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
GT Joe
January 11th, 2010
4:07 pm
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 Saban. I have learned so much in the time I’ve spent with Coach Saban, and every year I feel like I become a better coach.
DOH!
Can't Dig It
January 11th, 2010
4:07 pm
Can You Dig It – You’re a loser. Kirby and his family will always be welcomed in Sanford Stadium. Just becasue he choose to make a career move that didn’t bring him back to Athens you want to exile him? He’s doing what he thinks is best for his long term career in Coaching (can’t really argue, he’s 34, DC at a major school and wearing a ‘10 Ring), and he should be banned from Athens. It’s sad that our program has come to this. Get a grip. Go Dawgs!
kerryb
January 11th, 2010
4:07 pm
GTJoe. Bottom of the barrell?? You guys are talking about hiring an over the hill guy that was’nt successful in the Awful Crappy Conference. that the only kind of guy you can get interested in that job.
Coach Saban
January 11th, 2010
4:07 pm
Coach Richt, Kirby cannot come out and play today I have him doing some defensive coordinator chores for me and pretty soon it will be time for supper.
dawgfan13
January 11th, 2010
4:07 pm
This is turning out to be a disaster! There is something not right about this situation if Kirby cant speak for himself! I have respect for Saban because he is a great football ocach. I think Georgia has dropped the ball iin this situation! This is turning out to be sloppy and borderline unprofessional. This DC situation could actually cost Mark Richt his job! It’s also embarrassing!
majordawg
January 11th, 2010
4:07 pm
To all you Tech fans: Win a game against us.
To all you Bama fans: Go to Wal-Mart and see your trophy…and cut that mullet.
dogcrap
January 11th, 2010
4:07 pm
I love it. you mutt nuts thought you had him in the bag. Way to go idiots. No decent coach wants to come to the cesspool.
"The Nature Boy" Ric Flair
January 11th, 2010
4:07 pm
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Kirby! To be the man! Wooooo! You gotta beat the man! SUCK ON THAT DAWGIES
Bro-man
January 11th, 2010
4:07 pm
Oh cry me a river people!! Those griping about him not coming need to grow a pair. You loved him last week when everyone was sure he was coming and now he’s hated because he has decided not to. UGA Fans are pathetic.
Jim Zorn
January 11th, 2010
4:07 pm
I don’t know defense, but I can learn. Give me a shot Coach Richt! Email me at J.ZORN@INEEDAJOB.com
Got 12?
January 11th, 2010
4:08 pm
In essence, Smart says he can learn from Saban, inferring that he can’t learn from Richt:
http://blog.al.com/bamabeat/2010/01/tides_kirby_smart_at_the_end_o.html
Bama1
January 11th, 2010
4:08 pm
Just relaeased by Smart….So it makes sense why he’s staying…wish UGA the best of luck..im live in GA so Uga always is my 2ed Fav. team
“I think it was pretty well known that there was an opportunity to return to my alma mater as defensive coordinator. 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 Saban. I have learned so much in the time I’ve spent with Coach Saban, and every year I feel like I become a better coach.
Buckeyeboy52
January 11th, 2010
4:08 pm
Looks like Smart tosses Saban’s salad for him.
AceDawg
January 11th, 2010
4:08 pm
Smart was the most logical option and easiest for Dawgs to rally around (aside from the return of the Great Van Gorder), but let’s be hopeful we line up another good coordinator and have a better defense than Bama in the near future – might be hard to do in one year I realize. Besides, there is no telling how much power Smart has versus Saban regarding the Bama D. Maybe he thinks he gets better coaching guidance at his young age at Bama than Richt could offer.
blackprix
January 11th, 2010
4:08 pm
Seems to me, Kirby is very SMART!
Jim Zorn
January 11th, 2010
4:08 pm
I don’t know defense, but I can learn. Give me a shot Coach Richt! Email me at J.ZORN@DSNYDERSUX.com
Dylan
January 11th, 2010
4:08 pm
I really thought we had him… I’m kind of confused right now. He obviously got something big for staying at Bama. I just don’t understand why he wouldn’t come. UGA is his and his wife’s alma mater and Georgia would have more than doubled his salary.
Richt had better find his man and find him quick, we don’t have time for this or we will start losing recruits big time. If Dallas keeps winning, we don’t have time to wait on Grantham! This is actually starting to make me mad that we can’t find anyone. FIND SOMEBODY RICHT!!
GT Joe
January 11th, 2010
4:09 pm
LOL kerryb. He has a Super Bowl ring as a DC. Learned under a guy named Bill Parcells. Groh might be a lousy HC, but as a DC, excellent credentials.
The Bad Dawg
January 11th, 2010
4:09 pm
The is a report that a private plane left fram Athens an hour ago to Knoxville. Could CMR be sitting down with Monte Kiffin? Rumore has it that he is unhappy there and has no real ties to the program that would keep him there
Dawgs73
January 11th, 2010
4:09 pm
I am certainly not surprised by this latest news. What is about Richt that he can’t sell this program to top tier coordinators? I feel pretty confident that UGA’s talent situation is pretty secure amungst the “elite”. What is going to take if $700k and returning back to your home state, where you played & graduated from, and was once a “running backs coach”?
I would certainly think that working for Richt would be an ideal situation for any DC? Can anyone explain this?
dostadawg
January 11th, 2010
4:09 pm
Hey ROLLTIDE, Go pickup your cousin, I mean your wife, from WalMART.
kerryb
January 11th, 2010
4:10 pm
Thats good Kirby, Put on more of that chap stick you need after kissing it that good.
DawgFan
January 11th, 2010
4:10 pm
Who care’s. Let Saban bitch slap Smart into staying. I now feel that if Smart cannot even address whether is leaving or staying, then he isn’t the type that would turn this defense around. Just give the job to Gardner and let it be done.
Bama Fan Who Thinks You're Better Off
January 11th, 2010
4:10 pm
Know you’re mad as hellfire, but I still wish you guys good luck in the search. You’ll get Todd Grantham and succeed. Watch and see.
kerryb
January 11th, 2010
4:11 pm
GTJoe, what century was that in?
Buckeyeboy52
January 11th, 2010
4:11 pm
Heck, go get Tomberlin. He is at Effingham County now. There is no way he wouldn’t be better than Martinez.
collegeballfan
January 11th, 2010
4:11 pm
Richt needs to look at Buddy Gtreen the Navy DC. (If he will leave Navy).
Bama Dawg
January 11th, 2010
4:12 pm
Why go to UGA this year when he could be the head coach next year. As much as a love Ga., there was nno way ks was coming back to Georgia, alma mater or not. Why be a part of a sinking ship. CMR is not going to make it next year and I guarantee we will go after him next year.
71 Dawg
January 11th, 2010
4:12 pm
Bama got a National Championship because McCoy couldn’t play. Good job of stinging the QB but that’s about all it amounted to. That’s the same way Bobby Bowden’s teams used to operate. They knew their opponents only had one real QB so they pounded his fanny until he was done for. It worked for them and it works for Saban. Otherwise, it was easy to tell that Texas was the better team!
superDawg
January 11th, 2010
4:12 pm
Like I said there is history in the waiting.
The Dawg Pound
January 11th, 2010
4:12 pm
Maybe CMR should do double duty as head coach and DC for the 2010 season. That will give us the time we need to find a suitable replacement
RollTide
January 11th, 2010
4:12 pm
BigMike Said… I’m a BIGGGG DB
I think Kirby just knows success when he sees it, and he know it isn’t in Athens.
Bama Fan Who Thinks You're Better Off
January 11th, 2010
4:12 pm
dostadawg: News flash: First cousins can marry in Georgia….as they may in Alabama. See, the redneck bashing has a lot of backsplash to it. It’s really not flattering.
Got 12?
January 11th, 2010
4:13 pm
His last name is Smart not Foolish. What could be gained (professionally) by returning to UGA? Let me answer my own question: Absolutely nothing!
anotherdawg
January 11th, 2010
4:13 pm
Can we now get Grantham a big raise?
GT Joe
January 11th, 2010
4:13 pm
Why Johnson is better than Richt:
CPJ had Al Groh watching practices in December; they’ve been talking for weeks.
Richt fires his DC before the friggin bowl game with no backup plan.
LOL.
peggyled
January 11th, 2010
4:13 pm
UGA never pursued Chavis, and Bud Foster had already turned down UFL DC. These were deflections to take the heat off of Kirby Smart befoe the NC game. UGA really thought that Kirby Smart would be coming to UGA as DC. As most of us thought, it was a done deal. We found out that Nick Saban “goes for the jugular” at all times. So be it!
brucemac
January 11th, 2010
4:14 pm
Relax, Kirby did what was best for him and his family. No way he is almost a Head Coach, based on what? We will get a DC and after next year then crap on whoever you want. For now, chill the F out. Bama fans, you are some miserable people if all you have to do is come on Dawg web site and whine and whine. You win, so shut up. Have you no shame with your idiotic nonsense.
South Georgia Repub
January 11th, 2010
4:14 pm
Kirby has more money, but he has lost respect and has no pride. I didn’t hear a single reference to the UA defense or its scheme’s without it being “Saban and Smart’s defense” or “Saban and Smart’s scheme” or “Saban and Smart’s adjustments.” And now he can’t even make his own announcement. If that doesn’t tell him something, nothing will.
Just hang tight, Dawg Fans, we will get a man capable of thinking and speaking for himself. I wanted Smart, but this is kind of sad.
DAWGMAUL
January 11th, 2010
4:14 pm
Kirby not even man enough to speak for himself? Dang if I’d coach for someone who has a double standard!
Maxwell Smart
January 11th, 2010
4:14 pm
Relax 99. When Nick said UGA “won’t get smart” he wasn’t talking about Kirby!!
GT Joe
January 11th, 2010
4:14 pm
Hey Kerryb, it was about 10 years AFTER your treasured national championship.
GaGator
January 11th, 2010
4:15 pm
I said it before and I’ll say it again, your problem at Georgia is Mark Richt. This is a blessing in disguise. Richt will struggle this year 8-4 or 7-5 and you can fire the whole staff. You won’t be losing a thing getting rid of Bobo either.
darriel dawg
January 11th, 2010
4:15 pm
i have a question for all of yall…do any white boys play football anymore in the sec?
TXDawg
January 11th, 2010
4:15 pm
Thank God!! Count me as the minority I’m sure, but I don’t think Kirby was the right direction for UGA’s Defense Coordinator position. I mean, this guy was just the RB coach at UGA several years ago. Now that he’s a great defensive team, he’s annointed the “chosen one”?? I still think Saban is the brains behind that defensive squad and Kirby is still under his guidance. Get an NFLer in here, to get this 4 and 5 star talent coached up and ready for the NFL, so we don’t have to see articles questioning whether players like Curran is ready for the NFL.
The Dawg Pound
January 11th, 2010
4:15 pm
Should we bump the salary up to $1mm and see if we can attract someone from the Mountain West?? They are hot right now
ATL Steph
January 11th, 2010
4:15 pm
ROLL TIDE
fuzzybee
January 11th, 2010
4:16 pm
Mark Richt can’t decide who he wants so he is just out there fishing and the candidates know it so UGA is getting PLAYED! Most amusing really.
GT Joe
January 11th, 2010
4:16 pm
Kirby does speak for himself. see below:
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 Saban. I have learned so much in the time I’ve spent with Coach Saban, and every year I feel like I become a better coach.
john
January 11th, 2010
4:16 pm
Who cares? Smart is overrated, remember this is Saban’s defense. I want an NFL guy, Grantham from Dallas maybe?