Kirby Smart's Salary: What Does the Georgia Coach Earn?
Kirby Smart's Salary: What Does the Georgia Coach Earn?
By Fan Arch August 16, 2024 05:56
In college football, a head coach's salary often reflects individual success on the field and their program's broader financial clout and ambitions. Among the elite names in this realm is Kirby Smart, the head coach of the University of Georgia Bulldogs. Smart's contract and compensation have become topics of national conversation, symbolizing his personal achievements and the immense value placed on college football success in the United States. This article delves into the details of Kirby Smart's significant payday, exploring the components of his salary, the incentives laced within his contract, and how his earnings compare to those of his counterparts across the nation, particularly in the SEC. With Smart setting records and benchmarks in coaching compensation, understanding the nuances of his contract offers insights into the economics of college sports and the high rewards for coaching excellence.
Salary Annual salary changes from the current contract
In May 2024, it was announced that Kirby Smart signed an extension through Dec. and will have a new annual contract worth $13 million. The new deal is worth $1.75 million more than his last one, which paid him $11.25 million in 2024 and $12M in 2025. In addition, Smart can receive the following bonuses as part of his contract: An annual amount up to a maximum of $1.55 million based on performance and program success.
Fifty-two days later, Smart added a first national title to his resume at Georgia and signed an extension that would keep him through 2029 with no buyout stipulation. Smart's new deal does not just make him college football's highest-paid coach, ahead of Clemson's Dabo Swinney, who is scheduled to earn $11 million by 2024.
Other Top College Football Coaches
Conversely, Smart's salary is now among the top college football coaching salaries. He was the only coach on $13 million in 2024, with Swinney and Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian on between $10-$11 million. This is a significant difference and shows how valuable Smart's on-field success has become.
Of course, some coaches in the tough SEC are also well-paid. Alabama's Kallen DeBoer and Florida State's Mike Norvell have been reported to earn more than $10 million annually. Yet, Smart's salary is appropriate based on their current status and what has been done in the past, especially within a conference that boasts some of college football's most storied programs.
Smart's Compensation Linked to Various Factors
Recruiting Excellence
Smart has only made Georgia consistently recruit the best recruiting programs. He brings high-level recruits to the program, which not only improves on-field performance but elevates the profile and prestige of an upstart program. Athletic directors heavily weigh this particular metric when evaluating a coach's value.
Program Development
Georgia, behind Smart, has become a national contender. Facilities, support staff, and the overall product within Gamecock football have grown by leaps and bounds during that time. Over time, that investment usually shows up in a coach's coach's approach to keeping great performance top of mind.
Structure of Smart's Contract
Georgia can offer Smart a base salary as well, but the structure of his contract works on incentives. Key components include:
- Base Salary: Smart has a base of $13,000,000 per football season.
- Performance Bonuses: His contract comes with up to $1.55 million in performance bonuses annually, half of those tied to conference championships and playoff appearances
- Contract Guarantee: The contract is 100% guaranteed through Dec. 31, 2028, which will provide Smart with huge financial security and stability as he runs the program.
Future Pay Raises And Packaging Set On Action
In the future, expect Kirby Smart to command a higher salary per season, given that he continues at his current rate of success. Smart must evolve and guide Georgia through what will probably be a different-looking college football future, thanks to possible shifts in playoff configurations or conference alignments.
Should Georgia still be one of the top teams in college football at that time, it would make sense for Smart's Smart to get reworked and likely increased based on what he has contributed and brought to said program. It is the nature of college football that top coaches are often rewarded for success with new and improved contracts.
Kirby Smart, the head football coach of the University of Georgia, is more than just the representation of his performance on the field. It is a reflection of the present-day economics of college athletics. He earns $13 million a year, making him the top-paid coach in college football. This results from his ability to make the Bulldogs a nationally successful team. In the future, college football may undergo certain shifts that will necessitate a change in Smart, but he will undoubtedly retain his leading status in the sport.
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