The father of Georgia coach Kirby Smart died Saturday following complications from hip surgery, the school announced.
Sonny Smart was 76 and had surgery after a fall in New Orleans before Georgia’s loss to Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl.
‘Sonny fell while walking during the day on New Year’s Eve in New Orleans and fractured his hip,’ the school said in a statement. ‘He was hospitalized and underwent hip surgery; unfortunately, complications arose. He fought valiantly but was unable to overcome his injuries.’
Sonny Smart was a longtime high school football coach in Alabama and in Georgia at Bainbridge High School, where his son Kirby Smart played for him, and later at Rabun County High.
Saturday coaches and officials, including SEC commissioner Greg Sankey, shared their condolences with Smart’s family.
‘I’ve known Kirby for 25 years and always enjoyed my interactions with his dad. He was a BALL COACH thru and thru -And a competitor,’ South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer wrote on social media. ‘I’m still recovering from the beat down Coach Smart & my dad gave Kirby and I on the golf course in a “friendly” July 4 Father-Son match years ago My heart hurts for the Smart family and we’re sending prayers to all of them.’