Kirby Smart Is a Risky Hire for Georgia, but the Reward Could Be Huge

 

The worst-kept secret in college football appears to be out.

According to Chip Towers of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart will become the new head coach of the Georgia Bulldogs following this weekend's SEC Championship Game between the Crimson Tide and the Florida Gators, with an official announcement coming Sunday or Monday.
Smart steps in for Mark Richt, who was dismissed on Sunday after compiling a 145-51 record in 15 years at Georgia, winning two SEC titles and representing the SEC East in the SEC Championship Game five times.
A bold move for sure, but not unexpected.
Smart had emerged as the clear front-runner to the point where he essentially was the only candidate for athletics director Greg McGarity according to DawgNation.com.
It's understandable, to a point. Smart's defenses at Alabama have finished in the top 12 nationally every year since he took over as the full-time defensive coordinator in 2008, he is a former Georgia defensive back who also spent a year at Georgia as a running backs coach in 2005 and including one year on Saban's staff at LSU, has spent a decade learning from the best college football coach of this generation.
"When I first heard about Kirby, I thought he would be a really good candidate," former quarterback D.J. Shockley (2001-2005) told Bleacher Report. "He was our running backs coach during my last year there, and obviously he's been with Saban for all these years. He's been up for different head coaching jobs, so it'll be interesting to see Kirby in that role."
Make no mistake, though. There's only one thing on the mind of Georgia fans—championships.
"I think that the expectations have been built to the point where if you don’t win a championship it’s kind of miserable around here," Richt said during his farewell press conference according to quotes emailed by Georgia.