Sonny Smartthe father of Georgia’s head coach Kirby Smarthas died.

According to a UGA press release, the elder Smart passed away at 12:15 a.m. on Jan. 4, 2025, in New Orleans, surrounded by his wife, Sharon, and their three children: Karl, Kirby and Kendall.

He was at the Sugar Bowl between Georgia and Notre Dame.

Sonny Smart fell while walking in New Orleans during the day on New Year’s Eve and broke his hip. He was hospitalized and underwent hip replacement surgery; Unfortunately, complications arose. He fought bravely but could not overcome his injuries.

His fall was not related to the terrorist attack early Wednesday morning in which a man drove his truck down Bourbon Street, killing 15 people and injuring 35.

The press release read as follows:

“The Smart family extends our heartfelt thanks to Ochsner Hospital and the medical staff for their exceptional care for Sonny. She also asks for your continued prayers for those affected by the tragic events in the early hours of New Year’s Day. The Smart The family appreciates everyone’s thoughts and prayers and now prays for God’s comfort, strength and guidance.”

A native of Columbia, Alabama, Sonny Smart was a longtime high school head coach in Georgia, posting an overall record of 90-78-1. He coached at Bainbridge High from 1988 to 1994 and at Rabun County High from 1995 to 2003.

Kirby Smart often spoke of his father.

“He taught me so much about how to deal with things, right and wrong,” Kirby Smart reflected on his father two years ago. “Control the controllable things. The moment is never too big if you are prepared. And I always watched how he prepared our teams and our staff in high school. He was a very wise man, a man of few words. I tried to follow his mantra as a coach. I’ve certainly grown through coaching other people, but a lot of my core beliefs come from the way he ran our programs in high school.”