Kirby Smart named Bulldogs new Head Coach

UGA J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics Greg McGarity announced Sunday that University of Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart will be the new Head Coach of the Georgia Bulldogs

Smart, began his coaching career as a Georgia administrative assistant in 1999, has been apart of the  Alabama staff the past nine years, spending the past seven as defensive coordinator. The 2015 Alabama defense ranks first in rushing defense (74.0 ypg), second in total defense (258.2 ypg), and third in scoring defense (14.4).

Smart played football at Georgia. He was a four-year letterman at defensive back for Georgia, where he was a first team all-SEC pick as a senior.

The 39-year-old coach has not been a head coach at the college level before. He was last at Georgia in 2005 when he spent a season as the team’s running backs coach.

The school parted ways with longtime coach Mark Richt to pave the way to hire Smart.

Smart will be introduced at a press conference in Athens on Monday.