NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) – Sonny Smart, father of University of Georgia football coach Kirby Smart, died early Saturday (Jan. 4) from complications from hip surgery required after he fell while walking in New Orleans on New Year’s Eve .

ESPN, Yahoo and Sports Illustrated were among the first sports networks to report the death, which was confirmed by his son’s university. His age was not immediately revealed.

Sonny Smart was in New Orleans to watch his son coach the Bulldogs in the Allstate Sugar Bowl, but was injured before he could play in the scheduled New Year’s game. The game was postponed until Jan. 2 following the terrorist attack on Bourbon Street early Wednesday, and Georgia’s season ended with a 23-10 loss to Notre Dame.

The University of Georgia issued a statement confirming the death of its coach’s father, himself a longtime high school football and baseball coach. Sonny Smart was said to have died at 12:15 a.m. Saturday surrounded by his wife, Sharon, and their three children, Karl, Kirby and Kendall.

“Sonny fell while walking during the day on New Year’s Eve in New Orleans and broke his hip,” the statement said. “He was taken to hospital and underwent hip replacement surgery. Unfortunately, complications arose. He fought bravely but could not overcome his injuries.

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

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp posted on X that he was heartbroken to learn of Sonny Smart’s death.

The elder Smart, who played college football at Samford University, was a high school football coach in Georgia from 1988 to 2003.

Kirby Smart said of his father in January 2023: “He taught me so much about how to handle things, right and wrong.” Control the controllable elements. 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.”

It was unclear where Sonny Smart fell in New Orleans and under what circumstances.

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