Kirby Paul Smart was born on December 23,1975 and is an American football coach and former player.
30 Facts About Kirby Smart
2.
Kirby Smart is the current head football coach of the Georgia Bulldogs, his alma mater.
3.
Kirby Smart began his playing career at Bainbridge High School and went on to play college football at the University of Georgia, where he was teammates with defensive linemen Antonio Cochran, Emarlos Leroy, linebacker Brandon Tolbert, Pro Football Hall of Fame cornerback Champ Bailey, and Super Bowl MVP Hines Ward.
4.
Kirby Smart was a four-year letterman at defensive back for Georgia and a first-team All-SEC selection as a senior.
5.
Kirby Smart finished his career with 13 interceptions, which ranked fourth all-time at Georgia, and led the Bulldogs with six interceptions in 1997 and five in 1998.
6.
Kirby Smart was a four-time member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll.
7.
Kirby Smart graduated from Georgia in 1999 with a degree in finance.
8.
Kirby Smart went undrafted in the 1999 NFL Draft and signed a free-agent contract with the Indianapolis Colts.
9.
Kirby Smart spent the 1999 preseason with the team but was cut before the start of the regular season.
10.
In 2003, Kirby Smart attended Florida State University for graduate school.
11.
Kirby Smart began his coaching career with the University of Georgia in 1999, serving as an administrative assistant.
12.
Kirby Smart moved to Valdosta State where he spent one season as defensive backs coach before being promoted to defensive coordinator for the 2001 season.
13.
From 2002 to 2003, Kirby Smart worked as a graduate assistant under Bobby Bowden at Florida State while pursuing a master's degree.
14.
Kirby Smart received his master's degree from FSU in 2003.
15.
Kirby Smart then spent one season as defensive backs coach at LSU under head coach Nick Saban in 2004.
16.
Kirby Smart rejoined the Georgia Bulldogs football program to serve as running backs coach for the 2005 season.
17.
Kirby Smart followed Nick Saban to the University of Alabama in 2007.
18.
On February 27,2008, Kirby Smart was promoted to defensive coordinator.
19.
On December 8,2009, Kirby Smart was awarded the Broyles Award as the nation's best assistant coach.
20.
Kirby Smart was the first Alabama assistant coach to win the award.
21.
Kirby Smart considered a lucrative contract to be the defensive coordinator at his alma mater, the University of Georgia but chose to stay with the Crimson Tide in early January 2010.
22.
In 2011, Kirby Smart's defense helped Alabama win another championship, beating LSU in the 2012 BCS National Championship Game.
23.
On November 20,2012, Kirby Smart was recognized as the 2012 AFCA FBS Assistant Coach of the Year.
24.
Kirby Smart was part of the Alabama staff that won the National Championship over Clemson in the 2015 season.
25.
On December 6,2015, Kirby Smart was announced as the 26th head football coach at the University of Georgia.
26.
On December 2,2017, Kirby Smart coached Georgia to its first SEC title since 2005, and only the fourth 12-win season in school history.
27.
Kirby Smart was named SEC Coach of the Year for the 2017 season.
28.
Kirby Smart was named SEC Coach of the Year for the 2021 season.
29.
Kirby Smart was named SEC Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season and the third time overall.
30.
Kirby Smart is married to Mary "Beth" Elizabeth Lycett, who played basketball for the University of Georgia.