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Georgia Bulldogs: A look at Kirby Smart’s contract

By Kathryn Morrison

Jan 9, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide defensive coordinator Kirby Smart answers questions at media day at Phoenix Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 9, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide defensive coordinator Kirby Smart answers questions at media day at Phoenix Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports /
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Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart has now signed his full contract with UGA after having signed a memorandum of understanding back in Dec. 2015 when he was hired. What are the details of Smart’s contract?

Kirby Smart. Previous defensive coordinator at the University of Alabama. Current University of Georgia Bulldogs head coach and former player. Now, his contract with the Bulldogs is official.

When the Georgia Bulldogs first hired Kirby Smart in Dec. 2015, he had only signed a memorandum of understanding…meaning nothing was binding or set it stone. Just recently, Coach Smart signed his full contract with the university.

VIA Nick Cole of SECcountry.com 

"New Georgia coach Kirby Smart will make $3.75 million annually through the 2021 season.The Athens Banner-Herald‘s Marc Weiszer confirmed those details on Friday after obtaining a document that outlined the new Bulldogs coach’s agreement with the university through an open records request.Weiszer stated that Smart has signed the contract after previously inking a memorandum of understanding, which was reported by DawgNation’s Seth Emerson back in December of 2015.According to the report, the annual contract breaks down to include $2.27 million for media compensation based on radio and television appearances, $1.08 million for equipment endorsements and a meager $400,000 base salary.Weiszer reports the 35-page document contains many interesting tidbits, including Georgia paying for a country club membership, a clause allowing for Smart’s family to travel to all road and neutral-site games as a part of the school’s official travel party, as well as the usage of a 25-seat box during home games."

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Additionally, the 35-page contract outlines Smart‘s specific “duties and powers” as coach, which resorts many of the final decisions ultimately to the discretion of the athletics director.

With this being Smart‘s first time serving as a head coach, it is clear that he’s landed a pretty good deal with the Georgia Bulldogs.

But the perks of being the new head coach don’t stop there for Smart. A series of performance bonuses were previously outlined in the initial memorandum of understanding.

According to Seth Emerson of DawgNation,

"There are various performance bonuses in Smart’s contract:$400,000 for winning the SEC championship or $150,000 for winning the SEC East. (He would not receive both.)$1 million for winning the national championship, or $600,000 for playing in the game. or – $500,000 for advancing to the national semifinal game. (Again, he would not receive both.)$200,000 for a top-5 finish in either the AP or coaches polls.$200,000 for playing in any of the other College Football Playoff bowls, though not in the playoff.$100,000 for making the Citrus Bowl.$75,000 for playing in one of the so-called Six-Pack bowl games (Taxslayer, Outback, Belk, Music City, Texas or Liberty).$50,000 for playing in the Birmingham or Independence Bowl."

Though Smart may not have landed the $4.1 million contract that belonged to former head coach Mark Richt, at $3.75 million annually, the new coach is not far behind. Not to mention, the details of the contract are really nothing to complain about.

Next: Bulldogs: Harbaugh steals show at Atlanta satellite camp

It appears that the Georgia Bulldogs and Kirby Smart have a very well-written, detailed, and mutually beneficial agreement. Let’s hope that Bulldog fans can benefit as well over the next six seasons under Coach Smart.

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