Kirby Smart will stay at Alabama through the SEC Championship game and College Football Playoffs, before heading to Georgia to become the Bulldogs’ coach, per Dennis Dodd of CBS Sports via Phil Savage.
Phil Savage says on XM/Sirius sources tell him Kirby Smart will stay on through bowl/playoff.
— Dennis Dodd (@dennisdoddcbs) December 3, 2015
Savage cited “two people close to the program” as sources. Savage is also executive director of the Senior Bowl and former Cleveland Browns general manager. He made the same assertion regarding Smart’s future Thursday while appearing on SiriusXM College Sports Radio.
Smart, Alabama’s defensive coordinator, has been widely reported to be the next coach at Georgia. No formal announcement has come from the Bulldogs, and an Alabama spokesman declined comment citing that fact.
Smart is considered one of the best defensive coordinators in the game. His plans regarding both programs has been the subject of wide speculation. His presence at both programs is considered key for Georgia’s short-term recruiting and Alabama’s game prep.
Smart played and coached at Georgia and has been Alabama’s defensive coordinator since 2008.