Kirby Smart got $390,000 raise for rejecting Dogs, staying at Alabama
The ripple effects of Georgia’s long, expensive search for a defensive coordinator continued today when a $390,000-per-year raise was approved for Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart.
Smart, a former Georgia player, turned down the Bulldogs’ DC job four days before Todd Grantham was hired.
And today it became known how much it cost Alabama to keep Smart.
The compensation committee of the board of trustees of the University of Alabama System approved a new contract that will pay Smart a base salary of $750,000 per year -– more than double the $360,000 base salary he made last season. (Click here or here or here for more details from Alabama newspapers on the committee’s action.)
Smart is one of three defensive coordinators to get hefty raises after declining Georgia’s overtures. Virginia Tech’s Bud Foster had an annuity added to his existing contract that will pay him an $800,000 lump sum if he remains with the Hokies for another five years. And LSU’s John Chavis received a $250,000-per-year raise to $700,000 per year.
Not coincidentally, Smart’s new $750,000 salary is the same amount that Georgia offered him -– and the same amount that Georgia is paying Grantham.
So Smart and Grantham — at least for the moment — share the distinction of being the third highest-paid defensive coordinator in college football, behind only USC’s Monte Kiffin ($1.2 million base salary plus $300,000 bonus last year at Tennessee) and Will Muschamp ($900,000 at Texas). Smart can surpass Grantham on the pay scale on March 1, when Smart will receive a $34,400 bonus if he’s still at Alabama. Grantham’s contract also includes a series of potential bonuses, but none are payable until after the 2010 season.
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140 comments Add your comment
dawgfan
February 2nd, 2010
1:06 pm
The salary issue is really out of hand. No head coach is worth the money that is being paid these days. That being said, the DC salary being paid to Grantham, Smart, & Muschamp etc. is in line with what their head coach makes. They put in the long hours and are on the road recruiting too. Somehow, someway there will be a correction to this madness. I hope I’m around to see it!
Otto
February 2nd, 2010
1:07 pm
Bremen, there was no reason for Smart to move. What for the same money and HC that is slow to make changes? Saban was not happy about his offense and made changes. Smart knew he would have the entire weight of the team on his shoulders with a team that could put up a running game except against Vandy, GT, and Tx A&M. QBs the past 4 years have tossed 10 or more INTs. Smart has a paycheck as long as Saban is in coaching and a door to getting his own HC job.
Otto
February 2nd, 2010
1:09 pm
Dawgfan, How much money are the football programs generating and how much more do they make if they win?
Money Man
February 2nd, 2010
1:10 pm
How can Grantham get the same salary as Kirby Smart ($750,000)???? He’s not in the same league as Smart.
ryan
February 2nd, 2010
1:12 pm
Hey how about this for CMR replacement P. Carrol yes that Carrol of the Seahawks.
Kirby Smart got $390,000 raise for rejecting Dogs, staying at Alabama « Football on the Brain
February 2nd, 2010
1:16 pm
[...] February 2, 2010 by cousinwalter Kirby Smart got $390,000 raise for rejecting Dogs, staying at Alabama [...]
TrueDawg
February 2nd, 2010
1:20 pm
A question to all the fans of other teams who keep saying UGA is heading down and Mark Richt is on his way out. If he is that bad of a coach, why do you want to stir up the UGA fans against him on a blog? Logic would dictate if what you are saying is true, you would keep it to yourself and reap the rewards of a fallen UGA program. I would love to see any one of you provide a logical response to this post.
AltamahaDawg
February 2nd, 2010
1:42 pm
jethro , just so we are clear about your theory of college choices:
A kid would rather go to a school with a 4 game losing streak to UGA than attend UGA because of its difficulties beating a school that he doesn’t care anything about?
GW
February 2nd, 2010
1:42 pm
Plus Smart still will get Saban’s recommendation when he goes after a head job. Saban clearly held that over his head.
Dawghater
February 2nd, 2010
1:43 pm
CMR is the best guy to see for a raise. Just ask Bud Foster, John Chavez and Kirby Smart.
Hey, dreamer “TrueDawg” are you one of those UGA fans that think the puppy dawgs should be National Champs every year. 30 years ago and counting on our last and only one! Heck, a SEC championship is as much as a dream as that! PS – CMR record during the same time frame is virtually identical to Jim Doonan’s. HUM, what happened to Doonan! There is your response! But you don’t understand logic, your too busy barking!
Dawgrulz
February 2nd, 2010
1:46 pm
TrueDawg they will not provide a logical response because it does not exist. CMR has been so bad he is only #4 in winning percentage over the last 9 years in the Nation. Last year was a down year, lets wait and see how the changes take place before you bury the Dogs.
BTW, for all the ignorant posters, it is a FACT that when Nick Saban took the Dolphins job he offered the DC position to Todd Grantham who turned it down. Kirby Smart was a Defensive Backs or Running Backs coach so at that time Nick Saban though more highly of Todd Grantham than he did Kirby Smart. KS would have been a great choice to come back to UGA mainly because of recruiting, but from a Coaching/teaching point UGA probably ended up with a better choice.
Richt Controls Saban?
February 2nd, 2010
1:46 pm
Richt must be a powerful guy if he can force Saban to pay his assistants more. Saban must have feared Richt quite a bit to double the salary.
I don’t blame Saban.
AltamahaDawg
February 2nd, 2010
1:48 pm
So Strong is going to be his own DC in 2 years? Interesting. And if he is the only “real DC” what the heck is UF doing for one now?
Wow, UGA Has a Class For The Ages!!!!
February 2nd, 2010
1:50 pm
ESPN.COM ranks UGA #4, just behind the Natl Champ Bama
Rivals ranks UGA #9, moving up 3 spots from yesterday
Scout ranked Georgia’s number of top 100 recruits #4 in the Nation.
WOW! The Best UGA RECRUITING CLASS IN UGA HISTORY!!!
http://insider.espn.go.com/ncf/recruiting/classrankings?&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fncf%2frecruiting%2fclassrankings
JB
February 2nd, 2010
1:52 pm
Saw Kirby’s wife at Lennox Saturday with a wheelbarrow and a Gold American express with steam coming off of it.
Michael
February 2nd, 2010
1:53 pm
Funny how state schools justify paying these entertainers all this money but the players get what, an Alabama (Ga, Auburn, pick one) dumbed down education?
Big Al
February 2nd, 2010
1:57 pm
Talk is cheap—Smart has nothing to prove but Richt and Gramthom have—when GA. wins a national champship then you can talk—lets have another black out on DAWGs talking.
Afternoon Grab Bag | MrSEC.com
February 2nd, 2010
2:02 pm
[...] Kirby Smart’s raise to $750,000 means that he and Georgia’s Todd Grantham are tied as the nation’s third-highest paid defensive coordinators (behind Monte Kiffin and Will Muschamp).5. Former LSU athletic director Skip Bertman says that [...]
TrueDawg
February 2nd, 2010
2:03 pm
Dawghater
Your post is a incoherent and lacks any logic. You don’t tie your arguments to your final statement. What does MRC’s record, number of NCs have anything to do with with my post. I simply said if you really believed he was such a bad coach that logically you wouldn’t say anything negative about him to stir up the UGA fan base. I think your response actually proves you don’t believe what you say.
Bride of Chucky Knapp
February 2nd, 2010
2:04 pm
Hey you Bama fans, get off the internet and get back to your post! I’m trying to place my takeout order, here!!!
Michael
February 2nd, 2010
2:09 pm
@ Truedawg: I’m a Double-Dawg but grew up in MD. I wish Richt would get fired so he could go save my Terrapins in the lowly ACC. He’d run the table every year.
John Chavis
February 2nd, 2010
2:10 pm
I want to thank Mark Richt for my nice raise @ LSU also. Though I had ZERO intentions of lowering myself to move to Athens, it sure was enough to get a big fatass raise! Thanks for the money, UGA redneck losers!!
HOUNDSTOOTH HOMO
February 2nd, 2010
2:10 pm
YEEEAAAAA HAAAWWWWW!!!!!! I LOVE NICK SABAN’S HAIR, MY 572 NC SINCE 1951, AND NOW THE ABILITY TO TAPP THAT 750k A YEAR A$$ ANYTIME I PLEASE!!!!
I LOVE ALABAMA!!!!! MISSISSIPPI, YOU’RE FULL OF POOPY!!!! MY READING SCORES FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLERS ARE AWESOME!!!!!!
Calhoun Dawg
February 2nd, 2010
2:14 pm
Its all over Calhoun that Da”rick Rogers will commit to UT tomorrow. What a punk….he could at least have the courage to tell CMR today. We don’t want his sorry azz if thats how he runs his business!!
Dawg Nuts and Mountain Oysters Club
February 2nd, 2010
2:17 pm
Let ‘em have La’ Dick.
Dawghater
February 2nd, 2010
2:19 pm
True Dawg – Like I said your incapable of understanding logic. It was clearly stated that CMR current record is no better than Doonan. And you fired him because he was a “bad” coach. Your fans said it, not me!
TrueDawg
February 2nd, 2010
2:25 pm
Dawghater,
I might be incapable of many things, but understanding logic isn’t one of them. Give it up. You aren’t making any sense.
Calhoun's Top Dawg
February 2nd, 2010
2:26 pm
Word is out everywhere that Rogers is staying with Georgia, and, get this, he’s BRINGING 2 SECRET TOP 100 RECRUITS WITH HIM!!!!
TrueDawg
February 2nd, 2010
2:28 pm
Calhoun Dawg
If that is true, it would be great if no one in Calhoun showed up for his announcement tomorrow. I don’t mind him going to another school, but the way he has conducted himself shows a complete lack of character.
Dawghater
February 2nd, 2010
2:28 pm
Typical puppy dawg fans. Yea, the kids now no good and we don’t want him anyway. It’s called recruting and the kid has the right to go anywhere he wants.
Terd Buster
February 2nd, 2010
2:28 pm
True Dawg
Hang up on Dawg Hater . You can’t logic and honest debate
out of a terd .
Music City Dawg
February 2nd, 2010
2:35 pm
Smart was smart for staying put but Bama wasn’t in its money decision. No one knows yet whether Kirby Smart is really a good DC (and worth the $$$) since he has been under Saban’s shadow for so long. If he had come to UGA, he could have proven himself and increased his future coaching opportunities. Who’d want him as a head coach until he really proves himself.
Dawghater
February 2nd, 2010
2:41 pm
Hey Truedawg, so your assuming everyone who lives in Calhoun is a dawg fan. Guess your using that stellar logic you have!
ga gator
February 2nd, 2010
2:44 pm
Why would he not come back to UGA for the same money?
Dawghater
February 2nd, 2010
2:46 pm
And for “Terd Buster” & “True Daw” – I refuse to enter into a battle of wits with an unarmed opponent!
Who Dawg
February 2nd, 2010
3:03 pm
UGA should have offered Smart $1 mil, which bama wouldn’t have matched. Instead, they got their 5th choice D coordinator, who is no match for the offensive coordinators in the SEC. He’ll be fired in 2-3 years just like martinez—mark it down.
Starring Kam Fong as Chin Ho
February 2nd, 2010
3:04 pm
jellybean, #1 learn to spell, #2 still no denial of being a Techmite? #3 methinks you are about as smart as your jellybean handle #4 name calling makes you look even more stupid than you already do #5 don’t get your self esteem in a wad if the team you cheer for doesn’t give you a sense of false superiority #6 What the F does someones tan or lack thereof have to do with anything football related #7 I apologize for hurting your little bee feelings #8 Please for all of our sakes explain what exactly is fake about Mark Richt #9 I still do not believe that you are a Ga fan #10 if you are I’m and I am in fact wrong then I have less respect for the Bulldawg Nation than I did before.#11 Tell your wife I left my shorts under her bed #12 tell her to wash them and I’ll pick them up the next time #13 thanks
UGASlobberknocker
February 2nd, 2010
3:27 pm
Smart is overrated. All he does is what Saban tells him to do..he even let Saban intimidate him into staying. How much could he really accomplish oin his own? no one knows but I say not much. We can and did do better with Grantham.
CPJ IS IN BARK'S AND SCHULTZIE'S HALL OF FAME
February 2nd, 2010
3:27 pm
jellybeandawg:
Cry me a river….go back another program and get the heck away from georgia….you are nothing but a fairweather fan…
UGASlobberknocker
February 2nd, 2010
3:32 pm
I feel sorry for all the losers on this board who have nothing better to do than argue with other losers about the Dawgs. All of you big talkers on email are prob the same pencil necked geeks who flip people off while driving..youre mighty brave when no one can get in your face.
For example..Dawghater..if you hate the Dawgs so much, why are you here all the time?. Do us all a favor and go hang out on whatever board your team is on. Hell you prob didnt even go to college and just like to pretend you did. Too bad your high school doesnt have a chat line you could go bore those people instead of us..
Cosmos Dawg
February 2nd, 2010
3:42 pm
All’s well that ends well. I’m very happy with Grantham. He is more experienced and I’m looking forward to seeing him work this fall. The only shortcoming may be that KS is a better recruiter.
Btw, I wish CMR would have called and offered me a job. I could use a huge pay raise.
#1 BAMA FAN
February 2nd, 2010
3:54 pm
None of the BAMA assistant coaches are “forced to stay”. Did you ever think that they like it there and besideS the money, there is the championship rings, being called a winner, etc…..RTR
13 National Titles
February 2nd, 2010
3:54 pm
After winning another national champion, 24 straight regular season games and with the cupboard stocked for years, we light cigars with $20 bills and the pay raise for Kirby Smart is but a drop in an immense bucket. Good to see you rednecks worked up over it. I’d hate to have a Bama guy turn us down to stay somewhere else. That would suck.
Calhoun Dawg
February 2nd, 2010
3:56 pm
My neighbors kid goes to school with Darick Rogers and said he was wearing a UT hat today at school. Talk about letting the cat out of the bag or should that be the dog out of the bag!
UA Alum92
February 2nd, 2010
4:04 pm
I notice the article doesn’t mention the fact that Kirby just won the Broyles Award as the best assistant coach in the country. I think his pay raise is justified. Since he took over as DC, Bama has had back-to-back undefeated regular seasons, an SEC championship and won the big crystal football. Hard to argue with that.
Kirby didn’t take the Georgia DC job because he wants his next move to be as a HC. He’s not disloyal, it just wasn’t the job he wanted.
Come on Dawgs, get over it!
Diamond Dog's Parole Officer
February 2nd, 2010
4:08 pm
Is Dawghater your real name???
Neurologist
February 2nd, 2010
4:14 pm
jellybean(dawg) has jelly beans instead of brain cells.
Diamond Dog's Parole Officer
February 2nd, 2010
4:16 pm
So, Smart is overrated because he aligns to strategy? A strategy which has allowed him to be a part of two Nationsl Titles. What does that make Richt? Richt won a National Title at FSU when he aligned to Bowden’s strategy. But he hasn’t participated in a National title game as a head coach.
Weird???
Starring Kam Fong as Chin Ho
February 2nd, 2010
4:16 pm
UA Alum92, I for one concur, however he could have been up front about it if he had no desire to return to Athens. It wasn’t the fact he didn’t come that rankled some fans, it was the way he strung Ga along for weeks on end that made it appear he was using the courtship to get a (much deserved) raise and then very publicly announced that he was staying. I too think he will be someones head coach very very soon. Congrats on the NC
UA Alum92
February 2nd, 2010
4:21 pm
Thanks, Kam Fong. Did he string Georgia along? I believe he said he wasn’t talking to anyone until after the NC. During that time, I believe CMR was talking to Foster, Koening, others so you can’t really say Kirby was the reason the search lasted so long.
In the end though, I think it all worked out for the best. Grantham is a very good coach and I think he’ll be successful with your boys. They should at the very least play with a lot more discipline. Good luck!