Well, we all knew it was going to happen. It was just a matter of when, not if. Georgia Bulldogs Head Coach Kirby Smart, coming off a championship year, has just signed a 10-year, $112.5 million extension. Smart is now one of the highest paid coaches in college football.
The new deal is worth $11.25 million a year. In comparison for the 2022 year, USC Head Coach Lincoln Riley makes $10 million and Alabama Head Coach Nick Saban $9.7 million.
This is well deserved for Smart, who is also an alumni of the University of Georgia where he played safety for the Dawgs (1995 – 1998). Smart is 66-15 in his coaching career, and 7-3 in SEC Championship and bowl games as Georgia’s head coach. Smart was hired in December 2015, with 2016 his first season. He went 8-5 that year.
2016: 8-5, Liberty Bowl win
2017: 13-2, SEC Championship win, Rose Bowl win, College Football Championship Loss
2018: 11-3, Sugar Bowl Loss
2019: 12-2, Sugar Bowl win
2020: 8-2, Peach Bowl win
2021: 14-1, SEC Championship loss, Orange Bowl win, College Football Championship win
This is a win for both Smart and his family, the university, and the fans for years to come. No need to compare Smart to Saban. Yes, Smart came from Saban’s coaching tree, but he is building his own coaching tree, and in that building a quality, top notch championship caliber football team for years to come. I think this day turned out pretty good for him.