Georgia football coach’s father dies following New Year’s Eve fall in New Orleans

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

ESPN, Yahoo and Sports Illustrated were among the first sports outlets reporting the death, which was confirmed by his son’s university. His age was not immediately reported.

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

Georgia’s Kirby Smart coached the Bulldogs against Notre Dame on Jan. 2 in the postponed Allstate Sugar Bowl while his father was hospitalized with a hip fracture sustained when he fell in New Orleans on Dec. 31. Sonny Smart died Jan. 4 from complications following hip surgery. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)(Gerald Herbert | AP)

The University of Georgia issued a statement confirming the death of its coach’s father, who himself was a longtime high school football and baseball coach. It said Sonny Smart died Saturday at 12:15 a.m., 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 fractured his hip,” the statement said. “He was hospitalized and underwent hip surgery. Unfortunately, complications arose. He fought valiantly but was unable to overcome his injuries.

“The Smart family expresses their heartfelt gratitude to the Ochsner hospital and medical staff for the exceptional care they provided Sonny. Additionally, 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 treasures everyone’s thoughts and prayers and now prays for God’s comfort, strength and guidance.”

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

Marty, the girls, and I are heartbroken to learn of the passing of Sonny Smart. An incredible father and husband and a great coach in his own right, he was a constant presence at Georgia football games along with his wife Sharon. Sonny embodied the values and strength that we…

— Governor Brian P. Kemp (@GovKemp) January 4, 2025

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

Kirby Smart said of his father in January 2023, “He’s taught me so much just about the way you handle things, the right way, the wrong way. Control the controllables. The moment’s never too big if you’re prepared. And I always watched the way 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 evolved from going to coach for other people, but a lot of my core beliefs came from the way he ran our programs in high school.”

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