There was an interesting coincidence Thursday, when the University of Georgia and the University of Miami chose the same day to announce contract extensions for their head football coaches.
Georgia gave Kirby Smart a seven-year, $49 million deal that will run through 2024, while Miami extended Mark Richt’s contract through 2023 without publicly disclosing the dollars.
The connection, of course, is that Richt was fired by Georgia after the 2015 regular season, was quickly hired by Miami and was replaced at Georgia by Smart.
Thursday’s coinciding contract extensions underscored how well things have worked out for both coaches and both schools.
In a UGA news release announcing his new deal, Smart said: “As a young boy, I grew up in this great state dreaming of being a Bulldog. To have been able to do that -- first as a player and now as the head football coach -- is beyond anything I ever dreamed.”
And in a Miami news release announcing his new deal, Richt said: “Miami is not only my alma mater, it is home to me and my family. It’s a blessing to live and work in paradise.”
Their bosses were no less effusive.
Georgia athletic director Greg McGarity: “Kirby has provided an incredible level of energy and excitement to our football program.”
Miami athletic director Blake James: “Mark has done a phenomenal job of building this program — and generating enthusiasm for this program — since the day he arrived back on campus.”
Clearly, these are two happy coaches at two schools happy to have them.
Georgia won the SEC championship and the Rose Bowl and reached the College Football Playoff Championship game in Smart’s second season. Miami reached the ACC Championship game and the Orange Bowl in Richt’s second season.
Smart’s new deal averages $7 million per year, which ties him with Auburn’s Gus Malzahn as the SEC’s third highest-paid coach behind Alabama’s Nick Saban ($11.1 million last year) and Texas A&M’s Jimbo Fisher (average of $7.5 million annually for 10 years). Smart’s average annual pay under his new deal represents a raise of $3.25 million per year -- or 87 percent -- from his previous deal.
As a private school, Miami isn’t required to disclose Richt’s compensation package.
RELATED: Read more on Smart’s new deal from Chip Towers.
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TODAY’S LEADOFF LINKS
> The Falcons reached a five-year, $150 million contract extension with quarterback Matt Ryan. Read D. Orlando Ledbetter's report here and Jeff Schultz's column here.
> Ronald Acuna will make his home debut for the Braves tonight, and a first-place team will occupy the home dugout at SunTrust Park. The Braves expect those factors to be a boon for attendance and No. 13 jersey sales. Braves president and CEO Derek Schiller, who runs the business side of the team, expects "at or near capacity" crowds for at least the first two games of the weekend series against the Giants. See full story here.
> Leaving Atlanta, will former Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer win big elsewhere? Not if history holds, Steve Hummer writes here.
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