Georgia football head coach Kirby Smart has enjoyed tremendous success ever since his alma mater hired him back in December 2015. On Thursday, the day after he impressed all of the SEC at Media Days, he was rewarded for his accomplishments with a rich new contract that would make Jerry Maguire drool.
In a statement released by the University of Georgia, Smart agreed to a 10 year contract extension worth $112.5 million. He will see an increase in his yearly salary through 2031.
With this new contract, Smart will become the highest paid coach in college football today, surpassing new USC head coach Lincoln Riley.
Riley’s contract is reportedly worth around $110 million. He will also be making more per year than some Super Bowl winning NFL head coaches. While that may feel obsessive for some, that number is what he deserves to make.
Kirby Smart contract details, salary on new Georgia deal
Smart will earn $10,250,000 beginning this year, and it’ll continue with increases annually until 2031, when he makes $12,250,000. Those numbers are incredible and deserving of the head coach that changed the culture in Athens.
Kirby Smart and Georgia agreed to an extension through 2031 😁 pic.twitter.com/TzGcBhKo8v
— Chris Figgures (@chrislfiggures) July 21, 2022
After replacing long time Georgia coach Mark Richt, Smart helped his teams fulfill the vision he shared when he was introduced as the new head coach — to show both mental and physical toughness on and off the field, play with confidence, and work everyday with “relentless” energy.
Smart has created various slogans for these goals, such as, “Keep choppin’ wood,” “Attack the day,” or, most recently, “You’re either elite or you’re not.”
Overall, Smart is 66-15 at Georgia with an .815 winning percentage, the highest percentage in the SEC. He has won four SEC East divisions, one SEC Championship, four New Year’s Six bowl games, and of course the 2021 CFP National Championship.
It has arguably been the most successful seven-year run in the history of Georgia football.
Not to mention, Smart is the winningest SEC coach through his first six years in conference history with those 66 wins — even better than Alabama head coach Nick Saban himself.
Kirby Smart dropping the contract news the day after his SEC Media day is *chef's kiss*
— Brooks Austin (@BrooksAustinBA) July 21, 2022
Avoids the questions about his money and keeps the news cycle talking about his program.
Playing chess
His recruiting victories are also just as impressive. Georgia has finished in the top three of recruiting rankings every year since 2017 and had the No. 1 ranked classes in 2018 and 2020.
With these accomplishments, it’s clear why the university and athletic department wanted to lock up Smart to a big contract. He has earned every dollar in his new deal and will continue to prove over the next decade why he is an elite head coach.
Smart has done what he told the fanbase he would, and the program is only getting better. He flat out said the Dawgs wouldn’t be one-hit-wonders, so this contract extension and raise mean he will be around a long time to terrorize the SEC East for many years to come.
To paraphrase his statement after the 2018 title game, Smart isn’t going anywhere.