Attack the Day

Kirby Smart came back to the University of Georgia in 2016 with fans expecting him to finally lift the Bulldogs' program to a higher tier. He quickly made his presence felt on the recruiting trail, and by 2017 Georgia had earned a spot in the College Football Playoff and had nearly captured the national title.

Before that homecoming, Smart spent years as a defensive coordinator under Nick Saban, refining his coaching beliefs while several other head coaching offers came and went. Since taking the Georgia job, he has built one of the country's top recruiting operations, won the SEC, and led the team into a national championship game, and his time in Athens is still in its early chapters.