College football head coach rankings: Dabo or Saban? Who is the best young coach?
By Dante Pryor
- Career Record (5-years): 44-12
- Conference Titles: 1
- National Titles: 0
Kirby Smart is one of two coaches on this list from Saban’s extensive coaching tree. The Alabama native started with Saban at LSU and went to the NFL with him when Saban went to the Dolphins. When Saban went to Alabama, so did Smart. Smart was one of the longest-tenured coordinators he ever had.
However, for the man raised in Georgia and played at the University of Georgia, the call to Athens was inevitable. When Georgia fired Mark Richt, the Georgia Bulldogs promptly plucked from the Saban coaching tree.
The first thing that Smart did when he got to Athens was level-up recruiting. One of the reasons he was able to stay with Saban for so long as they shared the same philosophy about recruiting. Smart was a grinder, just like his mentor.
Since his arrival, the Bulldogs and Smart have kept pace with Saban and Alabama on the recruiting trail. They’ve recruited near or at the top since 2015. Their only two classes outside the top 5 were 2015 and 2016. Smart ended Saban’s streak of No. 1 recruiting classes in 2018 and again in 2020.
Though Smart does not have the extensive coaching tree of his mentor — and who does — current Michigan State head coach Mel Tucker was on Smart’s staff from 2016-2018 before being hired at Colorado.
Passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach Cortez Hankton is a future head coach someday as well.
This next season will be a test to see how adaptable Smart is. He’s a defensive coach and has had success turning Georgia into “Alabama East.” Smart hired Todd Monken to open the offense.
The Bulldogs have had success with a conservative passing game, bullish offensive linemen and an overpowering running game. They’ve been to three consecutive New Year’s Six bowl games, including almost winning a national championship.
They’ve knocked on the door of being one of college football’s elite. Smart is hoping a more aggressive offense coupled with arguably the best defense in the conference will help them break the glass ceiling.