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
GatorInsider.com
January 10th, 2010
2:09 pm
The Gators’ downward spiral continues. GatorInsider.com has just learned that Florida plans to hire disgraced former UGA DC Willie Martinez as its DB coach.
This is what happens when there’s no one competent and ethical at the switch. It’s pretty clear what’s going to happen within the month, and it won’t be pretty for Florida fans.
oh well
January 10th, 2010
2:10 pm
wow did our hopes just get stepped on. Again if they are matching our offer do you all think we are out of the mix?
just the truth
January 10th, 2010
2:10 pm
Why don’t they go on and tell everyone now that Garner is headed to Tenn. Tech to be their head coach. It hasn’t been much of a secret anyway. Do they think that many kids will jump ship now?
Buckhead Bulldog
January 10th, 2010
2:10 pm
Here you sc dawg:
http://myespn.go.com/s/conversations/show/story/4813421
Weed must be strong in Athens
January 10th, 2010
2:11 pm
SC DAWG.. The main reason for Smart to leave is that he is NOT a DC right now, other than on paper. Saban rules with a very strict and string sword and KS and other assistants will never get “their due” in their minds. This is fine with us, although many bama fans do NOT want to see us continue to lose quality assistants. UT is getting better and their D will likely be top 5 next year with all of the talent they keep getting and with Monte’s genius.
The Bama boards are actually fairly quiet for the most part. I think all of us are bracing ourselves for KS to bolt and hopeful that Saban himself will plead with KS to stay. Doubt that Saban will EVER plead an asst for anything though. Mal Moore has definitely put an aggressive financial offer on the table though, so at the end of the day anything is possible.
Bottom line.. I still think KS is in Athens tomorrow to sign and get started.
ESPN Clueless About Georgia
January 10th, 2010
2:12 pm
ESPN has said so far, Richt is hiring:
1) Koenning
2) Foster
3) Chavis
They do not know what’s going on.
sc dawg
January 10th, 2010
2:13 pm
Thanks Buckhead Bulldog, I just saw the pic of Lowe, by a link to his blog, and assumed he’d written in . . . he’s been no friend to UGA. That said, this idea that UGA’s football problems of late are somehow ESPN’s, or the refs, or the lady in the third row’s fault, are absurd! Nobody heard Colt McCoy whining Thursday night, he is a class act! Enough excuses, good teams overcome bad press, bad calls, and quality opposing teams. This is a bit odd, I doubt CMR sends a written contract/offer without verbal acceptance, but, Bama is obviously making Smart re-think if that was the case. A big game of poker that doesn’t hurt Bama should Smart leave, but, doesn’t help UGA should Smart stay.
ESPN says Kirby Stayng in Bama
January 10th, 2010
2:14 pm
That’s right, that’s what ESPN reported a few days ago.
Now, Pollack says Kirby is coming to Georgia, ESPN says he’s staying in Bama.
ESPN said Koenning, Foster, and Chavis were coming to Georgia. Now, ESPN’s crack coaching reporters say Kirby is staying in Bama. Looking good for Georgia. ESPN has been wrong every time so far.
sc dawg
January 10th, 2010
2:15 pm
Thanks for the input Weed, and, for the intelligent post . . . something far too rare on this board!!!! Congrats on your title, that was/is one hell of a football team!!!!
Dap01
January 10th, 2010
2:16 pm
If UF, Tech and Bama are so good, why aren’t you losers trolling on those blogs?
Weed must be strong in Athens
January 10th, 2010
2:17 pm
Not sure why some of the children on here are jumping all over ESPN and Herbie.. They cover the SEC quite well and make the SEC a TON of money. Just look at how many times game day has been at an SEC game the last two years. I believe it is TWICE as often as any other conference. Herbie gets off on his kicks about certain players and teams and that is what he gets PAID to do. He also gets paid to cover ABS Sat night games, which generally do NOT feature SEC teams.. If and when CBS gets the coverage for the BCS (likely NEVER) the SEC will get announcers who cover our conference all year long. And for those touting CNNSI.com as a better alternative… get real! There is not a site that comes even remotely close to ESPN in it’s coverage of college football OR the SEC
Weed must be strong in Athens
January 10th, 2010
2:20 pm
Thanks SC.. Next year will be a fun one trying to repeat! If we don’t win it, I just hope the SEC gets 5 in a row!
sc dawg
January 10th, 2010
2:23 pm
Got it, thanks Buckhead. Agreed weed, while there are personalities on ESPN that favor/disfavor certain teams and coaches, that’s what makes it fun to watch their commentary. The only problem I’ve got with ESPN is Lowe, who, everyone knows, covered the Vols for twenty years and doesn’t even pretend to approach them with objectivity. On another note, this is a crazy offseason . . . my gut right now, Smart stays at Bama, Grantham to Athens . . . the only thing that would make Smart move if Bama has matched/exceeded offer is desire to be with family and at “home”.
Steve
January 10th, 2010
2:24 pm
Kirby Smart needs to wait one more year and he can be the head coach at Georgia.
Saint Augustine
January 10th, 2010
2:25 pm
Attn UGA Fans:
I am sorry for all my pathetic posts that I have put on here, please realize I have no life, especially since Tebow left St Augustine 5 yrs ago, I lost my boyfriend and all I can do now is stay on here for attention. I have no life, my father is a priest and takes advantage of me and all I want to do is have some attention. I have been a florida fan for 3 years now and i think my bandwagon is about to shift to Alabama now that they smoked UF and won the title. Please, do not think about the beatdown that georiga gave florida back in 1943, the score was 72-0 and the fact that Georgia still owns the head to head wins against UF, only realize I live in a trailer, am on food stamps and Obama is my hero since he won the american version of american idol. Oh what would I do without these message boards? My life would revolve around trailer park trash. well my time is up here on the library computer, please accept my aplology.
Circus Act
January 10th, 2010
2:28 pm
Why cant these clowns in the athletic dept at UGA nail down a coach? how much more will fans have to endure this circus act at UGA? CMR puts in a red headed clown at QB who lost 3 games for UGA. This program is a three ring circus joke. oh well whats new ?
Georgia in 2010!
January 10th, 2010
2:28 pm
With Kirby Smart, UGA will have the best D in the SEC in 2010, and win the SEC easily over florida and tennesee. Florida’s talent will be way down and urban meyer will not come back–you can bank on that! Georgia makes a deep BCS run and beats bama for the SEC title!!!! Dawgs are back baby!!!!
ESPN's SEC Cred at Stake with Georgia Hire
January 10th, 2010
2:29 pm
ESPN saying clearly that Smart is staying at Alabama.
David Pollack, known to be dead on on all things Georgia, says Kirby almost a 100% deal coming to Athens.
If ESPN is wrong on this one again, their SEC cred is gone.
http://espn.go.com/blog/sec/post/_/id/7853/smart-plans-to-be-back-at-alabama
Weed must be strong in Athens
January 10th, 2010
2:30 pm
Tider Insider is now reporting that Bama has officially offered KS a 4 year extension giving him base salaries of $675k in 2010 with $50K increases each of the following 3 years. This would give him an avg salary of over $750k. Also included are performance bonuses for SEC and National Titles. Tider Insider also claims that multiple planes with registered tail letters from Atlanta have registered flight plans into Tuscalooa regional airport for later this afternoon from Athens, Ga. Their “guess” is that Richt will now put the full court press on and will leave WITH Smart to go back to Athens late tonight. TI, says almost ZERO chance Smart will stay in T-Town as sources close to him believe he wants to get out of Saban’s shadow.
ESPN Says Richt Hiring Koenning, Foster, Chavis
January 10th, 2010
2:30 pm
ESPN has no clue about Georgia, they have no access to Richt because of their past anti-Georgia bias, they are completely out of the loop with the 3rd most powerful team in college football, according to Forbes.
jones
January 10th, 2010
2:32 pm
That article was written on Jan. 3. ESPN currently has nothing new.
Weed must be strong in Athens
January 10th, 2010
2:34 pm
Georgia in 2010.. Like my name states.. the weed must be strong in Athens. If you think that a new DC will make UGA’s defense in to the best in the SEC, you are stoned silly. UGA has some talent, but is not and will not be deep enough to compete defensively with the likes of Bama, Florida or Tennessee. At best, UGA will be in the middle third of defenses next year, so you might want to temper your expectations!
haha
January 10th, 2010
2:35 pm
http://espn.go.com/blog/sec/post/_/id/7853/smart-plans-to-be-back-at-alabama
Your link is from an article a week old. Things have changed since then.
Richt Will Give Sports Illustrated the Scoop
January 10th, 2010
2:35 pm
Stay tuned to sportsillustrated.com, Richt will give them the scoop, ESPN will have ZERO access to Mark Richt.
sc dawg
January 10th, 2010
2:37 pm
Weed, this is really interesting, one ESPN post, insisting Smart will stay (posted above, is from Jan 3). Here’s a paste from a current ESPN article:
“A source with knowledge of the situation told ESPN.com that Smart hadn’t yet made a decision as of Sunday morning. The source said Alabama officials have told Smart they would “do everything necessary to keep him.”
Sources told ESPN.com that Georgia has offered Smart a contract worth more than $700,000 annually. It is believed Georgia’s offer is at least a three-year contract.”
Aren’t Saban and Richt pretty cordial, even friendly with each other. Wonder what their conversations, if any, have been like . . . this should play out by sometime tonight, in the morning.
Bwahhhhhhhh
January 10th, 2010
2:39 pm
CMR and Damon Evans are weak as baby Tee Tee. These clowns need to be fired and are an embarrassment to UGA because of this hiring fiasco. Come on bulldog nation and get a clue we must GET SMART and demand better from these bozo’s !
Weed must be strong in Athens
January 10th, 2010
2:39 pm
SC.. Saban and Richt have been friendly in the past including last year when Saban allowed Richt to be at the Ga Dome to watch his son play against Bama in the season opened( Richt’s son plays for Clemosn and since Richt was facing Bama later in the year, by rule he would not have been allowed on premises without permission from Saban)
Saban has grown much more cold towards Richt in the last week or so, accusing Saban of trying to “poach” KS while Bama was still trying to win a TITLE…
Sports Illustrated Opportunity
January 10th, 2010
2:41 pm
Look for 2010 to be the year ESPN lost its college football base.
Sports Illustrated stands poised to make its move.
1) Become an SEC Niche expert, point ESPN as West Coast Bias
2) Build internet dominance
3) Bring on best SEC insiders like Pollack
4) Forge Pro-Georgia relationship with Mark Richt
5) Forge Pro SEC relationships by hiring SEC oriented reporters
Leave ESPN in the dust.
Saint Augustine
January 10th, 2010
2:41 pm
Dear Kirby Smart:
Sir, are these the kind of fans that you want to try to please daily over the next 3 years? Ones that will micro manage every decision you make (with perfect hind sight vision) and rip you to shreds here publically?
Do you really want to leave a fan base that crams 92,000 fans into your first spring game or one where 40,000 stage a walk out in the 3rd and 4th quarters (during the real season) with your team, down by only six points?
Do you want fans that support you like the Bear even when you make a mistake or two or ones that brag about having Damon Evans and Michael Adams cell phone numbers and email addresses handy and enjoy sharing tail gate stories where they contacted both of them to get you fired?
Is this something you REALYY want to subject your wife and young children to?
A LOT has changed since you were there last.
Think it through. You can do FAR greater
Saint Augustine
January 10th, 2010
2:43 pm
Dear Kirby Smart:
Shreveport or Southern California?
Saint Augustine
January 10th, 2010
2:45 pm
Kirby Smart,
Head job anywhere > assistant coaches job at Georgia
sc dawg
January 10th, 2010
2:45 pm
Not surprising to hear Weed, and, can’t really blame him, but, as Saban knows, this is a tough business and you have to do what you have to do within the confines of the rules. Agree on your take on the DAWGS in 2010, with or without Smart (short of Myer not coming back by next season-should that happen UF might become very unpredictable). But, have to still disagree on UT. Maybe you know something I don’t, but, even Kiffin admitted that 10 could be a tough year, and, the Vol boards are looking to 11 and 12 for signs of Kiffin’s system to really have any input. SC bothers me in the East next year. I still think Spurrier can beat anybody on a given day, even without all the talent and this year he’s gonna have a bunch of it. Keep us posted on what’s happening on the Tide boards. We appreciate the info . . .
Sports Illustrated Opportunity
January 10th, 2010
2:49 pm
Unprecedented opportunity for Sports Illustrated for college football.
No one trust ESPN reporting anymore, it has lost objectivity with Craig James, not 1 single ESPN reporter sided with Leach’s side of the story.
Sports Illustrated can dominate ESPN by showing BOTH sides of stories, not just promoting the West Coast, but also showing a strong SEC represnentation.
Kirby Smart to Georgia is BIGGEST college football hire of 2009. ESPN will MISS THE SCOOP. This hire will change college football for the next few years. ESPN will not be in the loop.
ESPN kept Richt out in 2002 and 2007, overlooked Knowshon Moreno’s play, doesn’t pick Georgia for their “all-star” teams when Georgia has sent more players to the NFL than Florida or Alabama or Ohio State or USC. ESPN tried to make Richt look desperate by acting like Richt offered the job to Koenning, Foster, and Chavis.
dogfan
January 10th, 2010
2:51 pm
Georgia had better keep looking for a DC. No guarantee Smart will sign.
Forbes Rank's Georgia's $90 Million Football Program #3
January 10th, 2010
2:52 pm
http://www.forbes.com/2007/11/20/notre-dame-fooball-biz-sports-cx_ps_1120collegeball_slide_4.html?thisSpeed=undefined
Valdosta Native
January 10th, 2010
2:57 pm
Where is Chris Hatcher expected to land in the football ranks? I think it would be nice to see him come aboard the offensive side of the ball, working along side of his old pal Kirby Smart from VSU.
Gatorland
January 10th, 2010
2:58 pm
Hey Forbes,
That article is 2 and half years old..look at the top 10…5 have new coaches….only Texas, Florida and Alabama have seen growth…..Notre Dame, Michigan, UGA, Auburn have fallen.
Nice TRY!
ESPN Bias Against UGA
January 10th, 2010
2:58 pm
Proof of bias? The NFL LOVES Georgia, ESPN HATES Georgia. Wierd, huh?
Georgia has sent more players to the NFL than USC, Ohio State or Florida, ESPN Favorites.
Check it out:
http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/alumni-tracker/school/5813
Saint Augustine
January 10th, 2010
2:59 pm
Hahahaha. Has it not occured to you idiots that Smart is using Georgia to double his pay? LOL. I for one CAN NOT wait to see the wind let out of your sails when Smart (like the other 4-5 candidates) turns your job down. Hahahahahaha!
Saint Augustine
January 10th, 2010
3:01 pm
This just in
“Kirby Smart is close to a deal with the Dogs”
http://www.smartisjerkingyourchainga.com
sc dawg
January 10th, 2010
3:03 pm
St Augustine. Yes, we have, but, even the Bama fans on this blog speak of KS’s desire to be home, so, in this case it doesn’t apply. I will offer a word of advice, remove the venom, and the name calling, and the childishness, from your posts and people on here might pay more attention to you and your opinion. It might even increase your enjoyment of this type of forum. BTW, your tone disgraces the name of the man your “handle” is taken from.
sc dawg
January 10th, 2010
3:06 pm
P.S. St Augustine, if not Smart and we get Grantham, I’m not sure I’d be too disappointed. One could easily argue that Grantham might be a better fit. Does the process matter, ask a Bama fan . . . with no disrespect meant to their program, they went through a coaching fiasco before landing Coach Saban . . .
Weed must be strong in Athens
January 10th, 2010
3:06 pm
Mr anti-ESPN, you are providing my comedic relief for the the day, FIRST.. ESPN is not anti-Georgia.. The last two seasons just have not provided much for them to say good about Richt or UGA! As for you saying that UGA has put more players in the NFL.. Go check out drafthistory.com and you will see that UGA is not even in the top 10 all time for putting players into the NFL.
01HAWK
January 10th, 2010
3:09 pm
Crimson Tide stepping up to try to keep Kirby Smart in Tuscaloosa
By Gentry Estes, Mobile Press-Register
January 10, 2010, 1:06PM
(UA photo)Alabama appears to not be letting defensive coordinator Kirby Smart go to Georgia without a fight.
As reported yesterday, the Bulldogs have offered Smart the same title at UGA and could be willing to more than double the roughly $360,000 base salary the Broyles Award winner made this past season at Alabama.
Smart, a UGA graduate, is still thought to be mulling the offer at this point.
ESPN.com’s Mark Schlabach is reporting this afternoon that UA officials have told Smart they would “do everything necessary to keep him.”
So whether he stays or goes, one can assume that Smart will make a whole lot more money in 2010.
ESPN Bias Against UGA
January 10th, 2010
3:16 pm
Georgia has more axctive players in the NFL RIGHT NOW than Florida, USC, or Ohio State.
The NFL RIGHT NOW LOVES Georgia, ESPN HATES Georgia.
http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/alumni-tracker/school/5813
Saint Augustine
January 10th, 2010
3:17 pm
sc dawg,
My handle somes from a city in Florida and I could care less what the people of the dog nation think or have opinions on.
Kirby Smart is jerking your chain to get a $400,000 raise, 3 year contract and “Head coach in waiting” status at Alabama. Georgia can not match that without disrupting their current coaching chemistry. And Grantham is doing similar. I don’t care if you believe me or not. Too many openings out there and georgia aint what it used to be. It will be Garner. “Bank it”.
Ole Yeller Dawg
January 10th, 2010
3:17 pm
Settle down UGA fans it’s going to be okay…….after all the HC’s and both AD’s play their cards we will still have Mary Beth as our Trump card to play. What mom does not want her babies to be close to their Grand parents? I can imagine MB gave Kirby some good ole loving last night and is ready to repeat again tonight if necessary! If Kirby turns UGA down he will be forever in MB’s dog house!!!!
Settle down!!!! “THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME”
toofless in alabamer
January 10th, 2010
3:20 pm
UGA is leagues above ua as an institution. Everything is better, including the recruiting. Georgia high school football>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>sissy alabamers. Saban even thinks it’s a better place to live, that’s why he has a spread on Burton. Hahaha, you bammers, second rate state and university. Bow down chumps!!
ESPN Bias Against UGA
January 10th, 2010
3:22 pm
Wnat more proof? Ok.
Here’s the latest “ESPN top 25″ college football rankings.
Notice, the FANS voted Georgia #14 in the nation in 2009, because they know how tough the SEC is.
ESPN put Georgia UNRANKED…..
http://espn.go.com/college-football/rankings
Saint Augustine
January 10th, 2010
3:24 pm
Ole Yeller,
Hahahahaha