Smart mulling Florida defensive coordinator offer

By Adam Silverstein
December 13, 2010

If you asked experts a few days ago who the top defensive coordinators in college football were, two of the first names you would hear are the Texas LonghornsWill Muschamp and Alabama Crimson Tide‘s Kirby Smart. Should things go as planned for athletic director Jeremy Foley, both may be wearing orange and blue next year.

According to numerous reports, Smart has been offered the Florida Gators defensive coordinator position under Muschamp, Florida’s new head coach and Smart’s former teammate at Georgia. The Tuscaloosa News reports that Muschamp and Smart have been “in discussions about the position in recent days.”

Additionally, a source close to UF told OGGOA on Monday afternoon that “things look really good for Smart to be at UF” though nothing is official as of press time.

Smart, who currently makes $750,000 a year while working for head coach Nick Saban at Alabama, won the 2009 Broyles Award for assistant coach of the year.

The story broke Monday when one of ESPN‘s Twitter accounts, @ESPN_MobileCFB, said Smart had “reportedly” already agreed to the job.

OGGOA will continue updating this story.

20 Comments

  1. brlgator says:

    this information/disinformation is nuts i feel like i am in the middle of LBJ’s decision again

  2. npgator says:

    Not only is Smart a gread DC but he is also a great recruiter! Sign him up!

  3. John S says:

    Fingers Crossed…….

  4. Gatorbuc15 says:

    This would be great but I’m not gonna get my hopes up just yet.

  5. g8ter27 says:

    I hear it is a done deal.

  6. Daniel M. says:

    Why would a coordinator leave ‘Bama to come to Florida? Is Saban a raging dickhead? Wouldn’t he be taking a pay cut?

  7. mr2bits says:

    Gatorsports.com says its a done deal and Smart has accepted the offer. Right on the front page.

  8. Ken says:

    Yea, Adam, I couildn’t imagine why he would want to leave Bama for Florida until i read yesterday that they were college team mates and good friends. What a steal that would be…

    I wonder who will be the OC, I am skeptical of Major applewhite as a choice If Oklahoma states OC wasn’t going to be the HC at pitt, he would be a great choice. Not sure who else would be a home run (not convinced about Malzahn, he really hasn’t been around long enough to have the recruiting connections, especially in Florida)

  9. Tampa Tom says:

    Adam, It’s all coming together like a Giant Sunami sweeping across the SEC and FSU with our momentum of new young Coaches leading the way Riding the back of 15′ gators like Surfboards. They will be reaching out to pull the best recruits up on board with them.Those who do not get on board will be left behind in the (little tide) pools.
    hope these Bandwagoners can swim!

  10. Kimberly says:

    Adam, Which coaches do you think should be on the list for OC? Thanks for your insight!

    • It’s tough to say who “should” be there because I don’t know what kind of offense he wants to run or the type of coordinator he likes. But there are plenty of talented people across the country to look at.

  11. david says:

    According to a recent Rivals post, no offer has been made to Smart, and he has been recruiting for Alabama today and will be this week. Too many rumors. I’m more worried about our OC anyway.

  12. david says:

    Fair enough. Can we trust the Gainesville Sun that Applewhite isn’t coming?

  13. g8ter27 says:

    Well if he doesn’t come it is no surprise, my source sucks anyway….told me Stoops was hired 10 minutes before the real news broke on saturday.

  14. Escambia94 says:

    I am beginning to think nobody has a reliable source anymore. We can only hope there will be something tangible to report at the press conference tonight.

  15. GG says:

    What happened to STAB, the Utah coach? I’m warming up to the hire, very ballsy on Foley’s part. Wouldn’t suprise me if he pulls out a #1 class or at worst a top 5 with all the momentum. Just need great coordinators, please no Applewhites.
    Hope we snag a few 5 stars from Texas. Worst case scenario it opens a pipeline of talent for next year we have never had before. Jimbo better watch out on the defensive side, may grab a few of his guys also.

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