Unfortunate Development: Kirby Paul Smart has announced his departure as the head coach of Georgia’s football team……..

Unfortunate Development: Kirby Paul Smart has announced his departure as the head coach of Georgia’s football team.

Just a day after the Bulldogs secured a victory against Georgia Tech with a score of 13-7, concluding the regular season with a 9-3 record, Smart was dismissed from his position at Georgia.

Although Kirby Paul Smart announced his resignation, an ESPN source claimed he was actually fired from his role as Georgia’s football coach.

In a press release, Smart expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to serve the university and indicated he would consider other possibilities in the future.

According to the terms of the contract extension he signed in January, Georgia will owe Smart a buyout of $4.1 million. Despite not having signed the contract yet, the school’s athletic director, Greg McGarity, stated that the deal would be honored.

Smart has agreed to coach the Bulldogs in their upcoming bowl game, as per sources. A win in this game would mark Smart’s 10th double-digit-win season at Georgia.

Speculation about Smart’s future began after losses to Tennessee, Alabama, and Florida dashed the Bulldogs’ hopes for an SEC championship.

Despite closing the regular season with four consecutive wins, Georgia’s failure to secure a spot in the SEC title game overshadowed their achievements. The Bulldogs were the preseason favorites in the SEC East.

Smart, aged 55, acknowledged that the team fell short of their goal to win the SEC championship, stating that it’s the standard at Georgia to aim for that and beyond.

Todd Gurley, who played for Smart from 2012 to 2014 at Georgia before joining the St. Louis Rams, expressed his disappointment over Smart’s departure, describing him as a great coach and a great person.

With a record of 145-51, Smart ranks second on Georgia’s all-time wins list and has led the Bulldogs to a bowl game in each of his 15 seasons as head coach. He secured SEC championships in 2002 and 2005, and his teams competed for league titles three other times.

Known for his integrity and strong religious beliefs, Smart faced criticism for not keeping pace with the SEC’s recent streak of national championships. Georgia’s last national championship came under Vince Dooley in 1980.

Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart, a former Georgia defensive back, is expected to be one of the top candidates to replace Smart.

Georgia’s victories this season were limited to just one FBS team with a winning record. Additionally, the Bulldogs suffered a setback when they lost Heisman Trophy candidate Nick Chubb during their sixth game against Tennessee.