Kirby Smart Reportedly Will Be Named Georgia Head Coach

The University of Georgia announced Sunday head coach Mark Richt had stepped down, and it will reportedly fill the void with Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart. 

Continue for updates.

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Smart Reportedly to Be Named Head Coach

Tuesday, Dec. 1

Smart will be announced as the new Georgia coach "as soon as Sunday or Monday", according to Chip Towers of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Mark Schlabach of ESPN.com confirmed the report. 

Mark Bradley of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported on Smart's potential staff if he were to take over the Bulldogs:

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Rumor has it that Kirby Smart would like to bring former Bulldog teammate Will Muschamp to Athens, assuming Smart is offered the Georgia job, which I believe he will be.

To me, that’s not much of a selling point. Muschamp is damaged goods: Fired by Florida, a high-priced dud at Auburn. Imported to fix the Tigers’ defense—and labeled by Gus Malzahn as 'the best defensive mind in the country, and not just in college'—Muschamp’s defenders finished 89th in the nation and next-to-last in the SEC in yardage against. (That’s actually a regression from last season, when Auburn was No. 64 nationally.)

And Muschamp’s sideline tirade during the Alabama game didn’t just make for amusing viewing—his penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct cost his team 15 yards and led to Bama kicking a field that turned a six-point game into a nine-point game.

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Fisher Comments on Georgia Job

Tuesday, Dec. 1

Florida State head coach Jimbo Fisher, when asked by Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel if he was staying with Florida State, was firm in his response:

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"You're exactly right," Fisher said, per Bianchi. "I'm staying right here at Florida State."

(...)

"There is no doubt I do (have one of the best jobs in America)," Fisher continued. "This is a tremendous place. The Florida State people have been wonderful. This is a great place to live, a great place to coach; we've got great players, great tradition and great history. This is a tremendous job and a heckuva place. I love it here.

"All those other places (LSU, Georgia, etc.) are great, but this is just as good."

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Herman Reportedly Preferred Georgia to South Carolina

Monday, Nov. 30

Josh Newberg of 247Sports reported Houston Cougars head coach Tom Herman withdrew his interest in the opening with the South Carolina Gamecocks and would instead be keen to go to a more prestigious SEC job. Newberg also indicated he may wait to see if the head jobs at Texas or Texas A&M open up as well.

However, Herman took himself out of the running for any opening when he said he agreed in principle to a new contract in Houston on Monday, relayed by Joseph Duarte of the Houston Chronicle.

Herman was Ohio State's offensive coordinator for the Buckeyes' national championship team from last year. He's led Houston to an 11-1 record, with only a three-point loss to Connecticut thwarting an undefeated season.

There are big shoes to fill for whomever takes over from Richt, though. The latter has had only one losing season in 15 years at Georgia, and high expectations in the SEC were what had Richt on the hot seat in the first place despite his sustained success for a decade-and-a-half.