Kirby Smart, a former Georgia player, has done well since taking over as defensive coordinator at Alabama in 2008 (see three national championships), but it seems like recruiting is wearing him down.
Defensive coordinator Kirby Smart has helped Alabama win three national championship since 2008. (AP photo)
Smart was blunt about how never-ending recruiting drains his time and can take him away from his family in an interview with "The Front Row" on Atlanta's 680 The Fan earlier this week.
"We're recruiting non-stop. At least in pro ball they've got rules. they can't be around their players. For us, it really never stops, recruiting, but at least the football stops. That cell phone you've got, the smartphones, are the death of college coaches. Every college coach I talk to won't say it on record, but everyone's thinking, 'Should I go to the league?' Because you don't have the same requirements; the hours are different. Recruiting is non-stop."
"In pro ball they've got all the stuff going with the collective bargaining agreement where you can't do certain things. You can only be out there a certain amount of time. For us, it's non-stop. I've got recruits that will call, text, do certain things in the middle of the night, and I'm thinking, 'I'm with my family.' You've got to dedicate time to that or you can't do it."
"I get a direct message on Twitter, 'Coach I'm coming to Tuscaloosa in a week.' I'm thinking, 'Well, I'm not going to be there. I'm on vacation.' I've got to find somebody that will cover up and spend time with them, because if you don't, somebody will. That's the part I say college coaches are always looking to go because if you're not a niche recruiter, as you get older or you get less active as a recruiter, you become less valuable."
