Kirby Smart is no longer a shared coach.
After working the past several weeks as Alabama's defensive coordinator and as Georgia's head football coach, Smart arrived in Athens on Tuesday morning to take over the Bulldogs on a full-time basis. Hours earlier, Smart and his Crimson Tide defenders survived Clemson's brilliant quarterback, Deshaun Watson, in a 45-40 thriller at the title game of the four-team playoff in Glendale, Ariz.
Though the Tigers racked up 550 yards against Smart's final Alabama defense, the new boss of the Bulldogs believes Monday night's exposure will help him moving forward.
"Kids see it, and they identify with it," Smart told reporters early Tuesday morning. "Me being on TV and being in the national championship did way more for me than, say, somebody who wasn't. It helps, and it gives you a little bit of momentum, but at the end of the day you have to build your own.
Georgia football coach Kirby Smart has hired Alabama secondary coach Mel Tucker as his defensive coordinator. He was defensive coordinator of the Chicago Bears before taking the Alabama position."You have to win yourself and you have to get good players, so we have to build a good program."
Smart takes over Georgia with a full staff, making official Tuesday morning the hiring of Alabama secondary coach Mel Tucker as his defensive coordinator. Tucker spent the 2015 season with the Crimson Tide after serving seven years as a defensive coordinator in the NFL with Cleveland (2008), Jacksonville (2009-12) and Chicago (2013-14).
Tucker's best season in the NFL was 2011, when the Jaguars ranked sixth in total defense, allowing 313 yards per game. Tucker also served as Jacksonville's interim coach for the final five games that year.
Smart joked that there would be no "24-hour rule" for him, unlike for his now-former boss Nick Saban.
"I'll take a lot of wisdom from Coach Saban," Smart said. "I'll take a lot of wisdom from a great university, and I'm looking forward to going to a great university, which is also my alma mater. This is a special moment for me and my family.
"All my family has really known is Tuscaloosa. We've been there for nine years."
Smart's departure leaves running backs coach Burton Burns as Alabama's only assistant headed for a 10th season in Tuscaloosa with Saban. Strength coach Scott Cochran also is entering his 10th year.
"Kirby has been with us for a long time and has done a really, really good job," Saban said in a news conference early Tuesday morning. "We certainly wish him the very best. I know that this has been a difficult time for him to do the right thing relative to our players.
"He did a wonderful job, and I can't tell you how much I appreciate what he did for our players to help us have this experience."
Contact David Paschall as dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.