Sports
Sports

Watch: Kirby Smart was a Bulldogs great as a player too

Georgia coach Kirby Smart played for the Bulldogs from 1995 to 1998. He was a defensive back. He attended Bainbridge High School before UGA. He had 13 interceptions in his college career. Smart was named All-SEC as a senior. Smart tries to block a Georgia Tech pass. He was a four-time member of the SEC academic honor roll. Smart had six interceptions in 1997. Smart began his coaching career with Georgia in 1999. Smart was not drafted by an NFL team but he signed as a free agent with the Colts and never
By Mike Luck
Nov 22, 2017

Kirby Smart is an intense, hard-working football coach at Georgia.

As a player for the Bulldogs, he was intense, hard working and hard hitting.

Smart played safety for Georgia from 1995 to 1998. He had 13 interceptions, was named All-SEC as a senior, and was a four-time member of the SEC academic honor roll.

Watch the video above to learn more about Kirby Smart, the player.

Smart, the coach, leads the 10-1 Bulldogs against Georgia Tech Saturday.

About the Author

Mike Luck is an Audience Specialist on the sports team at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He has worked at the AJC since 1980.

More Stories

Keep Reading

Atlanta Dream's Jordin Canada (right) goes to the basket against Indiana Fever's Aari McDonald during the first half of a WNBA basketball game on Friday, July 11, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AJ Mast/AP)

Credit: AP

Jordin Canada catches fire, but Dream collapse in second half against Fever

Jordin Canada powered the Atlanta Dream in the first half, but the Indiana Fever responded with a dominant second-half surge.

Former Mill Creek star Daniel Pierce approaches ‘surreal’ MLB draft night

An MLB team is expected to make Pierce a first-round draft pick Sunday. The 18-year-old shortstop stayed calm and collected as he discussed realizing a lifelong dream.

Georgia leaning on top-ranked SEC defense, Alabama, LSU much improved

Georgia looks to have the top overall defense in the SEC, but plenty of other SEC teams have acquired enough firepower through the portal to challenge

The Latest

Atlanta Dream's Jordin Canada (right) goes to the basket against Indiana Fever's Aari McDonald during the first half of a WNBA basketball game on Friday, July 11, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AJ Mast/AP)

Credit: AP

Jordin Canada catches fire, but Dream collapse in second half against Fever

Sports Daily: Party like an All-Star

Atlanta TV sports listings

Featured

Rebecca Ramage-Tuttle, assistant director of the Statewide Independent Living Council of Georgia, says the the DOE rule change is “a slippery slope” for civil rights. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC

Georgia disability rights advocates fear weakening of U.S. accessibility law

Advocates worry the Department of Energy’s move could be the start of a broader effort by other federal agencies to roll back civil rights rules.

From boycott to ballgame: Baseball’s political All-Star Game saga returns to Georgia

MLB pulled the 2021 All-Star Game from Georgia over the state's voting law, Senate Bill 202. Now it’s back — and Republicans say the return proves they were right all along.

OPINION

Beyoncé’s ‘Cowboy Carter’ tour pushes fans outside the norm

Preparations for the show pushed people out of their comfort zones — into new stores, new communities, a new style of dress, and in some cases, to visit new cities.