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
BigMike Said...
January 12th, 2010
12:32 pm
Scooter and Troof, Are ya’ll like a gay tag team couple? Neither one of you ever played ball, but yet you know so much(in your minds) about nothing. Stop being to “Football Homo’s” on UGA’s web sight and go to Bama where you can still toot somebody’s horn. Sisssssssssssssssy’s
Bdawg
January 12th, 2010
12:35 pm
UGA will win 9 to 10 games next year and contend for the East. The schedule is easier and they return too much on the offensive side of the ball and enough on the defensive side for the new DC (whomever he may be) to work with. Not to mention we have the best kicking tandem in the entire nation. Losing Joe Cox is about like losing Willie, ANYBODY will be an improvement. Aaron Murray and Zach Mettenberger both were highly touted QBs and if they live up to just half there hype, they will be a massive improvement.
BigMike Said...
January 12th, 2010
12:38 pm
Red Tornado, Get Comfortable with Alabama being #1 and watch Les Miles #1 recruiting class grow up. It ain’t gonna be a cake walk this year, and S.C., are you freaking kidding me?
jack bull
January 12th, 2010
12:39 pm
first my fellow dawg alums, don’t let the Alabammer folks get you upset. i can assure you, we have never, and i mean never, had a coach leave us to go coach Texas A&M. i’m not really sure a coach has left to go coach anywhere else, actually. it’s all going to be okay. Kirby would’ve been a good hire, BUT, he’s not the ONLY good hire!!!! as far as him “stringing us along”, well, i don’t think he, or Foster or Chavis, did that. haven’t we all been there?? been offered something which sounds better, had to weigh our options, and make a decision. well, only he will know if it were the right one. good luck Kirby, i hope it works out for ya…GO DAWGS!!! bring on Travis Jones as DC!!!!!
BigMike Said...
January 12th, 2010
12:41 pm
Nick will be at Bama one more year, He can’t stay put. He’s proven himself! Who’s got next is Saban’s motto!
eriecliper
January 12th, 2010
12:43 pm
Discouraged UGA Fans read below. Quality programs are consistant. Being the 11th winningest tean in colllege football is not 2nd tier. Yes..The Tide and Tennessee are slightly ahead, but only slightly. Our program is a great program. All of this negitivism is not warrented or useful.
The following data is current as of the end of the 2008 season, which ended after the 2009 BCS National Championship Game.
[edit] By school
Team Won Lost Tied Pct. Years Total Games Conference
Michigan 877 295 36 .740 128 1203 Big Ten
Texas 845 314 33 .723 115 1192 Big 12
Notre Dame 837 284 42 .736 119 1157 Independent
Nebraska 827 337 40 .703 118 1201 Big 12
Ohio State 798 307 52 .714 118 1166 Big Ten
Penn State 800 349 42 .689 122 1191 Big Ten
Oklahoma 789 299 53 .715 113 1141 Big 12
Tennessee 783 332 55 .693 111 1170 SEC
Alabama 799 316 43 .703 113 1137 SEC
Southern California 766 303 54 .706 115 1123 Pac 10
Georgia 723 384 54 .646 113 1161 SEC
LSU 700 383 47 .640 113 1130 SEC
Auburn 681 395 47 .627 114 1123 SEC
Syracuse 674 471 49 .585 117 1194 Big East
West Virginia 673 446 45 .598 114 1164 Big East
Georgia Tech 661 443 42 .595 113 1146 ACC
Texas A&M 660 432 48 .600 112 1140 Big 12
Colorado 658 431 36 .601 117 1125 Big 12
Virginia Tech 658 425 46 .603 113 1129 ACC
Arkansas 653 440 39 .594 113 1132 SEC
Pittsburgh 652 474 42 .576 117 1168 Big East
Washington 652 397 50 .616 117 1099 Pac 10
Miami (OH) 649 379 44 .626 118 1072 MAC
Florida 641 372 40 .628 100 1053 SEC
North Carolina 639 483 54 .566 116 1176 ACC
Army 637 449 51 .583 117 1137 Independent
Minnesota 633 455 41 .579 122 1129 Big Ten
Clemson 632 432 45 .590 111 1109 ACC
Navy 632 515 58 .549 126 1205 Independent
California 618 469 51 .565 111 1138 Pac 10
Boston College 616 424 37 .589 109 1077 ACC
Michigan State 611 418 44 .590 110 1073 Big Ten
Virginia 611 533 48 .533 117 1192 ACC
Mississippi 606 461 35 .566 112 1102 SEC
Missouri 604 507 52 .542 116 1163 Big 12
Wisconsin 603 462 53 .563 118 1118 Big Ten
Maryland 599 522 42 .533 114 1163 ACC
Rutgers 597 588 42 .504 137 1227 Big East
Utah 597 417 31 .586 113 1045 Mountain West
Purdue 570 487 49 .538 119 1106 Big Ten
Iowa 568 509 39 .526 118 1116 Big Ten
Kansas 565 541 58 .510 117 1164 Big 12
Illinois 562 514 50 .521 117 1126 Big Ten
Kentucky 560 552 44 .503 116 1156 SEC
Texas Christian 560 505 56 .525 110 1121 Mountain West
Oregon 559 462 47 .545 111 1068 Pac 10
Central Michigan 557 350 34 .610 106 941 MAC
Vanderbilt 555 545 50 .504 117 1150 SEC
Stanford 554 431 49 .559 101 1034 Pac 10
Tulsa 549 424 27 .563 102 1000 Conference USA
Arizona 544 404 33 .571 102 981 Pac 10
Miami (FL) 544 310 19 .634 80 873 ACC
Arizona State 541 334 25 .615 92 900 Pac 10
Fresno State 539 360 29 .596 85 928 WAC
Cincinnati 530 541 50 .495 116 1121 Big East
UCLA 530 367 37 .587 88 934 Pac 10
North Carolina State 528 519 55 .504 115 1102 ACC
South Carolina 528 525 44 .501 112 1097 SEC
Baylor 524 514 43 .505 105 1081 Big 12
Southern Miss 524 354 25 .594 90 903 Conference USA
Hawaii 507 382 26 .568 91 915 WAC
Western Michigan 506 392 24 .562 102 922 MAC
Oklahoma State 500 514 48 .493 107 1062 Big 12
Louisiana Tech 496 362 34 .575 95 892 WAC
Brigham Young 494 372 26 .568 82 892 Mountain West
Washington State 491 485 45 .503 110 1021 Pac 10
Ohio 488 511 48 .489 111 1047 MAC
Oregon State 488 524 50 .483 110 1062 Pac 10
Mississippi State 485 526 39 .480 107 1050 SEC
Bowling Green 483 322 52 .594 88 857 MAC
Akron 482 465 36 .509 106 983 MAC
Iowa State 482 574 45 .458 115 1101 Big 12
Tulane 481 566 38 .461 113 1085 Conference USA
Wyoming 479 502 28 .489 110 1009 Mountain West
Utah State 470 478 30 .496 109 978 WAC
Louisiana-Lafayette 469 491 30 .489 99 990 Sun Belt
Colorado State 467 509 33 .479 109 1009 Mountain West
Toledo 461 383 24 .545 86 868 MAC
Northern Illinois 460 430 38 .516 105 928 MAC
Florida State 459 221 17 .671 60 697 ACC
Texas Tech 459 431 32 .515 82 922 Big 12
Kansas State 453 598 41 .434 111 1092 Big 12
New Mexico 453 508 31 .472 108 992 Mountain West
Northwestern 453 617 42 .426 118 1112 Big Ten
Duke 447 457 31 .495 94 935 ACC
Southern Methodist 445 470 54 .487 90 969 Conference USA
San Jose State 442 426 37 .509 88 905 WAC
Indiana 440 602 44 .425 119 1086 Big Ten
Louisville 437 418 17 .511 88 872 Big East
Rice 429 535 32 .447 95 996 Conference USA
Memphis 428 449 32 .488 91 909 Conference USA
Eastern Michigan 427 506 47 .460 115 980 MAC
New Mexico State 417 546 32 .435 111 995 WAC
Wake Forest 404 586 33 .411 105 1023 ACC
Ball State 400 355 32 .529 82 787 MAC
Temple 399 529 52 .434 108 980 MAC
North Texas 397 345 31 .534 77 773 Sun Belt
East Carolina 377 352 12 .517 71 741 Conference USA
Marshall 376 419 43 .474 88 838 Conference USA
Houston 358 318 15 .529 61 691 Conference USA
Nevada 358 373 30 .490 83 761 WAC
Texas-El Paso 354 512 29 .412 89 895 Conference USA
Arkansas State 330 355 33 .483 78 718 Sun Belt
Air Force 321 268 13 .544 51 602 Mountain West
Kent State 301 485 28 .387 84 814 MAC
Idaho 291 456 26 .393 91 773 WAC
Louisiana-Monroe 240 338 19 .418 60 597 Sun Belt
San Diego State 240 213 8 .529 38 461 Mountain West
Boise State 206 68 2 .750 21 276 WAC
UNLV 202 255 4 .443 39 461 Mountain West
Central Florida 72 80 0 .474 21 152 Conference USA
Buffalo 71 129 4 .358 17 204 MAC
UAB 63 86 0 .423 11 149 Conference USA
South florida 60 35 0 .632 6 95 Big East
Connecticut 54 53 0 .505 7 107 Big East
Troy 52 44 0 .542 6 96 Sun Belt
Middle Tennessee State 51 64 0 .443 8 115 Sun Belt
Florida Atlantic 31 30 0 .508 3 61 Sun Belt
Florida International 14 42 0 .250 3 56 Sun Belt
#1999 record was vacated by action of the NCAA Committee on Infractions
[edit] By conference
Elmo Lewis
January 12th, 2010
12:46 pm
Wouldn’t it make sense to have a list of potential replacements ready at all times (for all positions and contingencies)?
Can’t believe this is being handled so poorly – other than quietly.
eriecliper
January 12th, 2010
12:47 pm
Opps..Forgot..Did anyone else notice that the Gaors are #24?
Wreckmaniac
January 12th, 2010
12:47 pm
No pressure at all at UGA. If the annointed new QB dosen’t throw for 12 TDs in his first three games, he’d better move out of the state during the night in a Brinks truck. But thats what you have to do when you have no defense. I can’t help but wonder why all of this “demanding” hasn’t resulted in any nat champs ? Humm. Is there something to be learned here ? NAAAH
eriecliper
January 12th, 2010
12:47 pm
Enter your comments here
bulldawgbill
January 12th, 2010
12:51 pm
Big mistake, Kirby. You just told the world that you don’t have the self-confidence to take over the defense at UGA and make it a top ranked D. If you feel you still need Saban’s guidance, you aren’t the man for UGA. Who would think you are the man for a head coach position when you don’t have the guts to go back to your alma mater as a DC?
Enjoy your raise, you probably won’t get another one.
Bdawg
January 12th, 2010
12:51 pm
Wreckmaniac,
Our new QB won’t have to throw for 12tds through the first three games. The focus will be on running the ball. Why don’t you worry about getting Nesbitt to throw 12tds in an entire season before you criticize UGA’s QB play.
Wreckmaniac
January 12th, 2010
12:54 pm
If my team is lousy but I think its # 1, then thats all that matters. Right ? Thats all thats going on here. These people win the national championship in their minds every year and that’s really all that matters. Its okay to be delusional except in business and with family.
Boots
January 12th, 2010
12:57 pm
Anybody with any sense realizes that Richt has one foot out the door and one foot on a banana peel, so why should a quality defensive coordinator give up a good position to make a lateral move to UGA?
Bdawg
January 12th, 2010
1:01 pm
Tell me how Richt has one foot out the door. Seriously there maybe some in the ignorant lunatic fringe that say Richt is on the hot seat, but I think he’s done a stellar job. One bad year doesn’t make you a poor coach. He’s avg. 10 wins a season. Do you know how many guys can say that? You can count them on one hand! The guy is making the changes that are necessary to continue to field a quality product. In the end it will all work out.
Dawg'94
January 12th, 2010
1:02 pm
If Grantham turned down UGA, would Jones say it in a press conference? NO! Kirby is Nick’s “Baby Boy”. I question how much Kirby does at Bama. Saban gets all the credit. GET GRANTHAM!!!!!!!!!!!! 30-24
Troof
January 12th, 2010
1:06 pm
BigMike and dap01 sound like a typical Dawg homers. How can you call a coach successful when he has 0 NCs?
Shula and Richt have the same number of NCs? So is Shula successful too or does that make Richt equal to Shula? LOL!!
29 years and counting Dawgs! Richt is the reason UGA VII died! He was heartbroken over the sad state of his program!
Troof
January 12th, 2010
1:09 pm
Bdawg, how many NCs has Richt won? ZERO! How much longer will you Dawg fans stand for it? 10 more years? 20 more years?
No one is afraid to play UGA anymore. Who fears Richt as a coach?
Can’t say the same for Saban and Meyer. All the SEC will tremble when they see Bama and UF on their schedules!
Man up Dawg fans and get a HC who can compete with these legends or get used to being on the level of Vandy!
Bdawg
January 12th, 2010
1:09 pm
It’s amazing how a title at the end of a decade can make you forget all the mediocrity throughout the rest of the decade.
Bdawg
January 12th, 2010
1:13 pm
90 wins, 2 SEC titles, 7-2 Bowl record, and we’re on the same level as Vandy? Wow, I did not know that. We better hire someone quick who can contend with mighty Florida and Alabama. We’re never gonna win again with all the back to back championships those two rack up.
Troof, you are truly a moron.
Troof
January 12th, 2010
1:13 pm
All that matters are the crystal footballs.
Mediocrity throughout a decade is acceptable when the winning starts again. It isn’t ending any time soon.
How do Dawg fans account for mediocrity throughout their entire program’s history?
8 NCs is the definition of premier.
2 NCs is much closer to mediocre.
29 years and counting Dawg fans!
Troof
January 12th, 2010
1:16 pm
And Bdawg, you are a blind homer.
Come into the light and see the troof. UGA will never compete with the UFs and Bamas of the SEC.
Kirby is Smart
January 12th, 2010
1:17 pm
Maybe it would help if you crowned a new UGA and got rid of Russ.
Karma’s a bitch
Troof
January 12th, 2010
1:21 pm
Kirby, I heard from a friend of Sonny Seiler’s that 3 of his dogs have already turned down the position. They ended up getting more kibble as mascots for other college and high school teams named Bulldogs.
29 years and counting Dawg fans!
TECH
January 12th, 2010
1:24 pm
Sorry pups, maybe you can get Marion Cambell
Kirby is Smart
January 12th, 2010
1:25 pm
Troof,
If it weren’t for Herschel, 1980 would have never occured.
And another thing–The Vols have nowhere to go but up.
Bdawg
January 12th, 2010
1:26 pm
First of all Florida has alot of problems. There losing 7 to 8 players off of their D due to early departures and graduation, not to mention the 5 or 6 they’re losing on O that include Tebow and Hernandez. Couple that with the fact that their D Coordinator is gone and their Head Coach has physical problems and probably won’t even coach in 2010. That’s too much to overcome to contend for any kind of title next season. As for Bama, LSU is going to be much improved and they have just as much talent as you guys and Auburn is improving and they took you to the wire last season. If you think you’re gonna just run the table easily every year, then ‘YOU’ are a blind homer. Wake up a smell reality. Noone wins every game every year. Especially not in the SEC!
a
January 12th, 2010
1:27 pm
troof, get a job. get a life. go to school. something. it’s pathetic how much you’re sitting here updating this page and caring about this.
georgia will get a good coach. they will win 9 games next year. they will not win the sec. end of story. let’s all go be productive now.
Troof
January 12th, 2010
1:27 pm
Kirby, it wasn’t just Herschel. Don’t forget his multiple personalities!
TECH
January 12th, 2010
1:28 pm
Enter your comments here
GADAWG47
January 12th, 2010
1:29 pm
That hurts. We needed him.
Troof
January 12th, 2010
1:30 pm
Bdawg, you seem to forget one thing about LSU. They have Lester as their HC. No worries there.
Please show me where I have said Bama would win EVERY game. We’ll still be in Atlanta next year.
Urban will coach in 2010 but his season will end early after visiting T-town. Saban isn’t finished with him and this time he doesn’t have TT to protect him!
a, you are right. UGA will eventually find a coach. Good remains to be seen.
29 years and counting Dawg fans!
Troof
January 12th, 2010
1:31 pm
GADawg, agreed. But look on the bright side. In 2011 when you need a new HC Kirby can come to Athens then!
Justin Credible
January 12th, 2010
1:37 pm
Did I just read that UGAg will win 10 games next year??? You people really have a drinking problem.
jack bull
January 12th, 2010
1:40 pm
bdawg, you can’t argue with some. i wouldn’t waste my time, but it’s folks like him that make us look really bad.
and exactly how are they handling this poorly??? just because you have zero patience you think they’re handling this bad? me, i think it’s being handled perfectly, take your time, hire the right guy!! don’t pull the trigger too fast just to fill the spot…that’s exactly how i’d handle it.. but, what do i know, huh?
Troof
January 12th, 2010
1:41 pm
They have to win 10 to keep Richt at his average.
Of course, not winning a NC keeps him at his average of 0 NCs for his career too!
LOL!!
Troof
January 12th, 2010
1:42 pm
Being rejected multiple times is handling it perfectly??
Well,then, great job CMR! Keep up the good work!
What? ZERO NCs is ok? Well, then keep that up to CMR!
jack bull
January 12th, 2010
1:44 pm
troof is right, UA will be in Atlanta next year,,,,, watching the cows falling out of the sky!!!
jack bull
January 12th, 2010
1:46 pm
some people can’t handle being rejected….but the strong can…. how do you like waffle fries???
WhatUpDawg
January 12th, 2010
1:47 pm
Has the next candidate been announced, annointed, and rejected yet? Had to take a lunch and stepped away.
Troof
January 12th, 2010
1:52 pm
UGA = strong??? Since when?
Hey, maybe you guys can go with the black jerseys sometime next year? I think that was the problem this past year, not Willie!
29 years and counting Dawg fans!
ifeelyourpain
January 12th, 2010
2:09 pm
troof……
be careful….
we were pushed by auburn…and were plain lucky to not lose to tenn….
being champs again is new for us……
let’s do it with more class….
i recall bama was rejected several times before we got saban….
GHOST OF ERK RUSSELL
January 12th, 2010
2:53 pm
HEY TROOF- HERSHEL NEVER PLAYED DEF -YOU ARE AN IDIOT
steveh
January 12th, 2010
3:39 pm
I’m a Georgia guy living in Birmingham. The take over here is that Kirby wants to someday be a head coach. He feels that Nick Saban is preparing him for that opportunity better than Mark Richt could. He was definitely conflicted about the decision because of his strong emotional ties to UGA. However, for his long-term benefit, he felt it makes more sense to stay with Bama and Saban. The extra money Bama through at him did not hurt either.
Cullowheedawg
January 12th, 2010
5:00 pm
Yes it hurts to be turned down, but then every man learns that early in life (yes even women). The best part of that lesson is that we learn to get up and get on the hunt again, which is what we will do now. No reason to dame the one that rejected us, no matter what the reason.
This old South Georgia DAWG, living in the NC mountains know how to hunt and we will find our man soon.
Cullowheedawg
Amazing
January 12th, 2010
8:33 pm
How can a MAJOR program have such a hard time getting someone to take this position
BamaFaninGA
January 13th, 2010
2:06 pm
Did I miss something here?
Alabama 799 316 43 .703 113 1137 SEC
Georgia 723 384 54 .646 113 1161 SEC
And I quote “Yes..The Tide and Tennessee are slightly ahead, but only slightly.”
You said you were slightly behind. 799-723=76 games 76 game differential is a several lifetimes difference. 7 10 win seasons and Bama losing every game…Please riddle me how you think that is even remotely close….those percentages make it look close but in 113 years worth of games for us and you both UGA has LOST 76 more games you won’t get close anytime soon
But I do agree with your comments…three weeks ago KS was the man with the plan and today he is trash just because he wouldn’t come back laterally….please grow up and act like adults and by all means have some class