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
GetReal
January 11th, 2010
10:00 pm
Saban will run to another school or NFL if the money is right. Don’t forget Les Miles won a NC as well. For the comment of perma tan, I guess you are speaking of Saban, right. I heard he calls all his coaches his bitches.
Troof
January 11th, 2010
10:00 pm
Saban does have 2 of them now so he could actually. LOL!!
Does that mean Richt is nutless! LOL!!
RTR!
coach smith
January 11th, 2010
10:01 pm
After reading this blog it is obvious that DAWG fans, Tech fans, Gator fans, Bama fans, and Vol fans have one thing in common…..THEY ARE ALL OBSESSED WITH THE GEORGIA BULLDOGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Troof
January 11th, 2010
10:01 pm
No, Saban isn’t going anywhere, much to your dismay. Miles inherited a program that was rebuilt by Saban.
Since Richt has 0 NCs does that mean The Hatter is a better coach than Richt! LOL!!
MUTTS CANT PAY ANY1 ENUF $ 2 COACH THEM
January 11th, 2010
10:02 pm
WHAT DO LES MILES,NICK SABAN AND URBAN MEYER HAVE THAT MARK RICHT DOES’NT? NATIONAL TITLES! MUTT FANS PUT-UP OR SHUT-UP!
Stinger
January 11th, 2010
10:03 pm
This year it was Martinez’s fault. Next year it will be BOO BOO’s.
Troof
January 11th, 2010
10:03 pm
No, coach smith, we are obsessed with making the SEC the best conference it can be. UGA needs to get their act together and hold up their end.
4 SEC NCs in a row but none from UGA! RTR!
GetReal
January 11th, 2010
10:03 pm
Oh yeah, Meyers won the NC with the players that Zook recruited, that’s right. Oh, and who will be the head coach at Florida next year? Oh yeah I forgot, Meyers quit for his family. Oh wait, he decided his ego outweighs his health and family and is back. No wait, he is on a leave of absence. Oh wait, what is next.
Troof
January 11th, 2010
10:03 pm
If next year is Bobo’s fault, does that mean 2 years from now is Richt’s fault? YEP!
BigDawg
January 11th, 2010
10:04 pm
Ok, let’s give David Pollack a chance as DC and bring in Bill Goldberg as tackling instructor! Find Terry Hoage and bring him in to coach the DBs.
Recruiting Alert !!!!
January 11th, 2010
10:04 pm
Hey Get Real … get real dude, that’s an exceuse and BS. It’s all about confidence and competence. Reals athletes know the attitude and fire it takes to be successful.
Sorry dude, but if they are smart … they will take their talents elsewhere where it’s best shown.
NOT UGA
Troof
January 11th, 2010
10:05 pm
How sad is it for UGA that UF can pull 3 5 star recruits while on leave of absence?
Saban vs. Meyer = CLASH OF THE TITANS!
Get used to it SEC!
Troof
January 11th, 2010
10:05 pm
I am the ultimate loser. Nobody will pay me any attention so here I sit all naked and all in front of the computer trying to rile you GA boys while I masturbate. I have no friends, well none that like me for anything more than my lips. Now I have some lips that will send you into orbit. I promise.
GetReal
January 11th, 2010
10:05 pm
Recruiting alert, worry about your sissy team in the flats.
Dr Jung
January 11th, 2010
10:06 pm
UGA fans’ current emotions
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGNOfRzDysw&feature=related
BAMA
January 11th, 2010
10:06 pm
UGAy hire Rush Limbaugh, hire Womack, hire Chan, hire Pollack, Pollick, oh what-ever hire somebody you’re progam is embarrassing the SEC.
GetReal
January 11th, 2010
10:06 pm
Troof, If Meyers and Saban collided, one would pass out, the other afraid to get their hair messed up
Troof
January 11th, 2010
10:06 pm
Players go to UGA to learn to dance. They come to Bama and Florida to win NCs. FACT!
Troof
January 11th, 2010
10:07 pm
Saban’s hair is like Samson’s. That and Little Debbies are the source of his power!
GetReal
January 11th, 2010
10:08 pm
A lot of talk about Bama, who if they are the big time team that they are supposed to be, would have won a NC in less than 17 years.
Recruiting Alert !!!!
January 11th, 2010
10:08 pm
BigDawg, yeah … let’s see if Pollack, Goldberg or Hoage step up. They’d run too. Who in the world wants to step in to that and put careers on line? These guys played for UGA, but they are still smarter than that.
Michael Stipe
January 11th, 2010
10:08 pm
Some residents of Athens discussing the current DC situation
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eyFiClAzq8
GetReal
January 11th, 2010
10:08 pm
Bama has wanted to dig up the Bear for so many years, they cannot stand it.
Troof
January 11th, 2010
10:09 pm
I like to drain his power when he is full.
Stinger
January 11th, 2010
10:09 pm
I told you bunch of pathetic losers that no one wanted your DC job. Kirby wasn’t as dumb as I thought.Seriously, I’ll bet you could get Bill Lewis or Chan Gailey. Chan may not be much of a defensive coach, but neither was Willie. At least it will give you an excuse for losing next year.
Troof
January 11th, 2010
10:09 pm
GetReal, last time I checked 17 < 29 and counting!
RTR!
Troof
January 11th, 2010
10:11 pm
17 2 NCs
So if Bama isn’t big time what is UGA? 1-AA??
Hairy Dawg
January 11th, 2010
10:12 pm
Florida filled thier DC position because they hired a nobody and it will ultimately come back to haunt them starting next season. In fact if you look at their recent hires all were filled by coaches that no one has ever heard of. Do you know why? Urban wants it that way. He wants to be the center of attention. He wants to take credit for everyone elses hard work..thats why all his previous hires bailed out so fast after Tebow graduated…they can’t take his pompous attitude any longer. As far as Saban is concerned…..he’s a major control freak. Just look at how the media found out about Smart’s decision today. He controlled the entire process. I personnally like Kirby Smart…but I have lost a great deal of respect for him. He will always be Sabans puppet, letting Saban take credit for his hard work. Oh yeh..he’ll eventually get a head coaching job somewhere…but it won’t be in the SEC..Saban won’t let that happen. What Smart has failed to realize is he had a chance to be a hero… A person that all dawg fans could point to with pride. Instead he will always be looked upon as the former player who stiffed his alma mater when they reached out to him. Thats someting he will carry to his grave. When he visits the state people will always whisper behind his back..he’s a turn coat.Fans are extermely disappointed right now..and thats to be expected. But Georgia will rise above this and once again soon be back on top in the SEC. Hang in there Dawg Fans we were once where Alabama and Florida are now. Tebows gone and Floridas days on top are coming to an end. Expect Bama to stay on top for about 2-3 years and then just like before they will come crashing down and won’t be heard from again for ten or more years.I’m betting their overzelous fans will once again put them back on NCAA probation. CMR will get a good DC…the best days are yet to come for Georgia football.
Troof
January 11th, 2010
10:12 pm
Sorry, I meant 8 NCs > 2 NCs
Run Em Back University
January 11th, 2010
10:12 pm
Thinking about going to UGAy? Run, run, run …. Run away.
Where's David
January 11th, 2010
10:13 pm
Where’s David pollock this evening. Haven’t heard much from David Pillard or his know all tweeter. Hey David pollbreath where you DUD!!!
Hairy Dawg
January 11th, 2010
10:13 pm
Kirby Smart aint to smart to stay in Tusc. That is a hole if there is ever beens. Hes is a doofussis for thinking Bama is better than Dawgs. When Dawg Nation calls hes got to be coming home and not hanging around and led by nose for Nicki Satan. Richt is Christain and won more SECs in last years than Bammmer and Athens is better living especialy with tailgating. Tusc is like a land filling hole where garbages put to store before rots. Tide stinks and Dawgs is the real thing of SEC power for domatring. Cant wait to play them stinky Tides to pays back them in turn for losses in Athens. Smart could have been winning but instead hanging with the sorry Satan until probation investigates the Bammers.
Troof
January 11th, 2010
10:14 pm
Wow, Hairy Dawg, that’s pretty soap opera-ish. People whispering behind his back? LOL!!!
UGA has never been where Bama is. Last time I checked Bama has 8 NCs, 22 SEC titles. UGA’s not even close. Even with Herschel and his multiple personalties.
HE RUNS WHERE
January 11th, 2010
10:14 pm
Who’s running GA, oh I mean from GA,,,oh my it’s SMART,,,,Kirby Smart running away from a second rate program back to the National Championship team in Tuscaloosa!!!
Run Em Back University
January 11th, 2010
10:15 pm
hairy dog, nobody’s gonna read your book and non sense? Did if feel good to type? Hope so, cause it’s a dream you should go to bed tonight with … you and your monkey
Can You Dig It
January 11th, 2010
10:16 pm
Hey Stinger…Whats Tech’s excuse for losing to a below average Georgia team with thier defense being coached by grad assistants?Don’t you know Georgia Runs This State..always have …always will. It doesn’t matter who’s caoching them. Can You Dig It ?
Troof
January 11th, 2010
10:16 pm
Actually Hairy, judging by the mess you people make when tailgating I would say Athens is the literal dump. Haven’t you guys ever used trash cans? LOL!!
Last time I checked I believe Smart is getting fitted for his NC ring. Yeah, it stinks to not be winning in T-town. LOL!!
Jealousy does not become you!
Kyle
January 11th, 2010
10:21 pm
I don’t know much about Kirby except he isn’t one to live up to his last name. Something bad will happen to him in the long run.
Recruiting Alert !!!!
January 11th, 2010
10:21 pm
Sorry recruits … but rebuilding begins after you get the coaching staff. Wanna be recruited by the coach that ain’t there no more? Never fun to be a cub from another. The cubs that come in with new coaching are the ones that get the bone. That ain’t happening for a while.
Recruiting Alert !!!!
January 11th, 2010
10:23 pm
Kyle, who has the ring now and the fat salary? Sounds SMART to me. Wouldn’t happen @ UGA.
Troof
January 11th, 2010
10:24 pm
No Kyle, he’s pretty smart to continue to learn with the best coach in the game. 2 NCs speak pretty loudly to that fact.
Tech Buzz
January 11th, 2010
10:27 pm
Kirby wants to win titles and play in bcs bowls, not finish 4th in the SEC east and play in low rent bowls in shreveport. Enough said—Kirby’s never leaving bama Ga–you should call willie and beg him to come back with a big raise.
Recruiting Alert !!!!
January 11th, 2010
10:29 pm
Calling HS seniors … playing for UGA is a horrble career decision. Look what DC’s are doing. Your future car, home, job (NFL?), wife, kids, momma … all depend on your decision. Don’t waste it!
hind tit
January 11th, 2010
10:31 pm
it’s all about money. dont count on the guy from dallas. to much money in texas to compete with. jones, train load of money coming in everyday from tv networks.new 100,000 seat stadium with ticket prices out the roof. ask usc and lsu. if lsu could compete saban would have stayed, so would the guy from usc.that’s why bvg left. it’s all about money. it’s like a pacman game,eatin one another up. get an up and coming coach that’s got some piss’n vinegar about him and let’s move on. i’m sick of all this greed.
Hairy Dawg
January 11th, 2010
10:31 pm
Hey Tech Buzz…You still our bitch? 30-24. Tech was NEVER in the game. How about that bowl game? Did you get the number of that truck from IOWA that ran over your ACC champs….Tech will always come in second in the state of Georgia…ALWAYS>
Troof
January 11th, 2010
10:35 pm
Saban was making more at Miami but came back to Bama. So it’s not all about the money, huh? He is more comfortable coaching in college which is why he won’t leave until he retires.
Recruiting Alert !!!!
January 11th, 2010
10:35 pm
Ever hear the chant “ain’t it great to be a Ga Bulldog”?
Maybe over a beer when it’s time to be careless and trash someone’s place.
Not when you care about being respected as a player, in the national polls, on ESPN highlights, etc.
CAC
January 11th, 2010
10:36 pm
Obviously Kirby is not his own man, he’s Saban’s boy
Troof
January 11th, 2010
10:38 pm
No, CAC, he just sees the troof: there’s more to gain from staying at Bama than going to UGA.
Don’t shy away from it. The troof will set you free!
Recruiting Alert !!!!
January 11th, 2010
10:38 pm
Hairy dog … looks like those Jackets finished stronger (I’m a Fla fan). Where was UGA in the polls? Sorry dude, but UGAyers got lucky. You loose 4 our of 5. Polls reward consistency … real mark of champs.