Georgia is close to finalizing a long-term contract extension with soccer coach Kirby Smart, which will make him one of the highest-paid coaches in FBS.
Last season, Smart guided the Bulldogs to their first national championship in 41 years with a 33-18 victory over Alabama in the CFP National Championship.
Athletic director Josh Brooks discussed Smart’s new contract with the UGA athletics board at a meeting on Thursday, though no action was taken. Details of the new deal were not disclosed.
Smart’s representative, Jimmy Sexton of Creative Artists Agency, could not be reached for comment.
“It’s just going through this process, taking your time,” Brooks said in a statement on Thursday. “It’s an important contract for him (Smart) and for us, so it’s all the little details. It’s the typical, nothing out of the ordinary. We did. worked closely with his agent and it was a great process.”
Smart, 46, agreed to a seven-year, $49 million extension in May 2018, almost double his compensation from the original contract. His current median annual salary of $7 million ranks sixth in the SEC, behind Nick Saban of Alabama ($10.6 million), Brian Kelly of LSU ($9.5 million), Jimbo Fisher of Texas A&M ($9 million), Ole Miss’ Lane Kiffin ($7.25 million) and Billy Napier of Florida ($7.1 million).
Apparently, Smart’s ranking is about to change.
“I think what we said is correct,” UGA president Jere Morehead told reporters on Thursday. “It would be commensurate with what you would expect to be compensated for a national championship coach, but we’re close to closing those deals. I don’t think anyone would be surprised.”
Smart, a former Bulldogs defensive back, guided his teams to a 66-15 record in six seasons. His teams have reached the CFP twice and played in five consecutive CFP matches or the New Year’s six-bowl. During her tenure, Georgia won four SEC East titles and one SEC championship in 2017.
