Kirby Paul Smart is an American football coach who, like many of his colleagues, got his start working in the game on the other side of the field as a player, although he kind of got an early start when it came to coaching. Working for various schools over the years, his story proved that you can go home again, essentially becoming a head coach for his alma mater. Let’s take a look at his career over the years, starting with his net worth.
Kirby Smart Net Worth: $3.75 Million
Kirby Smart’s net worth is estimated to be around $3.75 million. Let’s take a look at his career over the years to see how he came so far.
The Early Years
Smart was born in Montgomery, Alabama, but grew up in Bainbridge, the son of a high school football coach. Smart himself began playing the game while attending Bainbridge High School, going on to play college football at the University of Georgia. Proving to be a good student, he was a four-time member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll and graduated in 1999 with a finance degree. He was undrafted in the 1999 NFL Draft, signing a contract with the Indianapolis Colts, but was cut before the start of the regular season.
1999-2004
Smart began coaching for the University of Georgia in 1999, initially serving as an administrative assistant. Over the upcoming years, he went through different schools in different positions, spending one season at Valdosta State as a defensive backs coach, later being promoted to defensive coordinator, and a graduate assistant at Florida State, where he also earned his master’s degree.
2005-2013
For the 2005 season, he rejoined the Georgia Bulldogs as a running backs coach. The following year saw his only season in the NFL, as the Miami Dolphins safeties coach. In 2007, Smart was hired by Nick Saban to be an assistant coach at the University of Alabama; the following year saw him promoted to defensive coordinator. Proving his work, he was awarded the Broyles Award as the nation’s best assistant coach in 2009, making him the first Alabama assistant coach to win the award. His success almost earned him a contract with the University of Georgia, but he chose to stay with Alabama for the time being. By 2013, he became the highest-paid defensive coordinator in college football.
2014-Present
By 2015, Smart did eventually return to the University of Georgia, becoming the school’s 26th head football coach. By 2018, the University of Georgia and Smart agreed on a lucrative contract extension worth $49 million, essentially making Smart the third-highest paid coach in the SEC, just behind Alabama’s Nick Saban and Texas A&M’s Jimbo Fisher. Stretching out over seven years, he will net $7 million each year. According to WSB-TV, J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics Greg McGarity issued the following statement:
“Kirby has provided an incredible level of energy and excitement to our football program, and we look forward to his leadership for many years to come.”