Sonny Smart, Father of Georgia Coach Kirby Smart, Dies After Fall in New Orleans

The 76-year-old former high school coach passed away following complications from hip surgery after a fall while attending the Sugar Bowl.

Sonny Smart, father of Georgia football coach Kirby Smart, died early Saturday morning from complications following hip surgery after a fall in New Orleans on New Year's Eve.
The elder Smart, a former high school football coach in Alabama and Georgia, was in New Orleans to support his son during the Sugar Bowl, which was delayed due to a terrorist attack on Bourbon Street that killed 14 people.
Sonny Smart was surrounded by his wife, Sharon, and their three children, including Kirby, when he passed away at Ochsner Medical Center.
Kirby Smart credited his father for shaping his coaching philosophy, describing him as a wise and influential mentor during his formative years.
The Smart family expressed gratitude for the care provided by medical staff and requested prayers for both their family and the victims of the Bourbon Street attack.