Few head coaches in college football have built a program as dominant as Kirby Smart’s Georgia Bulldogs. Smart had taken over the team in 2016. Since then, he has turned Georgia into a powerhouse.
The team kept winning multiple national championships and created one of the most feared defenses in the country. However, Smart’s influence extends far beyond Athens. Many of his former assistants have gone on to become head coaches. So, how have these coaches performed after learning under Smart?
Kirby Smart Coaching Tree: The Remarkable Influence of the Georgia Head Coach
Kirby Smart left Alabama to take over the Georgia program. With that, many people expected him to bring Nick Saban’s winning mentality with him. What they didn’t expect was that Smart would quickly develop his own coaching tree. He produced a wave of successful assistants who have landed head coaching jobs at major programs.
Here’s a breakdown of some of Smart’s former assistants and how they’ve fared after working under him:
Dan Lanning: Oregon Head Coach
One of the biggest names emerging under Kirby Smart’s coaching tree is Dan Lanning. He was Smart’s defensive coordinator at Georgia from 2019 to 2021, where he helped lead one of the most dominant defenses in college football history.
Oregon head coach Dan Lanning didn’t hold back in his pregame speech against Colorado 👀
“They’re fighting for clicks, we’re fighting for wins.” pic.twitter.com/imo4OHA4fA
— ESPN (@espn) September 23, 2023
Right after winning a national championship in 2021, he took the head coaching job at Oregon. Since then, Lanning has revitalized the Ducks. He kept them competitive in the Pac-12 and positioned them as a serious College Football Playoff contender.
Mel Tucker: Former Michigan State Head Coach
Mel Tucker had a brief stint as Georgia’s defensive coordinator in 2016-2018 before becoming the head coach at Colorado. He later moved to Michigan State and had a breakout season in 2021. He led the Spartans to an 11-2 record and a Peach Bowl victory. However, his tenure ended abruptly due to off-field issues. This also tarnished what could have been a promising coaching career.
Sam Pittman: Arkansas Head Coach
Sam Pittman was Georgia’s offensive line coach from 2016 to 2019 before becoming the head coach at Arkansas. Though he was not a defensive-minded coach like Smart. However, Pittman brought Georgia’s toughness and physicality to Fayetteville. He turned Arkansas from a struggling program into a competitive SEC team. And with notable wins over Texas and LSU.
Glenn Schumann: Georgia Co-Defensive Coordinator
Although he hasn’t taken a head coaching job yet, it’s safe to say Glenn Schumann has become one of Smart’s most trusted assistants. He helped Georgia to maintain its elite defensive status for years. Many of his fans believe it’s only a matter of time before Schumann gets a head coaching opportunity. Especially with his recruiting skills, he has made himself one of the top assistants in college football.
Dell McGee: Georgia Running Backs Coach and Associate Head Coach
Dell McGee has been a key part of Georgia’s recruiting success. If stated particularly at the running back position. While he hasn’t leaped to head coach yet, just like Schumann, his name has been linked to several openings in recent years. Apart from leading as a coach, he played a significant role in the development of stars like Nick Chubb, Sony Michel, and D’Andre Swift.
Shane Beamer: South Carolina Head Coach
Shane Beamer only spent two seasons on Georgia’s staff as a tight ends coach (2016-2017). However, he still benefited from Smart’s influence. Beamer took over South Carolina’s program in 2021. That’s not the only thing he took over; he also won the fans’ hearts, as he is considered their favorite.
The coach had steadily improved the Gamecocks, including signature wins over Tennessee and Clemson in 2022. His energy and recruiting style have positioned South Carolina as an up-and-coming program in the SEC.
Scott Cochran: Special Teams Coordinator at Georgia
Scott Cochran is best known for his time as Alabama’s strength coach. The conditioning coach made the transition to Georgia in 2020. Like many, he hasn’t taken a head coaching job, either. However, his presence has been pretty effective in Georgia’s player development and overall team culture.
How Kirby Smart’s Coaching Tree Compares to Others
Nick Saban’s coaching tree is often considered the gold standard. However, his former assistants, like Lane Kiffin, Kirby Smart, and Steve Sarkisian, have also become successful head coaches.
While Smart’s coaching tree isn’t as vast as Saban’s yet, it’s growing rapidly. What makes Smart’s coaching tree unique is that many of his assistants have found success quickly, particularly on the defensive side of the ball.
KEEP READING: Kirby Smart Unpacks His No-Nonsense ‘Coaching Hard’ Approach
Kirby Smart’s coaching tree is still in its early stages compared to legendary coaches like Nick Saban and Urban Meyer. However, the early returns are impressive.
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