
Smart, seen as a leading candidate for the UGA position since the Dec. 2 firing of Willie Martinez, was weighing a formal offer on Saturday but “has neither signed it nor made a decision regarding the opening,” according to the Tuscaloosa News, which cited “multiple sources.”
Smart has been publicly coy about his interest in the job but left the door open during a press conference in California two days before the national-championship game. He could not be reached for comment Saturday.
Georgia had no comment on the matter other than to say that no announcement of a hire was scheduled. Associate athletics director Claude Felton said he had not heard from coach Mark Richt all day and that no announcement was expected through Saturday night. Felton said Richt had been on the road recruiting.
Smart would be a popular hire in Bulldog Nation. Former UGA defensive great David Pollack posted on his Twitter account Saturday: “From what I am getting guys I think Georgia has made a very SMART choice on their next DC, nothing 100% but def looks good.”
Smart makes about $360,000 in base salary at Alabama. Georgia is believed willing to pay much, much more than that.
All indications are that UGA will make a hire within the next few days. Richt would like to have the new defensive coordinator named before the final recruiting contact period starts Friday. Also, junior linebacker Rennie Curran -– expected by most around the Georgia program to enter the NFL draft –- has been trying to withhold a final decision until he has a chance to talk with the new coordinator.
Smart played defensive back for Georgia from 1995-98, making All-SEC as a senior, and began his coaching career as an administrative assistant at Georgia in 1999. He also coached running backs at UGA in 2005.
For most of his coaching career, Smart has worked under Nick Saban -– at LSU (2004), the Miami Dolphins (2006) and Alabama (since 2007). He has been the Tide’s defensive coordinator the past two seasons.
Saban seemed to be sending a pointed message to Smart on Friday when he said at a news conference that assistant coaches should not make lateral career moves.
“I’m not pleased when guys make lateral moves because it’s a little bit human nature to think, like my dad used to say, the grass is always greener on top of the septic tank,” Saban said. “You always think it’s better someplace else. You kind of let your ego get involved, and you make moves that you shouldn’t make and really aren’t in your best interests for a career standpoint.”
Please follow me on Twitter for the latest UGA news and notes.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
949 comments Add your comment
Ed
January 10th, 2010
9:00 am
The problem here, is Alabama cant match Georgia’s offer because they will nto double every coaches salary just to increase Smart’s. Saban doesn’t like big salary ranges on his staff, so it’s an all or nothing deal. So the choice for Kirby is now:
$400,000 to coach for Alabama
$800,000 to coach for Georgia
Saint Augustine
January 10th, 2010
9:00 am
Hayseed,
Apparently not
GaGator
January 10th, 2010
9:01 am
Gilda, if you can read, go to Rivals.com and read about the Gators NUMBER ONE CLASS
in the country.
Saint Augustine
January 10th, 2010
9:01 am
Ed,
The only problem is that Georgia will have to raise all their asst coaches too moron
Gilda the Gatorette Gatorade Drinker
January 10th, 2010
9:02 am
But ya’ll, I’m still concerned about Gatos Nation next year. Meyer scares me with all his running around from one job and all. And with all the players leaving, and the 5 coaches who quit Florida in the last month, it’s a sad time to be Gatoes Nation. Now this Smart guy taking over for Georgia, whew, its just too much ya’ll. Going to drink some more Gatorade, this one hurts.
Saint Augustine
January 10th, 2010
9:03 am
Glida,
u do dat
RED DOG 77
January 10th, 2010
9:04 am
Not Exactly 1:36am 1/10…………..Mediocre ? 90 wins in 9 seasons? mediocre ? STACKED? hell, you lost to La. Monre year before last……. and that genious Saban said it was worse than 9/11? things can change quickly in college football, you proved that, congratulations on your NC, but be careful, remember your Bama team was the pits for about 10 yrs. before that, and Nick Saban sure has proved one thing……loyalty is not his strong point…..might be looking for that septic tank before you know it
Saint Augustine
January 10th, 2010
9:05 am
RED DOG 77,
talk to me like that little man
Saint Augustine
January 10th, 2010
9:06 am
How many of Florida or Alabama’s National chmpionships would you like to have?
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
GaGator
January 10th, 2010
9:06 am
The question remains, why can’t Richt find any coaches to hire. Could old Bobby Bowden have been right when he said “Mark is not tough enough to be a head coach”.
Wondering
January 10th, 2010
9:07 am
Maybe Richt will go to USC and Smart becomes head of UGA?
Saint Augustine
January 10th, 2010
9:08 am
OK, as of 9:15 AM EST this blog will be closed to all dawg fans. If any of you have anything you’d like to say you will need to go to http://www.thehershelyears.com and post it there!
RHARE
January 10th, 2010
9:08 am
KS is a defensive genius. His ability to put together a defense and to read an opponets offence is incredible. I am a diehard BAMA fan, but Sabans statement about lateral moves is not quite accurate. A lateral move would be for the same position at the same salary. If UGA is making an offer “he can’t refuse” then Bama (if they want to keep him) should offer the same package or beat it. The only thing with this is that how do you ask your players that are up for the draft to stay and play another year at the college level? We are setting the example that it is all “about the almighty dollar” and we are teaching the players to lead by example. All I can say is good luck to KS wherever he ends up, because he deserves what he gets.
tbomachine
January 10th, 2010
9:08 am
AINT AUGUSTINE– who leads the series record ? YOU RUN to ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS at 3 pm EVERY AFTERNOON. you may have us lately, but we still own you. go dawgs
GaGator
January 10th, 2010
9:10 am
A banner day leaves the Florida Gators atop the Scout.com Team Rankings.
JoeDawg
January 10th, 2010
9:10 am
Saint Augustine, etal, you guys have enough to worry about, whta with your Coach Urban Liar, being unstable, no coaching staff anymore, and Urban losing his wittle lover Teblow, no more late night Hotel trists, Gaytor Nation better be scared, very scared!!!!
Saint Augustine
January 10th, 2010
9:10 am
tbomachine
OK, as of 9:15 AM EST this blog will be closed to all dawg fans. If any of you have anything you’d like to say you will need to go to http://www.thehershelyears.com and post it there! Thank you.
Saint Augustine
January 10th, 2010
9:11 am
JoeDawg
OK, as of 9:15 AM EST this blog will be closed to all dawg fans. If any of you have anything you’d like to say you will need to go to http://www.thehershelyears.com and post it there! Thank you.
Ed
January 10th, 2010
9:11 am
I’m looking to see an all-star defense nw. Pony up the money boys, Coahc Richt has made you $360,000,000 profit since he’s been there.
How about this defensive cOACHING line-up folks:
DE’S Gardner, DC/LB’s Smsrt, DB’s-Martinez, DL Grantham
GaGator
January 10th, 2010
9:11 am
Wondering
January 10th, 2010
9:07 am
Maybe Richt will go to USC and Smart becomes head of UGA?
Wondering
That is the first comment that has made any sense for UGA.
Saint Augustine
January 10th, 2010
9:12 am
Ed,
OK, as of 9:15 AM EST this blog will be closed to all dawg fans. If any of you have anything you’d like to say you will need to go to http://www.thehershelyears.com and post it there! Thank you.
Saint Augustine
January 10th, 2010
9:13 am
Red Dog 77
OK, as of 9:15 AM EST this blog will be closed to all dawg fans. If any of you have anything you’d like to say you will need to go to http://www.thehershelyears.com and post it there! Thank you.
JoeDawg
January 10th, 2010
9:13 am
And Saint ugustibe there are ony two assistants left Bobo, and Searles so who needs to get a raise?? Dude you’re a dumbazz!
Saint Augustine
January 10th, 2010
9:13 am
Gilda,
OK, as of 9:15 AM EST this blog will be closed to all dawg fans. If any of you have anything you’d like to say you will need to go to http://www.thehershelyears.com and post it there! Thank you.
a
January 10th, 2010
9:14 am
a blog about the dawgs closed to the dawg fans? for someone who thinks we’re a “septic tank,” you’ve got a lotta interest in this story and our feelings on it.
see you in jacksonville next year, augustine. can hardly wait.
JoeDawg
January 10th, 2010
9:14 am
Saint Augustgaytor, go find Teblow, maybe Urban Liar will let you have a taste!
King Donko of Punchstania
January 10th, 2010
9:14 am
David Pollack- great player, but a douchebag of a reporter and person.
Saint Augustine
January 10th, 2010
9:15 am
Joe Dawg,
“Dude you’re a dumbazz!”
Hahahhaha. You’re the one pulling for Georgia, not me. Hahahahaha.
Saint Augustine
January 10th, 2010
9:15 am
a
OK, as of 9:15 AM EST this blog will be closed to all dawg fans. If any of you have anything you’d like to say you will need to go to http://www.thehershelyears.com and post it there! Thank you.
a
January 10th, 2010
9:16 am
st augustine,
OK, as of 9:15 AM EST you are a douchebag. If any of you have anything you’d like to say you will need to go to http://www.suckmybulldogballs.com and post it there! Thank you.
RED DOG 77
January 10th, 2010
9:17 am
vOL mAN 7:50 am 1/10….. How the heck have yall been doing up in Knoxville for the last 10 yrs.? And you call UGA ,SECOND TIER SEC PROGRAM?…… Man where have you been? yes, you beat us ,but that was your signature win, and our worst team in 9 yrs. Again….90 wins 9 seasons….I cant think of more than one mabe two teams in the country that can beat that. And Tenn. sure as heck is not one of them……. I think I would be real quiet about now if I were a Vol fan…..2010 might just prove to be pretty rough on ol rocky top
Saint Augustine
January 10th, 2010
9:17 am
SORRY “little a”, Times up. Please delete this post!
BAMA MAN
January 10th, 2010
9:17 am
UGA you forget about Trent Richardson who is just a freshman and Mark Ingram is there for two more years unless he decides to go to the NFL. Plus they have other good backs just waiting in the wing. Mark Ingram is a great back but Alabama is not a one man team. They have talented players at all positions and the so far the # 3 recruiting class in the nation.
Gilda the Gatorette Gatorade Drinker
January 10th, 2010
9:17 am
Ya’ll, I don’t thinkr ecruting will be any good this year. Now with this Smart guy coming to Georgia and all, I just think in the end, a bunch of players are going to head over to Athens. Nuts? Addazios High School Coach running Gatores Nation? Scary, on ESPN, they rank Georgia’s recruiting class right behind Florida’s. Ouch. Need some Gatorade, getting scary.
Gatorman
January 10th, 2010
9:17 am
Gilda the Gatorette Gatorade Drinker; you must be the idiot! They just got committments from the 3 of the top players in the country. They might take a “slight” drop next year, but this team has depth. The only coaches who left were coaches to be head coaches or more responsibility. I must be the idiot for even responding to such a uneducated moron.
The Other St. Simons
January 10th, 2010
9:18 am
Saint Augustine is St. Simons.
He has not gotten his hot frothy cup of 30-24 in a while, so he claims to be Gator fan because he knows GT will ALWAYS be second rate team in 3rd rate conference.
a
January 10th, 2010
9:18 am
SORRY st. augustine, go to hell.
Gatorman
January 10th, 2010
9:19 am
BAMA MAN, you are right about Richardson. He might be better than Ingram as early as next year. As a Gator, I must say that you have it going right now.
Saint Augustine
January 10th, 2010
9:19 am
Gilda, sorry to inform you but you have lost your posting privileges
JoeDawg
January 10th, 2010
9:19 am
Augustine the Gaytor fan, Guy you’re in the wrong area code there, I am a Grad of Georgia Southern, however UGA, happens to be MY Home State’s premiere program, Not that bunch of tech heads on nerdwood ave, and certainly not that bunghole university you call Gaytor Nation!
Saban to USC?
January 10th, 2010
9:19 am
I can see it, lots of people talking about it, Sabam jumps around every one to five years.
Saint Augustine
January 10th, 2010
9:20 am
Jow Dawg,
Time to take it somewhere else hoss
those games meant nothing to Tech
January 10th, 2010
9:21 am
I think we should pursue AL Groh from Virginia as Tech coach and football wonder boy Paul Johnson is after him…and i can see why since he lost to William and Mary, southern Miss. and Duke in 2009…We really should hire Al Groh and not Kirby Smart…lmfao…I know ..lets hire coach Paul Hewitt …….He held the dawgs to 73 points! course his overrated Jackette basketball team lost to US!
GaGator
January 10th, 2010
9:22 am
JoeDawg
Joe, your jealousy and frustration about losing to the GATORS for the past twenty years.
I can see how being 3 for 20 against the GATORS can have you talking to yourself and believing you may win one day. I feel your pain.
Topp Dogg
January 10th, 2010
9:22 am
At Alabama they dont have septic tanks they crap in open ditches.
Saint Augustine
January 10th, 2010
9:23 am
((((( 17 of 20 ))))) Hahahahahahahahahahahaha
The Other St. Simons
January 10th, 2010
9:23 am
Hey St. Augustine:
(((((((((((((30-24))))))))))))) Hahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!
blue
January 10th, 2010
9:24 am
Saint Augustine no damn has signed yet you cant till feb3. get your damn facts stright
JoeDawg
January 10th, 2010
9:24 am
On to better quality individuals, Bama wins the NC, probably the worst thing that could’ve happened, Now all these transplants will rave about Satan, and Ingram for the next three years like they did about Urban Liar, and his lover Teblow, Jeez it;s that Atlanta Media that suck! Where else can a city of 5 mill+ people have to put up with 3 minutes of coverage on their own teams and 3 damn hours on teams that are in other states!
Saint Augustine
January 10th, 2010
9:24 am
Topp Dogg,
Take it somewhere else little man