Kirby Smart's Father Passes Away Just Two Days After Sugar Bowl

Before the Sugar Bowl kicked off on Thursday, the college football community learned that Sonny Smart, the father of Georgia coach Kirby Smart, was hospitalized. On Saturday morning, we learned that he passed away. 

It was reported that Sonny Smart fractured his hip after suffering a serious fall this past Tuesday. He was taken to a hospital so he can undergo surgery. Unfortunately, he was unable to make a full recovery. The Smart family confirmed this Saturday morning that Sonny died. He was surrounded by his wife and children before passing away. 

"Sonny Smart passed away on January 4, 2025, at 12:15 a.m. surrounded by his wife, Sharon, and their three children: Karl, Kirby and Kendall," the statement read. "Sonny fell while working during the day on New Year's Eve in New Orleans and fractured his hip. He was hospitalized and underwent hip surgery; unfortunately complications arose. He fought valiantly but was unable to overcome his injuries. 

"The Smart family expressed their heartfelt gratitude to the Ochsner hospital and medical staff for the exceptional care provided to 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."

Sonny taught Kirby everything he knows about coaching. He had stints at Rabun County High and Bainbridge before calling it a career. 

"He’s taught me so much just about the way you handle things, the right way, the wrong way," Kirby Smart said. "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."