Smart explains decision to reject UGA (updated)
Athens — Kirby Smart won’t be coming to Georgia as the Bulldogs’ defensive coordinator, deciding after two days of deliberation to remain in the same job at Alabama.
Smart, a former Georgia player, explained his decision in written comments provided by Alabama:
“I think it was pretty well known that there was an opportunity to return to my alma mater as defensive coordinator,” Smart said. ”I wouldn’t even have considered discussing the position with any other school, but when it is a place I’ve spent some of my best years and had some great memories, I thought it was something I should discuss with my family and figure out what was best.
“After thinking about all the factors over the last couple days, we are going to stay at the University of Alabama. We love it in Tuscaloosa, have made some great friends here and I think we are building something special here at Alabama with Coach [Nick] Saban. I have learned so much in the time I’ve spent with Coach Saban, and every year I feel like a become a better coach.
“I’ve got a great deal of respect for Coach [Mark] Richt and the job he has done there, and the University of Georgia will also have a special place in my heart. Not only did I play there, but my wife played basketball there and we have a lot of friends at UGA.”
Smart had been considering a lucrative multi-year offer — reportedly for three or four years at around $700,000 per year — to return to his alma mater as defensive coordinator. His pending decision had been the subject of intense speculation among UGA fans over the weekend. Saban previously had expressed his disapproval of assistant coaches making lateral career moves.
“We’re very pleased and happy that Kirby is going to be staying here at the University of Alabama with us,” Saban said in a statement this afternoon. ”He’s done a fabulous job for us. He’s one of the finest assistant coaches in the country.
“You expect guys like Kirby to get lots of opportunities to do things, and we want to continue to help him continue to develop his career here so that when he leaves here, it’s going to be to be a head coach and probably in a very good situation. So we’re excited about that. We’re happy for him and his family. It’s very pleasing to us.”
Alabama is believed to have aggressively countered Georgia’s financial offer, but said it would not reveal Smart’s new salary until it is approved by trustees in the spring. Smart’s salary was around $360,000 in 2009.
Richt has been trying to hire a new defensive coordinator since the Dec. 2 firing of Willie Martinez and two other defensive coaches.
Georgia previously pursued two veteran defensive coordinators for the job, Virginia Tech’s Bud Foster and LSU’s John Chavis. Both opted to remain in their current jobs after having their contracts considerably sweetened.
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1,397 comments Add your comment
No stake in the situation
January 11th, 2010
6:46 pm
GA Fans, relax.
The only way you hear it from Smart is if he is coming. Saban has a rule. NO assistant coaches speak to the press. If Kirby wants to stay at BAMA, he cannot do a presser.
Don’t be so critical. Every SEC team’s fan base believes that every open position that they have is the most desirable. They are not. It is not because they are not desirable. For the most part, the filling of every open position is dictated by the convergence of all the options available to the candidates, including the pay raise at the bird in hand vs. the risk of any career change.
Kirby gets a big raise and does not have to worry about a continued softness in the GA defense which would deteriorate his market value. If he stays with Saban, the defense will always be a highlight film. Kirby has no risk staying at BAMA. He has a big risk if he changes, not just at GA but any other school.
Celebrate the good fortune of one of your own. For God’s sake, eating your own is disgusting.
CSS Is ACC Happy
January 11th, 2010
6:46 pm
H: The University of Alabama has had more National Merit Scholars than Georgia, year in and year out.
RTRnGA
January 11th, 2010
6:46 pm
i apologize. i’m not an expert on that. as well, i don’t care why. lol. i do know about alabama football. and since the utah debacle, bama is unrolled and natty champs. i appreciate utah for refocusing everyone on the task at hand. winning. HAHAHAHAHA
Otis
January 11th, 2010
6:48 pm
I wish Kirby Richt and Mark Smart all the best
CSS Is ACC Happy
January 11th, 2010
6:48 pm
Well at Least: You know, I like your name. Athens’ slogan: “Well, at least we’re not Auburn.”
Athens has zero, zilch, nada except UGA and some very fine strip clubs.
Bammer Boy
January 11th, 2010
6:49 pm
No explanation needed. He rejected UGA after all. An explanation would have been needed if he irrationally left a national championship program for UGA.
The Intertubes is the devil « The Hobnail Boot
January 11th, 2010
6:49 pm
[...] 11, 2010 · Leave a Comment So…. anyone hear any good rumors [...]
Bammer Boy
January 11th, 2010
6:49 pm
No explanation needed. He rejected UGA after all. An explanation would have been needed if Smart was dumb enough to leave a national championship program for UGA.
THE BOOGIE MAN IN HARTWELL, GA
January 11th, 2010
6:49 pm
HE AINT TO SMART IF HE DONT WANT TO COACH FOR UGA!!! HA HA HA HA AND ALL YOU NERDS AND INBREADS FROM TUSCALOOOSER ARE JUST JEALOUS. HA HA HA HA WAIT TIL NEXT YEAR WHEN THE JUNKYARD DAWGS WILL BE SMACKING YOUR SISSY MOUTHS!!! UGA WILL GET THE COACH THAT WE WANT. PERIOD!!! WE DON’T WANT NOBODY THAT DON’T WANT US. PERIOD!!! AND YOU LOOOOSERS FROM NORTH AVENUE TRADE SCHOOL DONT GOT ANY ROOM TO BE SAYING ANYTHING!!! {{{{{{30-24}}}}} HA HA HA HA HA HA AH HA!!! WHERES YOUR DC????? YEP, DON’T GOT ONE DO YA???? THOUGHT SO!!! HA HA HA HA
Romedawg34
January 11th, 2010
6:50 pm
THis should be our man..Better hurry though before Tuberville gets him,
Tim DeRuyter has 18 years of coaching experience, all at the NCAA Division I-A level, and has coached in nine bowl games. He has experience with both 4-3 and 3-4 defensive schemes and in pressure, attack-style philosophies. DeRuyter’s defenses have traditionally been ranked among the national leaders during his 18-year coaching career at three different I-A schools.
A three-year letterman for the Falcons, DeRuyter earned a bachelor’s degree in management and received an M.B.A. in market strategy from Regis University in Denver in 1992. As an outside linebacker, he helped the Falcons to three bowl game victories during his playing career.
Well At Least
January 11th, 2010
6:50 pm
RTR, here are the latest scores:
Atlanta Falcons 56
Birmingham Butts 3
Atlanta Hawks 88
Montgomery MoFos 41
Atlanta Braves 14
Dothan D-Bags 1
Atlanta Thrashers 6
Huntsville Hymens 0
TJ Vol
January 11th, 2010
6:50 pm
Willie M is still available…..
georgia
January 11th, 2010
6:51 pm
HIRE JOE GREENE!!! WHY NOT?? HE IS GOOD MAN!!!
RTRnGA
January 11th, 2010
6:52 pm
WAL – LOL////stretching, but funny
Man Enough
January 11th, 2010
6:52 pm
Bama fans……..remember just 2 yrs ago you’re program was in the tank! Now you dog us like we are not worthy? All teams will be up and down from time to time, so aside from the “Willie” debacle, we have been one of the power houses in college ball and will be “Man Enough” again soon, with or without Kirby.
I dont blame him for staying, he probably will be gone for a head coach job soon enough anyway so it might be for the better anyway. Good luck Kirby! The big dissapointment about him staying is about helping keep our recruits.
PTC Dawg
January 11th, 2010
6:52 pm
What about Derek Dooley?
Techie
January 11th, 2010
6:52 pm
Amazing, yesterday Kirby Smart was the second coming. He was going to lift UGA to hights never seen. Today, he is a traitor, scum of the earth, two timing bast_rd. Never again will his name be spoken at UGA. In just 24 hours KS has become the worst DC, overrated, Saban tool. I love it. Tech will have a DC before UGA…and we have only been looking for a week. Ofcourse UGA thinks the new Tech DC will be worthless…at least we have not be turned down thrice…HA HA HA
Alabama Jack
January 11th, 2010
6:53 pm
loyal georgia fans – that’s an oxymoron for sure
Techie
January 11th, 2010
6:54 pm
Don’t worry bama fans, the dawgies love to live in the past. They have no future so they live in the past. Sad as it is.
CSS Is ACC Happy
January 11th, 2010
6:54 pm
Braves: Old news. Back to their old ways.
Thrashers: Please. It’s hockey. It’s Canadian, eh?
Falcons: In 1966 — and this is 100% true — their very first kickoff in their very first game ever …. the kicker whiffed the ball. And, they still can’t compete with any consistency. But, they do draft dog killers.
Hawks: Who even cares?
Sid
January 11th, 2010
6:55 pm
wonder how much this reflects on Richt. He is so meek, timid how does he ever motivate anyone to do anything. Don’t want to say he is weak but I wonder.
chazzo
January 11th, 2010
6:56 pm
Screw paying some schmuck $700,000 plus to assistant coach a damn ball team. You can find someone just as good for less money.
AcworthDawg
January 11th, 2010
6:56 pm
How bout bringing Joe Kines out of retirement?
CSS Is ACC Happy
January 11th, 2010
6:57 pm
Man Enough ….. I’ve been here, earlier, trying to be polite and conciliatory. I think Smart wasn’t your best hire anyway (Grantham would be). But, nooooo. Uh-uh. Flames, insults and all kinds of allusions to rednecks, white trash, etc. (all the stuff that you’ve got in 147 counties that we have in only 67). So, you know what? Screw it.
ROLL TIDE ROLL
January 11th, 2010
6:57 pm
I guess he could smell the SEPTIC TANK from Tuscaloosa. SMART made the SMART move.
Crimson Crush
January 11th, 2010
6:57 pm
KS is coming home . It is a done deal !!!!!
GaGator
January 11th, 2010
6:57 pm
Kirby is going to pull an Urban Meyer, he’ll change his mind in the morning and
fly in to Athens regional, and all will be well in Bulldog nation.
Monster Jobs
January 11th, 2010
6:57 pm
Opening: UGA Bulldogs DC. Please apply to the preacher man. 2 year contract Maximum.
AcworthDawg
January 11th, 2010
6:58 pm
P.S. Techie….The past, present and future doesn’t look so hot for the North Avenue Trade School… What did CPJ do to run off all those players??? ((((((30-24))))))))
RTRnGA
January 11th, 2010
6:58 pm
Enter your comments here
WhatupDawg
January 11th, 2010
6:58 pm
Techie, I need to correct you. Four times. Koenning chose Illinois over UGA. Lets see: Koenning to Illinois; Foster stays at Va Tech; Chavis stays at LSU; Smart (is smart) stays at Alabama. Have they interviewed the janitor? My question to the Dawg nation: Richt says that he will get his man and who he wants. How is that so when the first four candidates turned you down? How is the fifth guy your man?
TJ Vol
January 11th, 2010
6:59 pm
Richt = Fulmer Jr……At least Fulmer won a NC! 2 years max and he is done…Mike Bobo v Monte II in Athens this time…it will be fun…
TJ Vol
January 11th, 2010
7:00 pm
45-19 and Kiff is just starting…
TJ Vol
January 11th, 2010
7:01 pm
As long as Kiffin doesn’t get fired for being an idiot we will win the East.
kt
January 11th, 2010
7:02 pm
Good. Roll Tide!
Maybe Kirby will come to UGA in a year or two after Richt is gone.
renegade#1
January 11th, 2010
7:02 pm
Kirby turned us down. So what he couldn’t bring Nick with him anyhow. Who said he was the best choice anyway, I’ve read a lot of interesting names so lets go after the best one and see if we can’t get turned down again. Looks like M R is going tho have to hire a Head coach so he can coach the defense.
mason
January 11th, 2010
7:03 pm
(( 30-24 ))
hahahahahahah!!
coachgb
January 11th, 2010
7:03 pm
I’ve been saying it for weeks now, we don’t really know how good Kirby Smart was going to be on his own, Saban has his thumb on everything in the Tide program. He might have been just what we needed or he might have had to learn on the job like Bobo has. What UGA needs is an experienced DC who is currently working with less talent somewhere. There are dozens out there who would jump to get to coach UGA’s talent level. Stop panicking.
Maybe?
January 11th, 2010
7:03 pm
How about Paul Pasqualoni for DC. He was just let go from the Dolphins.
WhatupDawg
January 11th, 2010
7:03 pm
Acworth Dawg, please dont show your ignorance. I would be willing to bet that three out of the four we lose go higher than Curan. They all made a very practical decision to leave. They would not have improved their status by staying their final year. When you think of something else to add, please let us know.
Hi Georgia Basher, I see You're Back!
January 11th, 2010
7:03 pm
you’ve been busy, postin’ under all your fake names….man, still unemployed eh? Listen, here’s what you do. Go apply for a job, start making money, instead of posting here 500 a day.
It could be worse Georgia fans……we could be Florida…at least we have a Head Coach!
Haaa haaa haaaa haaaa haaaa!
Hairy's Balls
January 11th, 2010
7:03 pm
Smart NEVER considered leaving Bama to coach at UGA. He simply did all of this to get a big a$$ raise – this should be a clear fact to Georgia Fans at this point. That’s was a “Smart” thing to do, even if a backstabbing one, but it will NEVER be forgiven by Bulldog Nation.
MtPleasantDawg 1822 Grad
January 11th, 2010
7:04 pm
Mark Richt rox the house baby!!
WhatupDawg
January 11th, 2010
7:04 pm
Tech is the best team in the nation. Our Defense is awesome!
WhatupDawg
January 11th, 2010
7:05 pm
Mason, I bet you’re gonna start talking about our mommas now. Come back when you have something constructive (like DC candidate number 5) to add. Dont hurt yourself too much with thinking..
DogGoneGaDawg
January 11th, 2010
7:05 pm
Nothing like burning the bridge behind you. Any future hope of becoming the next head coach at UGA just flew out the window. Just ask Steve Spurrier. After rejecting a structure which would have placed him in a pool of coaches to be considered to replace Ron Zook Spurrier would have none of it. Now he is stuck at South Carolina when all he needed to exhibit was a little humility. Now he faces constant humiliation. And for all you Bama naysayers, no one needs to remind you that Nick Saban is no Bear Bryant. He is a flash in the pan and will not be there over the long haul.
Hairy's Balls
January 11th, 2010
7:06 pm
@ coachgb:
Right on. People should seriously read your comments. GREAT POINT.
Sid
January 11th, 2010
7:06 pm
I do not have any hard feelings toward Smart. It’s a free country to do what you need to do. I am a UGA fan but reality is reality. I always say when we play UF or Bama one sideline has a coach who has and is capable of winning a NC and the other sideline does not. It is the truth.
Villa Ricca Dwgs
January 11th, 2010
7:07 pm
Who is the goon who keeps posting under all these fake names? Get a life. A real Georgia fan would never do any of that garbage.
WhatupDawg
January 11th, 2010
7:08 pm
LOL….now we are hijacking usernames. Tech knew well that the defense needed improvements. Coach Johnson was man enough to do it when it needed to be done. Did Richt? Again, I like the man, but he screwed the pooch (no pun intended) with this. I would not be surprised if he did years worth of damage to your program.