Kirby Smart

Kirby Smart
Name	Kirby Smart
Caption	Smart in 2021
Current team	Georgia Bulldogs
Current title	Head coach
Current conference	Southeastern Conference
Birth date	23 December 1975
Birth place	Montgomery, Alabama
Alma mater	University of Georgia
Player years1	1995–1998
Player team1	Georgia Bulldogs
Player positions	Defensive back
Coach years1	1999
Coach team1	Georgia Bulldogs (Graduate assistant)
Coach years2	2000
Coach team2	Valdosta State Blazers (Defensive backs coach)
Coach years3	2001–2003
Coach team3	Florida State Seminoles (Graduate assistant)
Coach years4	2004
Coach team4	LSU Tigers (Defensive backs coach)
Coach years5	2005
Coach team5	Georgia Bulldogs (Running backs coach)
Coach years6	2006–2007
Coach team6	Miami Dolphins (Safeties coach)
Coach years7	2008–2015
Coach team7	Alabama Crimson Tide (Defensive coordinator)
Coach years8	2016–present
Coach team8	Georgia Bulldogs
Coach admin years1	2016–present
Coach admin team1	Georgia Bulldogs
Overall record	94–16 (college)
Bowl record	8–2
Tournament record	9–1 (CFP)
Championships	2 National (2021, 2022), 2 SEC (2017, 2022), 6 SEC Eastern Division (2017–2019, 2021–2023)
Awards	2× AP Coach of the Year (2017, 2022), 2× SEC Coach of the Year (2017, 2022)

Kirby Smart is an American football coach who has served as the head coach of the Georgia Bulldogs since 2016. A former defensive back for the University of Georgia, he rose to prominence as the defensive coordinator for the Alabama Crimson Tide under Nick Saban before returning to lead his alma mater. Under his leadership, the Bulldogs have won multiple national championships and established themselves as a dominant force in the Southeastern Conference.

Early life and education

Born in Montgomery, Alabama, Smart attended Bainbridge High School in Georgia, where he excelled in multiple sports. He was a standout quarterback and defensive back for the football team, earning all-state honors. He committed to play college football for the Georgia Bulldogs under head coach Ray Goff. At the University of Georgia, Smart earned a degree in finance while playing under coaches Goff and later Jim Donnan.

Playing career

Smart played as a defensive back for the Georgia Bulldogs from 1995 to 1998. He was a four-year letterman and a key contributor on special teams and in the secondary. During his tenure, the Bulldogs competed in the Southeastern Conference and made appearances in the 1995 and Peach Bowls. He finished his playing career with 13 interceptions, tying him for sixth on the school's all-time list alongside Jake Scott.

Coaching career

Smart began his coaching career in 1999 as a graduate assistant at his alma mater under Jim Donnan. After a season coaching defensive backs at Valdosta State, he spent three years as a graduate assistant for Bobby Bowden at Florida State. His first major role came in 2004 as the defensive backs coach for Nick Saban at LSU. He returned to Georgia in 2005 as running backs coach under Mark Richt before a brief stint with the Miami Dolphins in the National Football League.

In 2008, Smart rejoined Saban at the University of Alabama as defensive backs coach, quickly being promoted to defensive coordinator. During his eight seasons with the Alabama Crimson Tide, the defense was consistently among the nation's best, helping the program win three BCS national championships (2009, 2011, 2012) and the inaugural College Football Playoff national title in 2015. He won the Broyles Award as the nation's top assistant coach in 2009.

Hired as head coach of the Georgia Bulldogs in December 2015, Smart has built a perennial national contender. His teams are known for formidable defenses and strong recruiting classes, often competing with Alabama for top talent. Major achievements include winning the 2018 Rose Bowl to advance to the 2018 CFP National Championship, and securing back-to-back national championships in the 2021 and 2022 seasons. He has also led the Bulldogs to multiple SEC Championship Game victories.

Head coaching record

As of the conclusion of the 2023 season, Smart's overall record as a head coach is 94–16. His record in bowl games, including the College Football Playoff, is 8–2. He has a 9–1 record in CFP games and has won six Southeastern Conference Eastern Division titles. His teams have consistently finished ranked in the top 10 of the AP Poll and Coaches Poll.

Personal life

Smart is married to the former Mary Beth Lycett, a former University of Georgia basketball player. The couple has three children. He is known for his intense, detail-oriented coaching style, often drawing comparisons to his mentor, Nick Saban. His father, Sonny Smart, was a longtime high school football coach in Georgia.

Category:American football coaches Category:Georgia Bulldogs football coaches