Kirby Smart to Georgia: Latest Contract Details, Comments and Reaction

The Georgia Bulldogs announced on Sunday that they have found their next head football coach:

"

University of Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart, a former player and coach at the University of Georgia, will be the new head coach of the Bulldogs according to an announcement Sunday by UGA J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics Greg McGarity.

The decision was approved Sunday by the Executive Committee of the UGA Athletic Association Board of Directors. Smart will be introduced at a press conference in Athens on Monday.

"

Marc Weiszer of the Athens Banner-Herald noted Smart signed a six-year contract worth $3.75 million a year. Chip Towers of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported on Dec. 1 that Georgia would hire Smart to lead its football team.

UGA President Jere W. Morehead discussed the hire:

"

I interviewed Coach Smart on Sunday morning, and following that interview, I accepted the athletic director's recommendation to hire Kirby. I am pleased to welcome Kirby, his wife, Mary Beth, and their three children back home to the University of Georgia, and I look forward to supporting him in his new role as our head football coach.

"

"Phil Savage says on XM/Sirius sources tell him [Smart] will stay on through bowl/playoff," noted CBSSports.com's Dennis Dodd on Dec. 3. 

Smart was a defensive back for the Bulldogs from 1995 to 1998 and an All-SEC performer as a senior. He also served as the running backs coach at Georgia in 2005 and was the 2012 AFCA Assistant Coach of the Year as well as the 2009 Broyles Award winner as college football's top assistant coach.

He released a statement as part of the announcement:

"

It's an honor and privilege to return home to the University of Georgia and my home state. I'm deeply appreciative of the faith President Morehead, Greg McGarity, and the Athletic Board Executive Committee have demonstrated in asking me to lead one of the truly great college football programs in the country. I also want to thank Coach Saban. I have been fortunate to spend 11 seasons with him as my mentor and have learned a tremendous amount from him as a coach and teacher. I'm honored and excited for the opportunity at Georgia and promise high energy, effort every day, and hard work every minute on the part of all our coaches, staff and student-athletes.

"

Smart helped the Crimson Tide win three national titles and has led the defense since 2008. Alabama defeated Florida in Saturday's SEC Championship Game, and Georgia was not expected to formally make an announcement until after that contest.

Towers pointed out that Smart has three years remaining on his four-year deal with Alabama, but it includes a buyout "thought to be in the range of $500,000."

Smart will replace Mark Richt, whom the Bulldogs fired after 15 seasons. While Richt has an impressive resume, including 145 wins, his two SEC Championships came in the first half of his tenure, and he failed to take advantage of a weaker SEC East division in recent seasons.

Smart is familiar with the SEC and has reached the mountaintop as an assistant at Alabama, but Paul Myerberg of USA Today implied that he would have liked to see Georgia go in a different direction after Richt's time at the helm:

Beau Bishop of 92.3 The Fan in Cleveland echoed that sentiment:

Houston Cougars head coach Tom Herman may be a fast-rising target, but according to the Houston Press' John Royal, he recently agreed in principle to a new deal with his incumbent school. That means Smart will be the man for the Bulldogs.

Towers noted that he is expected to bring in his own staff but will retain "running backs coach Thomas Brown and recruiting coordinator/wide receivers coach Bryan McClendon."