Kirby Smart officially named head coach of Georgia Bulldogs

Kirby Smart officially signed his multi-year deal Sunday morning to become the next head coach of the Georgia Bulldogs football team.

After winning the SEC Championship in Atlanta Saturday evening, Alabama Crimson Tide defensive coordinator Kirby Smart made the trip up to Athens to officially sign as the next head coach of the Georgia Bulldogs.

The University of Georgia’ athletic director Greg McGarity explained the reasoning behind hiring Kirby Smart away from the University of Alabama after letting the Dawgs’ head coach of the last 15 years in Mark Richt go this time last week.

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McGarity said,”It was critical to identify a person who would focus on a specific, defined process of developing championship football teams on and off the playing field….Kirby Smart fits that profile. I believe Kirby Smart is the perfect fit for the University of Georgia.”

ESPN’s Mark Schlabach reports that the a press conference announcing Kirby Smart’s hiring won’t happen today, but will come shortly.

According to Anthony Dasher of UGASports.com, Kirby Smart signed a six-year deal worth $3,750,000 annually. His contract begins on January 1st, 2016 and will run through December 31st, 2021.

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Smart must begin building his coach staff almost immediately. While many thought that Smart would consider bringing Auburn defensive coordinator Will Muschamp back to Athens, the other former Georgia defensive back is now going to lead the South Carolina Gamecocks after accepting their offer to become the next head coach in Columbia.

Current defensive line coach Tracy Rocker will reportedly stay on Kirby Smart’s staff and current UGA defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt emerges as Smart’s probable replacement in Tuscaloosa. The other big development in the Kirby Smart hire is that he will likely bring with him “Alabama’s Secret Weapon” in strength and conditioning coach Scott Cochran. UGA has had so many seasons ruined by injury. Fans have often been critical of the UGA program under Mark Richt with regards to strength and conditioning.

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While Kirby Smart is a UGA alum, he does have big shoes to fill in replacing Mark Richt as the Lead Dawg in Athens. It is good to bring in a man familiar with the strong UGA football culture in Kirby Smart. Here’s to get over the top in the new Kirby Smart Era of Georgia Football. Go Dawgs!