After bringing the first national championship back to Athens since 1980, the University of Georgia locked down its head coach for the next decade. That's right, Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart's contract extension proves what Alabama head coach Nick Saban already knew: it pays to be a winner.
Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images
UGA and last year's national title winner Smart have agreed to a 10-year-deal worth $112.5 million, giving the Georgia Football coach an $11.25 million annual salary, according to ESPN. This monstrous deal, crafted with Smart's agent Jimmy Sexton, adds Smart's name to the list of highest-paid coaches in college football. The news of this deal comes just weeks before the college football coach and the Dawgs begin their march back to a College Football Playoff berth and potentially another appearance in the championship game.
Under Smart's leadership, the Georgia football program has reclaimed its place in the SEC Championship picture. While some years they may be pushed out of the national title game by the likes of LSU or Clemson, Georgia has risen to new heights in recent years and is a clear force to be reckoned with, even sending multiple stars to the NFL.
Kirby Smart is Now The Highest-Paid College Football Coach
Georgia head coach Kirby Smart has agreed to a 10-year deal worth $112.5M, making him one of the highest-paid coaches in college football, per @ClowESPN pic.twitter.com/CdwfdvDfd5
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 21, 2022
In the conversation of highest-paid NCAA football coaches, this deal puts Smart at the top of the list, with his average annual value trumping that of Saban, Ohio State's head coach Ryan Day, Texas A&M's Jimbo Fisher, Lane Kiffin's deal with Ole Miss, Clemson's Dabo Swinney, Lincoln Riley at USC, Mario Cristobal in Miami, Mel Tucker at Michigan State, Florida's Billy Napier, Brian Kelly's deal with LSU and Smart's former assistant coach Dan Lanning's new contract with the Oregon Ducks.
Another fun fact about Smart's salary increase is that he's now set to make more than 20 times the salary of Atlanta Falcons head coach Arthur Smith. If there was any doubt about who the more important football team in Georgia is, this should clear things up. After all, in the SEC, "it just means more."
