Nick Saban calls Kirby Smart 'best assistant' he's ever had at Alabama

Nick Saban called Kirby Smart the best assistant he’s ever had at Alabama, especially on the defensive side of the ball.

While Saban named other coaches, like Steve Sarkisian and Lane Kiffin as OCs, Smart might stand out among the rest. Ironically, all three are head coaches in the SEC at Georgia, Texas and Ole Miss.

With Saban now on television, he described what it was like to see his coaching tree expand.

“He’s the best assistant coach we ever had, on defense especially, and seeing the big picture of the game,” Saban said on SEC Network with Smart on set. “And you know, (Steve Sarkisian) was probably one of the better offensive guys but you know, (Lane Kiffin), all these guys did a great job for us and I appreciate that. You know, people always say you hate to see these guys leave. 

“No, I’m happy for them to get an opportunity. Our players are happy. Our players were happy when Kirby had the opportunity to go to Georgia, because he did such a great job of helping them develop them and he did a great job for us, and you know, that’s their motivation. So you’re happy to see it happen for them and he’s done a great job at Georgia.”

Smart is 94-16 as a head coach since 2016, with all of his seasons at Georgia. He’s been to three College Football Playoff National Championship games, winning in 2021 and ‘22.

Meanwhile, Sarkisian just won the Big 12 with Texas last year, making the CFP before moving to the SEC. Kiffin has been successful since leaving Alabama as well, winning conference title with FAU and winning double digit games twice with Ole Miss in his current tenure.

Kirby Smart honors mentor Nick Saban

For the first time since 1999, Saban won’t lead a team in the SEC in the upcoming season. Nonetheless, his impact is still felt. At the 2024 SEC Media Days, Georgia Smart revealed how Saban influenced him.

“What he’s meant to myself and my family as a mentor, as a friend, as a competitor — that drives you to get better,” Smart said. “There was never a day in the 11 years I worked for him that we didn’t share a room in some sort. Whether that was the defensive room, defensive back room, staff room, we [never] didn’t share a room of some sort and I think it made me who I am today because the demand for excellence is met by none other than him.

“That standard that he set for me, day in and day out, he met himself. And, every coach that ever worked with him or for him, will tell you that he does it all himself as well. He doesn’t hold you to any different standards then he holds himself to. So, a lot of the success I’ve had, I give credit to him and thanks, and I know he’ll be critiquing me today, so I’m looking forward to that as well.”