Report: Kirby Smart to Georgia "Barring a Last-Minute Snag"

Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart will be the next Georgia football coach unless some Eleventh Hour sticking point comes up, according to a report from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The paper says an announcement could be made as soon as this weekend “barring a last-minute snag.” Make what you will of that phrasing.

Smart, a Georgia alum, has been the presumptive favorite to replace Mark Richt who was fired on Sunday after 15 years at the helm. He’s won three national championships with Nick Saban in nine years and will reportedly be bringing in his own staff.

The Crimson Tide face Florida in the SEC Championship Game on Saturday so it’s unlikely any announcement will be made before then.

If Smart is eventually hired, it will be his first head coach gig.

It will also make for a week in which USC and Georgia — arguably the two marquee jobs available in this year’s coaching carousel — will be filled by men (Smart and Clay Helton) who have a total of eight games combined head coaching experience.

[AJC]