The Nick Saban coaching tree has many notable names. Former Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio, former Tennessee head coach Derek Dooley and I can’t forget Will Muschamp, the former head coach of Florida and South Carolina. Like Bill Belichick, not many of his assistants have panned out. Why don’t we look at the ones that have been successful. Jimbo Fisher is one. I love what he did at Florida State and Texas A&M has a bright future ahead of them. Another is Kirby Smart. Kirby was a defensive coordinator for Nick at Alabama and was the mastermind behind some of those stingy defenses for the Tide. He’s been the head coach of the Georgia Bulldogs since 2015. Just yesterday, he was rewarded with a contract extension to remain in Athens. A ten-year deal worth $112.5 million which makes him the highest-paid coach in college football.
Kirby is one of the three best head coaches in the country today. When it comes to recruiting, he has a way of selling the program to future players. Developing talent is another strength of his. As he’s known for his defensive philosophies, he’s done solid work when it comes to grooming quarterbacks. Kirby is an animated coach on the sidelines. He has absolutely no issue rallying his troops. There are different styles of coaching. Some are always moving, while others have a calm demeanor on the sideline. Kirby I feel is a mix of both. His players absolutely love him and leave everything on the field for him. They give 110 percent and it’s vice versa with him. Kirby loves his players back and those are the coaches you would run through a wall for. The ones who motivate you to be great.
Since taking the job in Athens, Kirby has seen his share of success. Four SEC East division titles, the 2017 SEC conference title, three SEC conference title game appearances, six bowl game victories, two appearances in the College Football Playoffs and just this past season, he led the Georgia Bulldogs to their first national title since 1980. This is a well-deserved extension for one of the best. He was hired to turn Georgia into a winner, and he’s done just that.
