Alabama’s Kirby Smart Becomes Next Million-Dollar Assistant

Dec 1, 2012; Atlanta, GA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide defensive coordinator Kirby Smart celebrates winning the 2012 SEC Championship game against the Georgia Bulldogs at the Georgia Dome. Alabama won 32-28. Mandatory Credit: Paul Abell-USA TODAY Sports

It would be difficult to explain why there have been million-dollar assistant coaches and Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart hasn’t been one of them.

There’s no longer any need for such an explanation. Alabama announced that Smart, the architect of defenses that have catapulted the Crimson Tide to three BCS National Championships over the past four seasons, will receive a raise in salary to $1.15 million. The University of Alabama Board of Trustees compensation committee approved the move on Tuesday.

Smart has been a hot-name assistant coach in college football for a few years now. He attracted serious interest from Auburn over the offseason this year and was widely regarded as the other finalist along with current coach Gus Malzahn. Other reports had linked Smart to then-vacant head coaching positions at Tennessee and Arkansas.

Ultimately, though, Smart remained with Alabama for at least one more year. Now he has 1.15 million reasons to stay.

Under Smart, Alabama’s defenses have been the most oppressing, dominant units in the game. It’s no surprise the wins — and banners — have followed.

Smart joins LSU defensive coordinator John Chavis ($1.1 million) and Clemson offensive coordinator Chad Morris ($1.3 million) as million-dollar assistant coaches. (Note: Private schools are not required to release salary information.)