Kirby Smart named finalist for 2024 Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award

Georgia football head coach Kirby Smart has been named a finalist for the 2024 Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award, according to an announcement from the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA).

The FWAA has presented a coaching award since the 1957 season when Ohio State’s Woody Hayes was named the first recipient. The FWAA coaching award is named after the late Eddie Robinson, a coaching legend at Grambling State University for 55 seasons.

“Our nine Coach of the Year finalists represent everything that has defined college football in 2024: From surprise success stories like Curt Cignetti, Jeff Monken, Kenny Dillingham and Rhett Lashlee to the resurgence of South Carolina under Shane Beamer and Boise State under Spencer Danielson, to the programs with sustained excellence under Kirby Smart, Marcus Freeman and Dan Lanning,” FWAA president Andrea Adelson said. “Each coach has demonstrated an exceptional ability to get the most out of his players, and we look forward to the winner carrying on the legacy set forth by the legendary Eddie Robinson.”

Smart is one of nine finalists for this season’s award. Other finalists include Shane Beamer of South Carolina, Curt Cignetti of Indiana, Spencer Danielson of Boise State, Kenny Dillingham of Arizona State, Marcus Freeman of Notre Dame, Dan Lanning of Oregon, Rhett Lashlee of SMU, and Jeff Monken of Army.

“The FWAA and the Eddie Robinson family believe this is an outstanding group of finalists with a mixture of conference champions and inspiring breakthrough seasons for some teams,” said Eddie Robinson III, Coach Robinson’s grandson, along with FWAA Executive Director Steve Richardson. “The outstanding coaching jobs done by several rising coaches gives us as much depth to this field as we have ever had. The FWAA membership will have an interesting time picking a winner.”

The recipient of the 2024 Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award will be announced on Wednesday, Dec. 18. The official presentation will be at a reception on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, in Atlanta, Ga., prior to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game.

“The Allstate Sugar Bowl is proud to work with the FWAA as the title sponsor of the annual Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award,” said Sugar Bowl Committee President Walter Becker. “Not only do we get to recognize coaching excellence on the football field from around the country, but we also get to honor the legacy of Louisiana’s own Coach Eddie Robinson. We are looking forward to hosting this year’s Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year event next month in Atlanta.”

The SEC Champion Bulldogs, who finished the regular-season 11-2 overall, are next scheduled to play in the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025, at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, La. (8:45pm ET, ESPN). Georgia will face the winner of the First Round matchup between Indiana and Notre Dame.

2024 UGA Football Schedule