Headline: Kirby Smart Lands Just Behind Saban, Swinney on List of Best College Football Coaching Hires of the 21st Century
Kirby Smart continues to make his mark not just in Athens, but in college football history. In a recent ranking of the best coaching hires of the 21st century, Smart earned a top-three spot — landing just behind legendary names Nick Saban and Dabo Swinney.
Since taking the reins at Georgia in 2016, Smart has transformed the Bulldogs into a perennial powerhouse. Under his leadership, Georgia has claimed multiple SEC titles, produced back-to-back national championship appearances, and secured a national title — ending a 41-year drought for the program in 2021.
His success on the recruiting trail has also been unmatched, with Georgia consistently finishing near the top in national recruiting rankings. More importantly, Smart has turned those blue-chip recruits into NFL-ready talent and championship-caliber teams, building a legacy rooted in toughness, discipline, and elite defense.
While Nick Saban’s dynasty at Alabama and Dabo Swinney’s run at Clemson have set the modern standard, Kirby Smart’s rapid rise has him firmly in the conversation — and still ascending. With a proven system and a program loaded for future success, Smart’s place among the greatest coaching hires of this era is well deserved, and his story is far from over.
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