Kirby Smart Net Worth

Kirby Smart is an American football coach with a reported net worth of $50 million. Born on December 23, 1975, in Montgomery, Alabama, Smart grew up in Bainbridge, Georgia. He attended Bainbridge High School and later played college football as a defensive back at the University of Georgia from 1995 to 1998. After his playing career, Smart began his coaching journey at Georgia, starting as an administrative assistant in 1999.

He later moved to Valdosta State, where he served as the defensive backs coach, before becoming the team's defensive coordinator in 2001. Smart then worked briefly at Florida State and LSU before returning to Georgia in 2005 as the running backs coach. His stint at the NFL with the Miami Dolphins followed, before he joined Alabama in 2007 as the assistant head coach and defensive backs coach.

At Alabama, Smart played a pivotal role in establishing the Crimson Tide's reputation as one of the leading defensive teams in college football, leading them to four national championships between 2009 and 2015. In 2016, Smart returned to Georgia as the Bulldogs' head coach. His first significant achievement came in 2017 when he led Georgia to its first SEC championship since 2005, earning him the SEC Coach of the Year award.

The 2017 season ended with an 11-1 record and a national championship game appearance against Alabama, which Georgia lost 26-23 in overtime. Between 2018 and 2019, Georgia maintained an 11-1 regular-season record, securing SEC titles in both years. The 2020 season was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in a 7-2 record and a second-place finish in the SEC East.

In 2021, Smart's coaching prowess was highlighted when Georgia finished the regular season undefeated at 12-0. They faced Alabama in the SEC Championship Game but lost 41-24. Despite this defeat, Georgia advanced to the College Football Playoff and upset Michigan in the semifinal game at the Orange Bowl, ultimately winning the national championship.

This 2021 victory marked Georgia's first football championship since 1980 and solidified Smart's status as a highly-paid coach in college football. Smart's salary has seen substantial increases since joining Georgia. Before the 2022-2023 season, he was earning around $7 million annually under a seven-year, $49 million contract extension.

In July 2022, Smart signed a landmark 10-year, $112.5 million contract with Georgia, setting his average annual salary at $11.25 million and making him the highest-paid college football coach at the time. This contract was extended through the 2033 season, with an annual salary increase to $13 million in May 2024. Smart's lucrative contract is the main contributor to his estimated $50 million net worth, providing him with substantial financial security tied to his continued role as the University of Georgia's head coach.