Kirby Smart Net Worth

Kirby Smart is an American football coach with an estimated net worth of $50 million. He is best known as the head coach of the University of Georgia Bulldogs, where he has built one of the most successful college football programs in the country. Smart’s wealth has been driven largely by his coaching career, particularly his increasingly valuable contracts with Georgia.

In July 2022, Smart signed a 10-year, $112.5 million contract with the Georgia Bulldogs. The deal gave him an average annual salary of $11.25 million and made him the highest-paid college football coach at the time. In May 2024, Georgia extended his contract through the 2033 season and increased his annual salary to $13 million.

Early Life

Kirby Paul Smart was born on December 23, 1975, in Montgomery, Alabama. He grew up in Bainbridge, Georgia, where he attended Bainbridge High School.

Smart later attended the University of Georgia, where he played college football as a defensive back from 1995 to 1998. His time as a player at Georgia established a connection with the Bulldogs that would eventually lead him back to the school as its head coach.

Coaching Career

Smart began his coaching career at Georgia in 1999 as an administrative assistant. He moved to Valdosta State in 2000, where he worked as the defensive backs coach before becoming the team’s defensive coordinator in 2001.

From 2002 to 2003, Smart worked at Florida State as a general assistant coach. He then joined LSU in 2004 as the defensive backs coach under head coach Nick Saban.

Smart returned to Georgia in 2005, taking a position as the team’s running backs coach. His next move took him to the NFL. In 2006, he worked as an assistant coach with the Miami Dolphins.

Smart returned to college football in 2007 when he followed Nick Saban to Alabama. He became Alabama’s assistant head coach and defensive backs coach. From 2008 through 2015, he served as the Crimson Tide’s defensive coordinator.

His work at Alabama played a major role in establishing his reputation as one of the leading defensive coaches in college football. During his time there, Alabama won national championships in 2009, 2011, 2012 and 2015.

Georgia Head Coach

In 2016, Smart returned to the University of Georgia as the Bulldogs’ head coach.

His first major breakthrough came in 2017. Smart was named SEC Coach of the Year after leading Georgia to its first SEC championship since 2005.

The Bulldogs finished the regular season with an 11-1 record and advanced to the national championship game. Georgia faced Alabama but lost 26-23 in overtime.

Georgia remained one of the leading teams in the SEC under Smart. The 2018 and 2019 seasons both ended with 11-1 regular-season records, with Georgia winning SEC titles during this period.

The 2020 season was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Georgia finished the regular season with a 7-2 record and placed second in the SEC East.

2021 National Championship

The defining moment of Smart’s early tenure at Georgia came during the 2021 season.

The Bulldogs finished the regular season undefeated at 12-0. Georgia then faced Alabama in the SEC Championship Game but lost 41-24.

Despite that defeat, Georgia advanced to the College Football Playoff and faced Michigan in the semifinal at the Orange Bowl. The Bulldogs defeated the Wolverines 34-11 to reach the national championship game.

Georgia faced Alabama again in the championship game. This time, Smart’s team defeated the Crimson Tide to win the national championship.

The victory was historic for Georgia because it was the school’s first national football championship since 1980. It also represented a major milestone in Smart’s coaching career and strengthened his position as one of the highest-paid coaches in college football.

Kirby Smart Salary

Kirby Smart’s salary has risen significantly during his time as Georgia’s head coach.

Before the 2022-2023 season, Smart was earning approximately $7 million per year under a seven-year, $49 million contract extension.

His success at Georgia led to a much larger agreement in 2022.

In July of that year, Smart signed a 10-year, $112.5 million contract with the Georgia Bulldogs. The agreement provided an average annual salary of $11.25 million.

The contract made Smart the highest-paid college football coach in the world at the time. It reflected the value Georgia placed on his success, including the program’s SEC championship appearances and its return to the national championship game.

Kirby Smart’s $13 Million Annual Salary

Smart’s compensation increased again in 2024.

In May 2024, Georgia extended his contract through the 2033 season and increased his annual salary to $13 million.

The new deal further increased Smart’s earning potential and reinforced his position among the highest-paid coaches in college football.

His salary is the biggest contributor to his estimated $50 million net worth. With a long-term contract extending through 2033, Smart also has substantial financial security tied to his continued role with the Bulldogs.

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