<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1fqHcf_0vuy3i1G00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1fqHcf_0vuy3i1G00" width="1152" height="603" >Georgia's <a href="https://247sports.com/Coach/kirby-smart-264/">Kirby Smart</a> became the highest-paid coach in college football earlier this year <a href="https://247sports.com/college/georgia/article/georgia-bulldogs-coach-kirby-smart-receives-contract-extension-becomes-highest-paid-coach-in-college-football-231319208/">when he signed a two-year contract extension</a>, which takes him through the end of the 2033 season, and new details about the deal emerged via the <a href="https://www.onlineathens.com/story/sports/college/bulldogs-extra/2024/10/04/georgia-footbal-kirby-smart-contract-buyout-bonuses/75511156007/">Athens Banner-Herald</a>. The contract is fully guaranteed through 2028 if Smart is fired without cause, and it remains 85% guaranteed through the final year of the agreement, a new amendment states. That gives Smart the largest buyout in college football.The buyout significantly decreases, however, should Smart terminate his employment through resignation. He holds a $5 million buyout for resignation through the end of the 2026 calendar year, and that figure drops by $1 million annually.Smart's contract measures $130 million in base salary across 10 years, giving him an annual base salary of $13 million. He received a raise when he signed the extension in May and was originally scheduled to earn $10.75 this year. His bonus structure also increased from a $1.525 million maximum to a $1.775 maximum."The world we live in now, I don't apologize to anybody, I promise you that. It's changed a lot," <a href="https://247sports.com/article/georgias-kirby-smart-unapologetically-embraces-new-contract-as-highest-paid-coach-in-college-football-231722874/">Smart said after he signed the extension</a>.The expanded College Football Playoff also brought changes to Smart's bonus structure. He would receive an additional $250,000 for playing in the first round, while reaching the quarterfinals awards him $500,000. A semifinal appearance is worth $750,000, playing in the national championship game holds a $850,000 value and Smart would take home $1.25 million for winning the national title.Additional bonuses include $100,000 for reaching the SEC Championship Game and $200,000 for winning the title contest, while bowl bonuses measure anywhere from $50,000 to $100,000."Look at the coaches over the years that paved the way — Bobby Bowden, Mickey Andrews, Joe Kines — all the guys that helped shape my career and how hard they worked and what they did," Smart said, via Dawgs247. "I never would've thought it would've happened."Smart is in the middle of his ninth season as head coach at Georgia and remains one of the favorites to win the 2024 national championship. The Bulldogs fell short of a potential three-peat last season, but they have a clear path to the inaugural 12-team Playoff as one of the unquestioned top teams in the nation — even after last week's loss at Alabama.Smart owns a 97-17 overall record as head coach at Georgia, including a 57-10 regular-season record against SEC opponents. The Bulldogs own six SEC East titles in eight seasons under Smart. During the 2021 season, he led Georgia to its first national championship since 1980. The Bulldogs repeated the following year in 2022 with a blowout victory over TCU in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game.Smart was a four-year letterman at safety for Georgia (1995-98) and earned First Team All-SEC honors as a senior in 1998.Cody Nagel contributed to this report.</div></body>

Mountain View, CA

NewsBreak

Kirby Smart contract details indicate new buyout, bonus structure in 10-year, $130 million deal

Georgia's Kirby Smart became the highest-paid coach in college football earlier this year when he signed a two-year contract extension, which takes him through the end of the 2033 season, and new details about the deal emerged via the Athens Banner-Herald. The contract is fully guaranteed through 2028 if Smart is fired without cause, and it remains 85% guaranteed through the final year of the agreement, a new amendment states. That gives Smart the largest buyout in college football.

Kirby Smart contract details indicate new buyout, bonus structure in 10-year, $130 million deal

Comments / 0