OR IS HE EYEING THE NFL?
Defense wins championships, and there is no better defensive coach in NCAA Division I-A football than Kirby Smart of Alabama. For the past seven-and-a-half seasons, Smart has been an integral part of the Crimson Tide’s return to national prominence – a run that’s included three national championships.
The 39-year-old Montgomery, Alabama native – who played his college ball at Georgia – is also one of the nation’s top recruiters.
No wonder he’s being viewed as head coaching prospect at the University of South Carolina – which suddenly has a vacancy in the aftermath of head coach Steve Spurrier‘s surprise midseason retirement.
If there’s two things the Gamecock program desperately needs to return to national prominence it’s defense and better recruiting.
Smart also made it clear prior to Alabama’s 2012 title game that he wanted to be an NCAA head coach at some point.
“Ultimately, my goal in my career is to be a head coach,” he said. “Where that is, I have no idea. It’s not like I wake up every day trying to leave Alabama. I have the best non-head coaching job in the country, period, because I’ve got a great administration. We’ve got a great facility. I want to be where I can win, and I know you can win at Alabama.”
Has he become burned out on the college game since then, though? It sounded like it this summer.
“It never stops. It’s 365 recruiting,” Smart told an Alabama radio station back in July. “That cell phone you’ve got, these smartphones are the death of college coaching. Every college coach I talk to won’t say it on record, but everyone’s thinking, ‘should I go to the (NFL)?’ Because you don’t have the same requirements. It’s different. The hours are different.”
Smart added that “if you’re not a niche recruiter, or as you get older and less active as a recruiter, you become less valuable.”
“It’s constant and you always feel like it’s fourth-and-1,” he said.
Hmmm …
A two-time assistant coach of the year, Smart has been well-compensated by Alabama to keep at it – earning $1.3 million a year.
South Carolina might not be Smart’s only suitor. Assuming Georgia head coach Mark Richt were to step down or be fired following the 2015 season, he’d likely be high on the Bulldogs’ list of potential coaches, too.
11 comments
The PAST, the PRESENT and the FUTURE arrived at
the same time to apply for Spurrier’s job. It was tense.
I see what you did there. Well done, sir!
If Kirby Smart wants to get away from big time college coaching/recruiting, Sakerlina might be just what the Dr. ordered.
A burnt out DC is not exactly what fills the bill. Period. Look at the guy – he looks ready to fall asleep.
Now Richt is another story. A great coach who is being pushed out because he hasn’t put together a National Championship. He has won in the SEC, hell he has won the SEC and still has plenty of shelf life left. Go after Richt. Maybe he is not Mr. Personality but he knows how to win.
Maybe you could fill the bill since you have all the answers!
Kirby Smart = Will Muschamp
Smart would be a good fit at USC. Energetic, good recruiter, wants to be here, and ready to work as hard as it takes to win.
Oh boy, GrandTango will have some company for once! Oh, you said list. Sorry, Tango, maybe another day?
Wait a second…I’m still waiting on Braxton Miller to come to USC!
https://www.fitsnews.com/2014/12/08/braxton-miller-rumors-swirling/
Fits, maybe you oughtta sit this one out, sport.
SC = Coaches graveyard.