Kirby Smart’s father dies after falling on eve of Sugar Bowl

By Joe Johnson

The father of University of Georgia football head coach Kirby Smart has died from complications of hip surgery he underwent following a fall in New Orleans before the Allstate Sugar Bowl, the school announced. Sonny Smart was 76 years old.

An announcement about his death was made by UGA on Saturday.

According to the statement, he died at 12:25 a.m., while surrounded by his wife, Sharon, and their 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 school said in the statement. "He was hospitalized and underwent hip surgery; unfortunately, complications arose. He fought valiantly but was unable to overcome his injuries."

The Georgia head coach spent part of New Year's Day with his father at the hospital after the Sugar Bowl was pushed back a day because of the terrorist attack that killed 24 people and injured dozens more.

Smart returned to the hospital Thursday evening, shortly after the Bulldogs lost to Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl game, which was a College Football Playoffs quarterfinal contest.

In the statement, the Smart family expressed their gratitude to the Ochsner Medical Center staff in New Orleans. "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 statement said. "The Smart family treasures everyone's thoughts and prayers and now prays for God's comfort, strength, and guidance."