Kirby Smart - Assistant Head Coach-Defense

Kirby Smart joined the Crimson Tide football staff in January, 2007, after spending the 2006 season as safeties coach with head coach Nick Saban and the NFL’s Miami Dolphins. Prior to his stint with the Dolphins, Smart spent six years on the collegiate level with Georgia (1999 and 2005), LSU (2004), Florida State (2002-03), and Valdosta State (2000-01).

As the running backs coach at Georgia in 2005, the Bulldogs averaged 162.2 yards per game, the third best mark in the SEC. Smart spent the 2004 season as defensive backs coach under Saban at LSU, where he tutored two NFL draft picks: Corey Webster (2nd round, New York Giants) and Travis Daniels (4th round, Miami Dolphins). That season, the Tigers allowed 157.2 passing yards per game, which ranked second in the SEC and fifth nationally.

A native of Bainbridge, Ga., Smart was a graduate assistant coach under Bobby Bowden at Florida State in 2002-03 and served as defensive coordinator (2001) and defensive backs (2000) coach at Valdosta State. He began his coaching career as an administrative assistant at Georgia in 1999.

As a player, Smart was four-year lettermen at defensive back for the Bulldogs, where he was a First-Team All-SEC pick as a senior. He finished his career with 13 interceptions, fourth in Georgia annals, and led the Bulldogs with six interceptions in 1997 and five in 1998. A four-time member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll, Smart earned his undergraduate degree in finance from Georgia and his master’s degree from Florida State in 2003.

Playing Experience:

Played defensive back at the University of Georgia (1995-98)

Bowl Participation as a Player:

1995 Peach Bowl

1997 Outback Bowl

1998 Peach Bowl

Bowl Participation as a Coach:

1999 Outback Bowl (Georgia)

2002 Sugar Bowl (Florida State)

2003 Orange Bowl (Florida State)

2005 Capital One Bowl (LSU)

2005 Sugar Bowl (Georgia)

Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Finance from the University of Georgia (1999)

Master’s degree from Florida State University (2003)

Coaching Experience:

2006

Miami Dolphins,Safeties Coach

2005

University of Georgia, Running Backs Coach

2004

LSU, Defensive Backs Coach

2002-03

Florida State University, Graduate Assistant Coach

2001

Valdosta State University, Defensive Coordinator

2000

Valdosta State University, Defensive Backs Coach

1999

University of Georgia, Administrative Assistant