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
Troof
January 11th, 2010
9:31 pm
Well, I kinda reached my goal already, the guy in the athletic dept. in Tuscaloser gave me a couple of Saban’s tighty whiteys. God is good.
Troof
January 11th, 2010
9:31 pm
The Richt Regime is a sinking ship. 2 more years and he will be gone. Who will you hire then Dawgs? Do you also need a new AD to get the right man in there??
Troof
January 11th, 2010
9:32 pm
NC Dawg, that ‘NC’ must stand for North Carolina…it can’t mean National Championship!!
LOL!!!
Recruiting Alert !!!!
January 11th, 2010
9:33 pm
Highschool seniors and juniors, I would take note, if you have three top notch DC’s turning down UGA, what does this mean for you???.
UGA is not the team or college program it’s fans wish it was.
Much better program elsewhere. Very very obvious.
Troof
January 11th, 2010
9:33 pm
Why can Meyer hire his DC so quickly yet UGA gets rejected constantly?
Is it because UF is a premier program, like Bama, in a premier conference? I think so.
Troof
January 11th, 2010
9:35 pm
I only go to premier gay bars.
Cuz
January 11th, 2010
9:35 pm
And then, depression set in.
Recruiting Alert !!!!
January 11th, 2010
9:36 pm
HS grads … your future rests on your decision right now. NFL, spouse, kids, house city you live in … think about. HARD!
Troof
January 11th, 2010
9:37 pm
Will someone please take the DC job at UGA? This is embarassing the SEC. Hey, what about Rush Probst? He was on MTV a few years back. Had some good teams at Hoover High.
RTR!
Troof
January 11th, 2010
9:37 pm
Will someone please take the DC job at UGA? This is embarassing the SEC. Hey, what about Rush Probst? He was on MTV a few years back. Had some good teams at Hoover High.
Troof
January 11th, 2010
9:38 pm
sorry bout the double post, my hands were jerking
Recruiting Alert !!!!
January 11th, 2010
9:39 pm
UGA gets no respect …. bottomline is VT, LSU and Alabama … Florida and and GT has more. Look @ DC choices and the year end polls.
Troof
January 11th, 2010
9:39 pm
Why has UGA not won NCs with consistent top 7 recruiting classes? Bama has 2 top ranked recruiting classes and turns it into a NC. Is it because Richt can’t develop talent like Saban and Meyer and win NCs?
When is enough enough, Dawg fans? Why do you tolerate this?
Troof
January 11th, 2010
9:40 pm
Why has UGA not won NCs with consistent top 7 recruiting classes? Bama has 2 top ranked recruiting classes and turns it into a NC. Is it because Richt can’t develop talent like Saban and Meyer and win NCs?
When is enough enough, Dawg fans? Why do you tolerate this
Troof
January 11th, 2010
9:40 pm
How can a team end up unranked with this supposed talent in these top ranked recruiting classes? Is that all Willie’s fault??
Troof
January 11th, 2010
9:42 pm
Sorry, hands still slick.
Troof
January 11th, 2010
9:43 pm
Where are the Dawg fans to answer these questions? All they have is unoriginal derogatory comments about me? Does the truth hurt?
As Judge Smails said “Well…….we’re waiting!”
Recruiting Alert !!!!
January 11th, 2010
9:43 pm
“Running back U” is now “run em back” … retreat! What are we gonna do?????
Troof
January 11th, 2010
9:43 pm
How can a team end up unranked with this supposed talent in these top ranked recruiting classes? Is that all Willie’s fault?
BigDawg
January 11th, 2010
9:43 pm
“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.”
So what Smart is really saying here is “I would be way over in over my head at UGA and don’t want to embarrass myself or my alma mater since I am still a rookie coach learning from Saban.”
Troof
January 11th, 2010
9:44 pm
I must say I am very disappointed Dawg fans. I expected more.
I know you are disappointed but take heart…at least you are doing well against Tech..for now!
Recruiting Alert !!!!
January 11th, 2010
9:44 pm
HS and Juniors … run run run … away
Troof
January 11th, 2010
9:44 pm
Oops, I don’t know much bout that enter button.
Troof
January 11th, 2010
9:45 pm
Ok, mama’s got a boob open, gonna take a sip be back in a few.
Troof
January 11th, 2010
9:45 pm
No, Big Dawg I think what he is saying is “I can get a nice raise and still learn from the best head coach in the game today until the head coach position at UGA is open in 2 years.”
Recruiting Alert !!!!
January 11th, 2010
9:45 pm
BigDawg, what he is really saying is ‘my career means too much to put it on the line”. Great choice!
Toldyouso
January 11th, 2010
9:46 pm
Enter your comments here
Troof
January 11th, 2010
9:47 pm
Oh Nick, you’re the best head coach, I love you so much. I sit on another teams blog and profess my undying love and lust for you. Teach me how to tackle you brute. Oh my, I love you so much I want to give you a hickey.
MUTTS CANT PAY ANY1 ENUF $ 2 COACH THEM
January 11th, 2010
9:47 pm
THANK YOU KIRBY SMART FOR BEING SMART AND NOT COMING TO UGAY,THEY DONT DESERVE YOU,STAY AT ALABAMA WHERE YALL WIN NATIONAL TITLES LIKE GEORGIA TECH!
Troof
January 11th, 2010
9:48 pm
Toldyouso, no comment needed. Your name says it all.
Troof
January 11th, 2010
9:49 pm
Told you I could swallow it.
coach smith
January 11th, 2010
9:50 pm
offer VanGorder a million dollars a year to come back!
Troof
January 11th, 2010
9:50 pm
Recruit, ask yourself this.
Wouldn’t it be smarter to come play ball for a coach who has 1)2 NCs under his belt and 2)his own statue in front of the stadium?
Hence why Bama will continue to pull top ranked recruiting classes and play for national titles.
MUTTS CANT PAY ANY1 ENUF $ 2 COACH THEM
January 11th, 2010
9:50 pm
EVERYBODY LAUGH AT THE REDNECK UGAY HILLBILLY FANS! I WOULDNT WANT TO COACH THESE OVERATED BUNCH OF LOSERS AT UGAY!
Troof
January 11th, 2010
9:51 pm
Since BVG left has UGA done anything? So what that tells me is the key to UGA’s success wasn’t Richt but BVG….so fire CMR and hire BVG back as HC! Problem solved!
Troof
January 11th, 2010
9:52 pm
Maybe they’ll make a statue of me, on my knees, in front of the Lord Saban slobbing his knob. Lord knows I’m there often enough.
Troof
January 11th, 2010
9:52 pm
If someone can give me a legit reason why UGA would be a smarter move for Kirby than I will leave.
It needs to be a legit one. Dig deep Dawg fans.
GetReal
January 11th, 2010
9:53 pm
If anyone thinks a Head Coach with a 90-27 record, where 11 of the losses were in his first and last year is going to be fired, you are crazy. (That’s an average of 10-3 per year btw) 7-2 bowl record as well, with 8 wins in 9 games against the boys over in Atlanta. He will get a good DC, and UGA will be fine. He has 2 SEC Championships, along with 3 BCS bowls, and a #2 and a #3 ranking, along with 5 top 10’s. Wishfull thinking for other SEC teams and the boys in Atlanta that he would leave. Remember 2 years ago, Saban was 6-6 and in the Independence Bowl and last year got his ass handed to him in the SEC Championship and Sugar Bowl against who? UTAH. UGA will be back, don’t worry.
Troof
January 11th, 2010
9:54 pm
You’re right Get Real, I’m a dumbass. I’m sorry to all dawg fans.
GetReal
January 11th, 2010
9:55 pm
BTW, I don’t blame Kirby for staying with Daddy Saban. Just like Ray Goff said last week, if you come back to your alma matter and don’t win, then you get fired and have no home. Good advice, stay out of Athens. Dooley didn’t go back to Auburn so why should Smart.
MUTTS CANT PAY ANY1 ENUF $ 2 COACH THEM
January 11th, 2010
9:55 pm
UGAY WANTS SISSY CHRISTIAN BOYS TO PLAY FOR THEM AND THATS WHY THEY DONT HAVE ANY NATIONAL TITLES SINCE MARK RICHT BEEN AT UGAY,NICE GUYS ALWAYS FINISH LAST! MARK RICHT 10 YEARS AT UGAY NO NATIONAL TITLES,NICK SABAN AND URBAN MEYER HAS 2 NATIONAL TITLES IN THE SEC!
GetReal
January 11th, 2010
9:56 pm
Troof, you said it, not me.
CHUMPS
January 11th, 2010
9:56 pm
well look here dogpoops, don’t get mad, get even…you can always drive to Hooterville aka U of A and throw a brick thru a window in protest..isn’t that the Bama way?
GetReal
January 11th, 2010
9:57 pm
Yeah and Meyers inherited Tebow.
Kirby: Coach in Waiting
January 11th, 2010
9:57 pm
Kirby’s holding out for the head coaching job when richt gets moved out in a year or two. It’s a matter of time–his tricks and stunts have run out. Black jerseys, black helmets, endzone celebrations, …. nothing has worked. Florida and Alabama will dominate the conference for years. Richt should consider the miami job when shannon gets fired in 2 years—coaching at his alma mater would be a good way to finish it out.
Troof
January 11th, 2010
9:57 pm
OK, but how many crystal footballs does Richt have? ZERO.
Saban? 2
Advantage Saban. He’s proven he can win the big one unlike Coach PermaTan.
Got to do better than that!
Brian
January 11th, 2010
9:57 pm
Mutt fans are delusional. Why would you think UGA is anything more than a second tier program at best? Haha You were rejected by an alum.
Troof
January 11th, 2010
9:59 pm
Crystal footballs are my code for what is in Saban’s sac.
Troof
January 11th, 2010
9:59 pm
GetReal, seems he won a national title in 2006 with Tebow playing only slightly.
And he didn’t inherit Tebow. He inherited Leak.
Sad Dawg fans. Don’t even know about the rival that owns them.
RTR! 29 years and counting!
MUTTS CANT PAY ANY1 ENUF $ 2 COACH THEM
January 11th, 2010
9:59 pm
REDNECK UGAY FANS PLEASE SHUT-UP UNTIL YOU ALL WIN SOMETHING! YOU GUYS ARE LIKE THE NEW YORK METS FANS,BRAGGING ABOUT YOUR TEAM WHEN IT HAS NOT WON ANYTHING!