Kirby Smart’s new deal: Details for buyout, bonuses for Georgia football coach
Georgia football coach Kirby Smart’s $130 million, 10-year contract that runs through the end of the 2033 season is fully guaranteed if he were to be fired without cause through the end of 2028. It’s 85% percent guaranteed thereafter, according to a new amendment to the contract obtained by the Athens Banner-Herald — which is part of the USA TODAY Network — on Friday through an open records request.
The new deal that included a two-year contract extension and was announced by the school on May 2 is similar in the buyout structure to the previous terms.
Smart will be paid $13 million a year, making him the highest-paid public school coach in college athletics. Smart was paid $10.5 million last year, and that would have gone up to $10.75 million this year.
Smart’s bonus structure increases from a maximum $1.525 million to $1.775 million annually.
Smart makes more money each step of the new 12-team playoff if his team is in the field.
Here’s how that is laid out, depending on when the season ends:
Playing in a first-round game is worth $250,000
Reaching the quarterfinals is worth $500,000
Advancing to the semifinals is worth $750,000
Playing in the national championship game is worth $850,000
Winning a national championship is worth $1.25 million.
He will receive another $100,000 for reaching the SEC championship game and another $200,000 for winning it.
Bowl bonuses range from $50,000 to $100,000 for non-playoff bowls.
If Smart were to resign, here’s how the buyout is laid out:
$5 million on or before Dec. 31, 2026
$4 million on or before Dec. 31, 2029
$3 million on or before Dec. 31, 2030
$2 million on or before Dec. 31, 2031
$1 million on or before Dec. 31, 2033
Other bonuses are for academic achievement and coach of the year awards.
Smart is 97-17 in his ninth season at Georgia with two national championships and two SEC championships. Georgia is 3-1 and ranked No. 5 nationally this season entering Saturday’s home game against Auburn.