Kirby Smart

Kirby Smart is entering his second season with the Alabama football staff as assistant head coach/defense and secondary coach. A former standout defensive back and scholar-athlete at Georgia, Smart brings an impressive blend of college and pro coaching experience to the Crimson Tide.

Under Smart’s guidance in 2007, safety Rashad Johnson led the SEC with six interceptions and earned first team All-SEC honors along with cornerback Simeon Castille. A third member of the Alabama secondary, Kareem Jackson, was honored at the end of the season as a second team Sporting News Freshman All-American.

Smart joined the Tide after spending the 2006 season as safeties coach with head coach Nick Saban and the NFL’s Miami Dolphins. Prior to his stint with the Dolphins, Smart spent six years on the collegiate level with Georgia (1999 and 2005), LSU (2004), Florida State (2002-03), and Valdosta State (2000-01).

As the running backs coach at Georgia in 2005, the Bulldogs averaged 162.2 yards per game, the third best mark in the SEC. Smart spent the 2004 season as defensive backs coach under Saban at LSU, where he tutored two NFL draft picks: Corey Webster (2nd round, New York Giants) and Travis Daniels (4th round, Miami Dolphins). That season, the Tigers allowed 157.2 passing yards per game, which ranked second in the SEC and fifth nationally.

Smart was a graduate assistant coach under Bobby Bowden at Florida State in 2002-03 and served as defensive coordinator (2001) and defensive backs (2000) coach at Valdosta State. He began his coaching career as an administrative assistant at Georgia in 1999.

As a player, Smart was a four-year lettermen at defensive back for the Bulldogs, where he was a first team All-SEC pick as a senior. He finished his career with 13 interceptions, fourth in Georgia annals, and led the Bulldogs with six interceptions in 1997 and five in 1998. A four-time member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll, Smart earned his undergraduate degree in finance from Georgia and his master’s degree from Florida State in 2003.

A native of Bainbridge, Ga., Smart is married to the former Mary Beth Lycett of McDonough, Ga. The couple recently became the proud parents of twins (Weston and Julia) on February 8, 2008.

Burton Burns Curt Cignetti Bo Davis Joe Pendry Kirby Smart Kevin Steele Lance Thompson Jim McElwain Bobby Williams
	Kirby Smart is entering his second season with the Alabama football staff as assistant head coach/defense and secondary coach. A former standout defensive back and scholar-athlete at Georgia, Smart brings an impressive blend of college and pro coaching experience to the Crimson Tide. Under Smart’s guidance in 2007, safety Rashad Johnson led the SEC with six interceptions and earned first team All-SEC honors along with cornerback Simeon Castille. A third member of the Alabama secondary, Kareem Jackson, was honored at the end of the season as a second team Sporting News Freshman All-American. Smart joined the Tide after spending the 2006 season as safeties coach with head coach Nick Saban and the NFL’s Miami Dolphins. Prior to his stint with the Dolphins, Smart spent six years on the collegiate level with Georgia (1999 and 2005), LSU (2004), Florida State (2002-03), and Valdosta State (2000-01). As the running backs coach at Georgia in 2005, the Bulldogs averaged 162.2 yards per game, the third best mark in the SEC. Smart spent the 2004 season as defensive backs coach under Saban at LSU, where he tutored two NFL draft picks: Corey Webster (2nd round, New York Giants) and Travis Daniels (4th round, Miami Dolphins). That season, the Tigers allowed 157.2 passing yards per game, which ranked second in the SEC and fifth nationally. Smart was a graduate assistant coach under Bobby Bowden at Florida State in 2002-03 and served as defensive coordinator (2001) and defensive backs (2000) coach at Valdosta State. He began his coaching career as an administrative assistant at Georgia in 1999. As a player, Smart was a four-year lettermen at defensive back for the Bulldogs, where he was a first team All-SEC pick as a senior. He finished his career with 13 interceptions, fourth in Georgia annals, and led the Bulldogs with six interceptions in 1997 and five in 1998. A four-time member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll, Smart earned his undergraduate degree in finance from Georgia and his master’s degree from Florida State in 2003. A native of Bainbridge, Ga., Smart is married to the former Mary Beth Lycett of McDonough, Ga. The couple recently became the proud parents of twins (Weston and Julia) on February 8, 2008.