Six months after leading Georgia to its first national title since the 1980 season, Kirby Smart was rewarded by his alma mater with a contract that locks him up through the 2031 season and makes him the highest-paid coach in college football history.
The 10-year extension likely ensures Smart, 46, remains with the Bulldogs for the remainder of his coaching tenure — or at least the next 10 years. It also has built-in raises throughout the length of the deal, illustrating a willingness by the school to ensure its football team remains one of the premier programs in college football.
It’s easy to understand why Georgia has invested so much into Smart: Since taking over in 2016, he has become one of the nation’s premier recruiters; has never won fewer than eight games in a season; is 6-2 in bowl games (including 3-1 in the College Football Playoff and 4-1 in New Year’s Day 6 bowls); has led Georgia to top-10 finishes in five straight seasons; has two SEC championships; and that national title.
MORE: Sporting News’ post-portal deadline top 25 - where does Georgia come in?
“Coach Smart’s impact on the University of Georgia extends far past his significant accolades as our head football coach,” Georgia athletic director Josh Brooks said in a release. “He and his wife are Bulldogs through and through, and it is evident that Athens and UGA mean as much to him as he means to us.
“I am excited for our football program’s continued success under his direction. The future of Georgia football remains bright with Coach Smart as its steadfast leader.”
A sound investment, all told. With that, The Sporting News looks at Smart’s new contract, and where he ranks among college football’s highest-paid coaches:
Kirby Smart contract details
Per the school, Smart’s base salary and supplemental compensation will start at $10.25 million in 2022 and will feature raises through the end of the contract’s life in 2031, culminating that season with compensation of $12.25 million.
A May report from The Athletic lists his former annual salary at roughly $7 million following the completion of the 2017 season (a year in which the Bulldogs were an overtime loss away in the CFP national title game vs. Alabama from winning the championship).
MORE: College Football Playoff contenders 2022: Who can sneak up on Alabama, Ohio State, Georgia
That same report listed Smart’s salary as $4.5 million during that season, meaning Smart has received raises of $2.5 million and $3.25 million after the 2017 and 2021 seasons, respectively.
Georgia did not list the total value of the contract, and reports vary as to its exact worth. ESPN’s Chris Low lists that number at $112.5 million, while Action Network’s Brett McMurphy reports it at $111 million. Either way, Smart stands to receive an average payout of at least $11.1 million per year over the length of the extension.
Highest-paid college football coaches for 2022
Smart’s extension doesn’t just make him the highest-paid coach in Georgia history, or even SEC history. He is now the highest-paid coach in all of college football.
Perhaps not surprisingly, the SEC claims four of the top 10 head coaching coaches in college football, followed by three from the Big Ten, two from the Pac-12 and one from the ACC.
Here are the top 10 highest-paid coaches in football, using a May report from 247Sports (and ensuing raises from the likes of Ohio State’s Ryan Day):
*Figures shown are estimates only. Private institutions are not legally obligated to release employee salaries.
