Sonny Smart, father of Georgia coach Kirby Smart, dies after fall in New Orleans

ATHENS, Ga. — Georgia coach Kirby Smart’s father, Sonny, died Saturday morning of complications from hip surgery after a fall in New Orleans before the Sugar Bowl, the school announced.

Sonny Smart, a longtime high school football coach in Alabama and Georgia, fell while walking on New Year’s Eve and fractured his hip. He was hospitalized and underwent hip surgery at Ochsner Medical Center, where he died surrounded by his family, Georgia said in a statement that did not specify his age.

The Smart family was in New Orleans for the Sugar Bowl, which was pushed back a day because a man rammed a van into a crowd of New Year’s revelers in the French Quarter, killing 14 people and injuring more about 30.

Kirby Smart’s Bulldogs lost to Notre Dame 23-10 in the game, a College Football Playoff semifinal, on Thursday.

Sonny Smart was unable to make it to the 2023 national title game when Georgia beat TCU 65-7 to repeat as national champion due to health issues. Before that happened, he had been a regular at his son’s games since Kirby became head coach at his alma mater in 2016.

Sonny Smart, who coached Kirby when he was in high school, is survived by his wife, Sharon, and their three children, Karl, Kirby and Kendall.

The Smart family said in a statement released by Georgia that they “express their sincere gratitude to Ochsner Hospital and the medical staff for the exceptional care provided to Sonny.”

“Furthermore, they ask for your continued prayers for those affected by the tragic events that occurred in the early hours of New Year’s Day.

“The Smart family cherishes everyone’s thoughts and prayers and prays now for God’s comfort, strength and guidance. »