When the University of Georgia announced the hiring of Kirby Smart in 2015, it wasn’t just a coaching change—it was a calculated gamble on a disciple of greatness. A defensive mastermind forged in the crucible of Nick Saban’s dynastic Alabama empire, Smart returned home to Athens with the burden of expectation and the weight of legacy on his shoulders.
Today, that gamble has evolved into one of the most successful coaching hires in college football’s modern era. And according to CBS Sports’ Shehan Jeyarajah, Smart now rightfully claims a coveted spot among the Top 5 coaching hires of the 21st century—trailing only giants like Nick Saban, Urban Meyer, Dabo Swinney, and Pete Carroll.
But here’s the compelling twist: Kirby Smart may not just be in the Top 5… he might soon top the list.
The Numbers Behind the Ascension
Let’s start with the raw data. Since taking the reins in 2016, Smart has transformed Georgia from a perennial “almost” into a college football juggernaut:
- 105–19 record
- 2 National Championships (2021, 2022)
- 3 SEC Titles (2017, 2022, 2024)
- An SEC-record 29-game conference winning streak
- 8 straight AP Top-7 finishes
- A $130 million contract extension in 2024, making him the highest-paid coach in college football
What began as a Saban-inspired blueprint has now become its own machine. Smart didn’t just copy the Alabama model—he evolved it. He took the DNA of a dynasty and injected it with a fierce Georgia pride, relentless defensive talent, and one of the most aggressive recruiting philosophies in the sport.
And now? Georgia is the standard.
Strategic Mastery: Not Just a Saban Clone
For years, critics whispered that Kirby was merely Saban 2.0—a talented defensive coordinator thrust into a head coaching role with training wheels. But that narrative collapsed under the weight of Georgia’s dominance.
Smart’s 2021 and 2022 teams were not just championship winners—they were disruptors of history. Georgia didn’t squeak by opponents—they dismantled them. The 65–7 demolition of TCU in the 2022 national championship will be studied in coaching clinics for years to come.
His commitment to elite player development, particularly on the defensive side of the ball, has produced first-round pick after first-round pick, creating a defensive culture that is unrivaled in the modern game.
He’s also modernized Georgia’s offense, shedding the old “run it up the gut” identity in favor of explosive schemes that stretch the field and maximize quarterback efficiency—without compromising physicality.
Better Than Urban, Dabo, Carroll?
Let’s entertain the debate.
- Urban Meyer resurrected Florida and Ohio State, but off-field issues and an abrupt NFL crash have dented his legacy.
- Dabo Swinney built Clemson from the inside out, but recent recruiting misses and resistance to change in the NIL era have raised questions about sustainability.
- Pete Carroll’s USC run was brilliant—but relatively short-lived and tainted by NCAA infractions.
Kirby Smart, meanwhile, has built Georgia into a sustainable, modern-day power with no signs of slowing down. He wins clean, recruits relentlessly, and embraces the full spectrum of today’s college football—from NIL to the transfer portal.
If he captures a third national title within the next five years, the case for Smart as the No. 2 (or even No. 1) hire of the 21st century becomes undeniable.
️ From “Almost” to Empire: What Makes Kirby Different
Before Smart, Mark Richt had brought Georgia to the doorstep of greatness—but never pushed the door open. Richt’s tenure, though respectable, lacked the edge, the execution, and the ruthlessness required to build a dynasty.
Kirby brought all three.
He demanded more. From the weight room to the practice field to the podium, he instilled a new cultural standard: “Nobody cares. Work harder.”
That culture has reshaped Georgia into a relentless powerhouse, one that reloads rather than rebuilds, one where five-star recruits sit behind future first-rounders—and still wait their turn with discipline.
The Future Is Red and Black
With a $130 million contract in place, Kirby Smart isn’t going anywhere—and neither is Georgia. The Bulldogs have become a gravitational force in the college football universe, drawing top-tier talent, elite coaching staff, and national attention with every move.
Smart’s fingerprints are now all over the college football landscape. His assistants are being poached. His recruiting methods are being copied. His “keep chopping” ethos has become gospel in Athens—and envy across the SEC.
Final Thoughts: The Dawgfather Era Is Now
As we reflect on the greatest coaching hires of the 21st century, Kirby Smart is not just in the conversation. He’s driving it.
Nick Saban will forever be the blueprint, the unparalleled master who redefined an era. But if college football has a rightful heir to the throne, it’s Kirby Smart.
Georgia didn’t just hire a coach in 2015. They installed a king. And the Dawg Dynasty he’s building might one day surpass even the one that raised him.
