Georgia announced a 10-year contract extension for coach Kirby Smart following his appearance at SEC Media Days. The new deal will run through the 2031 season and pay Smart between $10.25 million and $12.25 million per season, making him the highest-paid college football coach at a public university. Smart, 46, was previously making $7.13 million, according to USA TODAY’s salary database. However, coaches such as Alabama’s Nick Saban and Clemson’s Dabo Swinney have contractual provisions that will keep their pay in line with the sport’s best-compensated coaches.
“Coach Smart’s impact on the University of Georgia extends far past his significant accolades as our head football coach,” Georgia athletic director Josh Brooks said in a statement. “He and his wife are Bulldogs through and through, and it is evident that Athens and UGA mean as much to him as he means to us. I am excited for our football program’s continued success under his direction. The future of Georgia Football remains bright with Coach Smart as its steadfast leader.”
Smart has amassed a 66-15 record in seven seasons at his alma mater following a nine-year run on the Alabama staff. Since an 8-5 debut campaign in 2016, the Bulldogs are 58-10 and have played in four of the past five SEC Championship Games.
