Alabama Keeping Newly Reported Georgia Head Coach Kirby Smart through Postseason Run

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @HogManInLA

The continuity along the Alabama sidelines will not be disrupted in the postseason per sources close to the Crimson Tide program with defensive coordinator Kirby Smart continuing his role throughout the bowl season.

Numerous reports have tabbed Smart as the next head coach at Georgia replacing Mark Richt after his 15 years in Athens. Smart heading to Athens makes sense for the rabid fan base aching for an opportunity to compete for a national championship. Smart was a defensive back for the Bulldogs from 1995-1998 before starting to work his way up the coaching ladder. In 2000, Smart was the DB coach for Valdosta State and quickly took over as defensive coordinator in 2001. After two seasons with Florida State as a graduate assistant, Smart was a DB coach for LSU in 2004 and then returned to coach running backs in Athens in 2005. After a one-year stint with the Dolphins (2006), Smart has been in Tuscaloosa with head coach Nick Saban since the 2007 season being the DC since 2008.

Year after year Smart has been linked to various head coaching jobs across the country but he has stayed with Saban evidently waiting for the perfect job. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution was the first to report Smart’s acceptance of the Georgia job and CBS Sports was the first to report Smart will stay with Alabama through the college football playoffs.

Smart staying with Alabama through to the end of the season is honorable and helps the Crimson Tide program but could but the Georgia program back until the mid-part of January when the playoffs are complete, should Bama advance to the national championship game. From Tuscaloosa, Smart will have to juggle his current job duties, hire a staff, and start making in-roads with recruits from his Alabama office wearing a Crimson Tide shirt.

During Smart’s nine seasons with Alabama, the Crimson Tide have won three national championships (2009, 2011, and 2012).

The No. 2 ranked Crimson Tide take on the No. 18 ranked Florida Gators in the SEC Championship on Saturday. If Alabama wins, they are a lock for the two-game college football playoffs.

Photo credit: bamahammer.com; Kirby Smart (left) will stay on the Alabama staff with Nick Saban (right) through the playoffs.