It seems like it only took Kirby Smart two years to get Georgia to the top of the SEC but the coach’s journey was much longer than that.

It started at Bainbridge High School and continued with his playing career at UGA and coaching jobs at Georgia, Valdosta State, Florida State, LSU, the Miami Dolphins and Alabama.

Watch the video above to see Smart’s path, including some low moments, many highlights, and a lot of drive and intensity.

About the Author

Keep Reading

South Carolina State University head football coach Chennis Berry joined the team in 2023 after coaching at Benedict College, a historically Black college in Columbia, South Carolina. Last year, Berry's team saw its season end in heartbreak in the Celebration Bowl and this time, it ended in triumph with a 40-38 win. (Courtesy of South Carolina State Athletics)

Credit: South Carolina State University Athletics

Featured

Students line up after school for school buses at Sequoyah Middle School in Doraville on Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025. The school’s principal told teachers not to talk to students about ICE, and teachers and activists are pushing back. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Credit: arvin.temkar@ajc.com