In the high-stakes, hyper-competitive world of SEC football, the relationship between a head coach and the Athletic Director is arguably the most critical partnership in any athletic department. At the University of Georgia, that partnership between Head Coach Kirby Smart and Athletic Director Josh Brooks is not merely functional—it’s thriving, and Smart is quick to emphasize why.
Smart recently offered a candid assessment of Brooks’ role and their collaboration, underscoring that the AD’s commitment to the program “goes way beyond football.”
🌟 A Shared Vision for Athletic Excellence
The foundation of the relationship is a deep, shared commitment to the overall success of the University of Georgia athletic program. Both Smart and Brooks are alumni, lending a passionate, personal investment to their jobs that transcends mere administrative duties.
Smart praised Brooks for his broad focus, saying:
“Josh does an incredible job for us as a football program, but his benefit goes way beyond football. He’s an athletic administrator that cares about this place. He wants to be great in all athletics. He cares about all the sports. It’s not just football.”
This unified vision of excellence is evidenced by the success across the UGA sports landscape, including national championships in women’s tennis, women’s track and field, and equestrian under Brooks’ tenure. This success across the board feeds into the competitive Glory of the entire athletic department.
💰 The Financial Reality: Sustaining Success
While Smart is quick to highlight Brooks’ all-sports commitment, he is also a pragmatist regarding the fiscal realities of big-time college sports, noting that Brooks understands the vital role football plays:
“Yeah, every AD wants football to be successful because that funds your athletic department. He makes no qualms about that. We need to be successful in the age of revenue sports. But his job is to support every athletic endeavor we have here at UGA, and he does that every year.”
Brooks has been instrumental in ensuring the football program has the resources necessary to maintain its elite status. This includes:
Facility Upgrades: Brooks has overseen and executed massive investments in football facilities and Sanford Stadium enhancements (totaling hundreds of millions of dollars since Smart took over), ensuring Georgia remains competitive in the arms race for recruiting. Contract Support: Brooks was a vocal proponent of extending Smart’s contract, making him one of the highest-paid coaches in the sport, solidifying Smart’s long-term commitment to Athens. 💯 Continuity and Trust
The relationship is strengthened by years of working together, even before Brooks officially replaced Greg McGarity as AD in January 2021. Brooks previously served as the Director of Football Operations (2008-2011) and held other key roles within the UGA Athletic Association, giving him a unique, ground-level understanding of the day-to-day demands of the football program.
Smart views the partnership as a “team concept” built on mutual support and trust:
“I think Josh knows the support you get here from administration, team effort, it’s a team concept, that he wants to be part of that. I’m glad he does.”
This continuity and collaboration are particularly crucial in the ever-changing landscape of college athletics, which now includes Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) management and the transfer portal. Brooks and Smart work closely together on roster management and the financial strategy required to maintain an elite football roster. Brooks publicly noted that Smart is a “highly intelligent, highly involved head football coach” who has a strong handle on the evolving complexities of the modern game, negating the immediate need for a separate General Manager role.
The combined Grit of both men—one managing the on-field product and the other managing the complex business, facilities, and personnel behind it—is the driving force behind the University of Georgia’s remarkable run of success.
