On Sunday we found out that Georgia and 15-year Head Coach Mark Richt were parting ways, or will be, after the Bulldogs play their upcoming (and undecided) bowl game. The school's first choice for a Richt replacement was reportedly Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart who, also reportedly, will accept the job, possibly as early as this weekend (which we assume means after 'Bama's SEC Championship game against Florida).
Smart attended Georgia as a student, where he also played safety and later assistant coached, serving under Richt in 2005 (the last year UGA won a title). He then latched on to the NFL to be an assistant coach under Nick Saban during one of his two "Dolphins years," before returning to college. He's been the Crimson Tide's defensive coordinator since 2008, and has been the highest paid DC in college football ($1.5 million annually) since 2013.
Smart has never been a Head Coach before (he turns 40 this month) but Georgia's decision to make him one was allegedly hastened due to South Carolina's similar interest in having Smart take over their program.
[via Atlanta Journal-Constitution]
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