UGA, Kirby Smart near long-term extension and big boost in pay after national championship

GREENSBORO — UGA is finalizing a long-term extension with football coach Kirby Smart that will pay him on par with others who have won a national championship in the sport, school president Jere Morehead said Thursday.

“We expect to get it finalized soon and we’ll just be getting the board to approve that in writing,” Morehead said after the first day of a two-day UGA’ athletic board meeting.

Smart is one of five active head coaches that have won national championships.

His new deal should put him in the neighborhood that Alabama’s Nick Saban ($9.9 million in 2022), Texas A&M’s Jimbo Fisher ($9 million) and Clemson’s Dabo Swinney ($8.5 million) are paid.  Saban is the nation's highest paid college football coach.

More:How UGA's staff turnover compares to past CFP champions and Kirby Smart's other teams

Precise terms of Smart’s new deal will be presented to the board before they are announced, Morehead said.

“I don’t think anybody will be surprised,” Morehead said of the total compensation Smart is in line to receive.

Smart was paid $7.2 million last season before bonuses. His contract runs through the end of the 2024 season. Morehead said it’s the desire of the school for Smart to remain head coach “for many, many years to come.”

Smart's current deal was put in place in 2018 after Georgia reached the national championship game in his second season.

“Regardless of what happened this past season, it was time to revisit it,” Morehead said after the meeting held at the Ritz-Carlton Lodge at Reynolds Lake Oconee.

Smart, 46, helped bring Georgia its first national championship in 41 years last season and is 66-15 entering his seventh season.

The athletic board went into a closed executive session for 14 minutes at the end of the Thursday meeting.

More:Vince Dooley explains what embrace with Kirby Smart meant after UGA's national title

Athletic director Josh Brooks stepped out because a salary increase is coming his way after his first year and a half on the job.

Brooks’ annual salary for this academic year is $775,000 in a deal that runs through June 30, 2025. Morehead noted that Brooks is among the lowest paid SEC athletic directors.

“This is more about just recognizing that he’s had a great start and making a modest adjustment,” Morehead said. “We’re not at the point yet of doing a new contract. That probably comes in a year or so. But I think that what I want to signal and what our athletic board wants to signal is that for being the youngest AD in the power five he’s gotten off to a sensational start, and we know that he’s got a bright and long future as athletic director at the University of Georgia. I think he’s doing a superb job in all respects.”

Said Brooks, 41: “I was the youngest AD in power five, so I needed a president with his experience and leadership to lean on, the support he’s given me to go out and hire great coaches. He’s supported me in so many ways that people will never know behind the scenes that I couldn’t be thankful enough. I’m so appreciative of him, just for his leadership of this athletic department, but this university as well.”

Brooks said Georgia’s administration is working closely with Smart’s agent, Jimmy Sexton.

“It’s been a great process,” he said.

Smart, Morehead and Brooks were on fundraising trips this week including on Sea Island.

“We know where we are,” Morehead said. “We’re all in a good place. We’ll expect it to get finalized over the next few weeks.”