Kirby Smart Ranks Behind Saban, Swinney Among Best Coaching Hires of 21st Century — But the Story Isn’t Over Yet
In a recent whirlwind of debate ignited by a panel of college football historians and insiders, Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart has been ranked No. 3 on the list of best college football coaching hires of the 21st century—trailing only Alabama’s Nick Saban and Clemson’s Dabo Swinney. While some call it justified based on titles and longevity, others argue Smart’s impact and trajectory are being underestimated.
The rankings, which factor in national championships, win percentage, program rebuilds, and long-term influence, placed Saban at No. 1, citing his six national championships with Alabama (and one with LSU), and Swinney at No. 2, primarily for breaking the SEC dynasty stranglehold with Clemson’s 2016 and 2018 titles. Kirby Smart, despite capturing back-to-back national championships in 2021 and 2022 and assembling a recruiting machine that rivals Alabama’s, comes in at a close third.
But numbers alone don’t tell the whole story.
Smart inherited a good—not elite—program from Mark Richt in 2016. Within two seasons, he had Georgia in the national championship game, toe-to-toe with Saban himself. In the following years, Georgia became synonymous with dominance. Defense? Ferocious. Recruiting? Ruthless. Development? Unmatched. Every class Kirby brought in seemed more battle-ready, more elite, more NFL-bound than the last. His influence redefined the SEC East and forced schools like Florida and Tennessee to reconsider their entire football identities.
Yet, critics point to his shorter tenure. “You can’t leapfrog legends like Saban or Swinney with only two national titles and less than a decade on the throne,” one analyst noted. “Kirby’s still writing his legacy. The book isn’t finished.”
Supporters, however, argue that Smart’s impact has been immediate, measurable, and sustainable. Georgia’s culture shifted overnight under his watch. The “do more, say less” mentality produced disciplined teams who won in the trenches and rarely flinched under pressure. His 2023 team, despite falling short of a third title, still went 13–1 and remained a dominant force.
What truly separates Kirby Smart from the rest? He built a machine without shortcuts. No scandals. No sudden slides. Just relentless recruiting, elite coaching, and a culture that demands excellence.
Even Dabo Swinney himself, in a candid ESPN interview, acknowledged Smart’s rise: “What Kirby’s done at Georgia—it’s historic. He’s got that program set up for a decade of dominance.”
So yes, as of today, Kirby Smart ranks behind Saban and Swinney in the annals of coaching hires. But if the past five seasons are any indication, he’s not done climbing. He’s not just chasing greatness—he’s constructing it, blueprint by blueprint, Bulldog by Bulldog. And when the smoke clears a decade from now, there’s a real chance that Kirby Smart could sit alone at the top—crowned not just as one of the best hires, but as the greatest architect of a modern dynasty.
