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Ranking the top ten defensive coaches in college football

By Nicholas Ian Allen

Apr 18, 2015; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Kirby Smart talks to linebacker Walker Jones (35) during the A-day game at Bryant Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 18, 2015; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Kirby Smart talks to linebacker Walker Jones (35) during the A-day game at Bryant Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 15, 2014; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide defensive coordinator Kirby Smart talks to his defense during the game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 15, 2014; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide defensive coordinator Kirby Smart talks to his defense during the game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports /

Simply put, Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart has one of the greatest defensive coaching resumes in college football. Smart won the 2012 AFCA Assistant Coach of the Year Award. He received the Broyles Award in 2009 as the nation’s top collegiate assistant, in only his second year as a coordinator.

Smart was promoted to defensive coordinator at Alabama in 2008, and helped the Crimson Tide finish third nationally in total defense (263.5 yards per game). In 2009, Smart led the Alabama defense to a No. 2 national ranking in scoring defense (11.7 points per game), total defense (244.1 yards per game), rush defense (78.1 yards per game) and pass efficiency defense (87.7). The Tide also won the first of three national championships during his tenure.

In 2010, Smart led the Alabama defense to a top five finish and then in 2011 produced a No. 1 season. Alabama led the country in all major defensive statistical categories: total defense (183.6 yards per game), scoring defense (8.2 points per game), rush defense (72.2 yards per game), pass defense (111.5 yards per game) and pass efficiency defense (83.69) and also won a national championship.

Smart’s 2012 unit again led the nation in total defense (250 yards per game) and scoring defense (10.9 points per game), and the school won it all again. In 2013, the Crimson Tide ranked fourth in scoring defense (13.9 points per game) and fifth total defense (286.5 yards per game).

Last season’s Alabama defense wasn’t as dominant as some of Smart’s earlier units, but they did rank third in the SEC and sixth nationally in scoring defense (18.4 points per game) as well as third in the SEC and 12th in the nation in total defense (328.4 yards per game). The Crimson Tide allowed 102.4 rushing yards per game, which was the fourth best mark in the country.

Of course, it’s worth mentioning that Smart has the benefit of working with one of the greatest defensive minded coaches in college football in Nick Saban, as well as a recruiting staff that supplies him with some of the nation’s most gifted defensive players.

Smart is just 39 years old, and has already been a candidate for several head coaching positions, and is sure to find the right job soon. It could even happen in Tuscaloosa should Nick Saban retire at some point in the next few years.

Next: 1. Will Muschamp

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