Kirby Smart breaks down what it takes to build a sustainable winning program

Since taking over the Georgia Bulldogs, Kirby Smart has turned the program into a sustainable winner. While a national championship has eluded him thus far, one seems to be on the horizon for Smart.

On this week’s SEC coaches teleconference, Smart explained how he believes a sustainable winner is built.

“I think infrastructure in-terms of personnel is key — meaning you got staff members buying in,” started Smart. “That’s not just the ten on the field coaches, that’s everybody. That’s the recruiting organization, the player-development organization, the training staff. It takes a village, and we’ve been sustainable in-terms of keeping guys — our administration has helped us do that. That’s number one.”

Furthermore, Smart explained it does come down to the players. While you can recruit all the fantastic talents you want, it’s all about honing in on their abilities to get to the next level.

“Number two is recruiting good players, but demanding excellence out of them,” explained Smart. “A lot of teams across the country can recruit good players and maybe get some, but demanding excellence from them and holding them to a standard is important.

“I just think that discipline within out program is important. When you lose discipline, you see mistakes. You see errors .. inconsistencies in performance. I just think discipline is the key to that, and we’ve really tried to hone in on that with our players. It’s the little things that you do right week-to-week that hold people accountable, and to do what they’re supposed to do on the field.”

In his sixth season since taking over the Bulldogs, Smart possesses a 59-14 record. He came within a Tua Tagovailoa comeback of a national championship, but his No. 1 ranked Bulldogs are trying to avenge that loss this season.

Kirby Smart on Scott Cochran’s return to the program

Entering the bye week, Georgia head coach Kirby Smart revealed special teams coordinator Scott Cochran’s return to the Bulldogs staff. After leaving the program in mid-July to deal with a personal health issue, Cochran will serve as an off-field assistant coach.

“Scott, he’s back with us officially and working with us,” Smart told reporters during his Tuesday press conference. “He’s gonna be an assistant on the special teams staff, helping contribute to those guys in an off-field role for the rest of the season.”

Since his departure, former analyst Will Muschamp served as special teams coordinator. That shift will remain in place through the end of the 2021 season, with the future plan unclear.

One thing is certain, Smart is happy about Cochran’s return. The return brings a new energy, one associated with Cochran throughout his career at Alabama and Georgia.

“Happy to have him back and hopefully going to keep him safe and healthy throughout that process and during his recovery process,” said Smart. “But we’re glad to have his energy and enthusiasm back, and he’ll help us in an off-the-field- roll there on special teams.”