Georgia Bulldogs

Sources: Alabama DC Smart expected to become new Georgia coach

Published Dec. 1, 2015 10:05 p.m. ET

Bruce Feldman

Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart is expected to become the new coach at Georgia, his alma mater, multiple sources have told FOX Sports.

There are still a few hurdles Smart and Georgia need to clear, but all signs point to him replacing Mark Richt with an official announcement coming sometime after the Tide faces Florida in Saturday's SEC title game. Sources told FOX last Sunday after the firing of Richt was made official that the school had targeted Smart as its clear top option.

The 39-year-old Smart was the 2012 AFCA Assistant Coach of the Year and the 2009 Broyles Award winner as college football's top assistant coach. His defense is No. 1 in the nation in yards per play, No. 2 in run defense and No. 3 in total defense.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution was the first to report that Smart was going to be named as Georgia's next head coach.