After winning the National Championship for the Bulldogs, head coach Kirby Smart was offered a contract extension with many enticing incentives. The new deal is of long tenure and has many added bonuses for the HC.
So, Is the head coach of the Georgia Bulldogs the highest-paid college football coach? Let’s break down the terms of Kirby Smart’s contract and salary and help you navigate through the intricate details of his contracts.
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Kirby Smart’s Contract with Georgia Bulldogs
Kirby Smart signed a renewed 10-year contract with the Georgia Bulldogs worth a total of $112.5 million, back in 2022. He is currently one of the highest-paid college football coaches in the country, earning an average of $11.25 million per year. While he will make $10.5 million this season, his salary will rise to $12.25 million by 2031.
Here is a breakdown of Kirby Smart’s salary and contract details:
Compensation Category | Amount |
Base Salary | $600,000 |
Media Compensation | $6.25 Million |
Equipment Compensation | $3.4 Million |
Bonus Structure (Maximum) | $1.3 Million per year |
Total Compensation (Potential Maximum) | $11.55 Million |
Although his base salary is low compared to the rest of his compensation, he is still above most of the head coaches in the list of highest-paid coaches.
Kirby Smart’s Contract Bonuses and Incentives
Kirby Smart is eligible for up to $1.525 million in bonuses this season, based on team performance. It’s a notable upsurge from the previous year’s $1.15 million. Here is a breakdown of his potential bonuses and incentives:
EC Achievement | Reward |
---|---|
Reaching the SEC Championship Game | $100,000 |
Winning the SEC Championship Game | $300,000 |
Postseason Achievement | Reward |
---|---|
Birmingham or Independence Bowl | $50,000 |
Six Pack bowl games (TaxSlayer, Outback, Belk, Music City, Texas, or Liberty) | $75,000 |
Citrus Bowl | $100,000 |
New Year’s Six Bowl (Sugar, Rose, Orange, Cotton, Fiesta, or Peach) | $175,000 |
College Football Playoff semifinal | $500,000 |
Advancing CFB Playoff National Championship | $750,000 |
Winning the National Championship | $1,000,000 |
Along with these monetary benefits, Kirby will also receive 50 hours worth of private jet time, with an option of carrying over the unused time of up to 10 hours. These enticing bonuses and perks are a testament to how much faith the Georgia Bulldogs organization has in Smart.
How Much Does Kirby Smart Make Every Year?
Kirby earned $10.25 million in pay last year. His annual salary will rise to $10.5 million in 2023. Smart’s yearly pay over the next years as detailed in his new contract, is as follows:
Year | Salary |
2022 | $10.25 million |
2023 | $10.5 million |
2024 | $10.75 million |
2025 | $10.75 million |
2026 | $11.0 million |
2027 | $11.25 million |
2028 | $11.25 million |
2029 | $11.5 million |
2030 | $11.75 million |
2031 | $12.0 million |
2032 | $12.25 million |
Kirby Smart’s annual salary is increasing every year, and he is averaging an annual pay of $11.25 million. Let’s find out where he stands among the other top college football head coaches.
Kirby Smart: Top-Paid Coach or Not?
According to official government data, Kirby Smart is the second-highest-paid coach in the nation and Georgia’s highest-paid state employee. Last year, Kirby earned a total of $11.25 million, making him the second-highest-paid coach in the United States.
Rank | Coach | University | State | Salary |
1 | Nick Saban | Alabama Crimson Tide | Alabama | $11.7 million |
2 | Kirby Smart | Georgia Bulldogs | Georgia | $11.25 million |
3 | Dabo Swinney | Clemson Tigers | South Carolina | $10.5 million |
4 | Bill Self | Kansas Jayhawks | Kansas | $10.18 million |
5 | Brian Kelly | LSU Tigers | Louisiana | $9.5 million |
6 | Mel Tucker | Michigan State Spartans | Michigan | $9.5 million |
7 | Ryan Day | Ohio State Buckeyes | Ohio | $9.5 million |
8 | Jimbo Fisher | Texas A&M Aggies | Texas | $9 million |
9 | Matt Rhule | Nebraska Cornhuskers | Nebraska | $9 million |
10 | John Calipari | Kentucky Wildcats | Kentucky | $8.6 million |
As we can see, head coach Nick Saban of Alabama topped the list, with Coach Kirby Smart not far behind. We wouldn’t be surprised if Smart overtakes Saban for first place in the next couple of years.
Conclusion
The new contract, which includes a raise in pay as well as an extended duration, demonstrates Georgia’s long-term commitment to Kirby Smart. The benefits and perks he is receiving are the result of converting the Bulldogs into a successful organization. His 10-year, $112.5 million contract is a major step in the right direction, and we hope that coach Kirby Smart can continue the winning streak.