When wife Mary Beth Smart revealed how 5 foot 11 inch tall Kirby Smart fell short of her expectations

Kirby Smart has been married to his wife Mary Beth Smart for 18 years. Their first in-person meeting was, however, a hilarious one and one to remember for both. The two had spoken on the phone for months before their eventual meeting at Mary's office in Athens.

During her appearance in the “Married to the Game” podcast in February 2021, Mary Beth Smart narrated her first physical meeting with Kirby Smart. The Georgia coach’s height (5-foot-11) was what stunned Mary as she expected him to be taller considering what she saw in pictures. (Start at 4:12)

“The funniest thing I remember so well. The first time I ever saw him; I was sitting at a desk and he walked into my office,” Mary Beth Smart said. “I'd seen pictures of him but I guess I just thought he was taller. I had on these tall black boots with a three-inch heel. He walked in and I stood up and was looking at the top of his head.”

Mary Beth Smart stands 5-foot-10, so she and her husband are around the same height.

Mary Beth Smart on her first date with Kirby Smart

Mary Beth Smart also discussed her first date with Kirby Smart on the “Married to the Game” podcast. Following their first in-person meeting with Kirby at her office, it took a while before the two would eventually go on their first date. The date happened in an unreal way. (Start at 6:58)

“[We first met in] January, probably early February,” Mary Beth Smart said. “It took a while. We went on our first date in May. We kept running at each other in Athens. We went on our first date–actually, I did have a fake Super Bowl party and invited him.”

Just like Kirby, Mary Beth was also an athlete during her days at the University of Georgia. She played basketball for the Bulldogs throughout her time at the school. The mutual love for sport made the romantic bond seamless, contributing to their unique understanding of each other.

The growth of Mary Beth and Kirby Smart’s family

Kirby Smart and Mary Beth Smart have been blessed with three children, including elder fraternal twins Julia and Weston, as well as a younger boy named Andrew, all of whom possess a strong love for sports.

The Smart family, with their athletic inclinations, reflects a balance between different sports. Weston holds an interest in tennis and golf while Julia loves swimming and soccer. Andrew, on the other hand, has a passion for football like his father Kirby. They each seem to have carved out unique paths within their respective fields.