Sonny Smart, Former High School Coach and Father of Georgia's Kirby Smart, Passes Away
Sonny Smart, a beloved high school football coach and the father of Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart, passed away early Saturday morning, the University of Georgia announced.
Smart, 78, served as the head coach at Bainbridge High School from 1988 to 1994, where his son Kirby played under him. He later led Rabun County High School from 1995 to 2003.
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He died at 12:15 a.m. Saturday following complications from hip surgery. Smart had been hospitalized in New Orleans after fracturing his hip during a fall on New Year’s Eve while walking in the city ahead of Georgia's Sugar Bowl matchup against Notre Dame.
Sonny Smart was surrounded by his wife, Sharon, and his children, Kirby, Karl, and Kendall, at the time of his passing.
“He fought valiantly but was unable to overcome his injuries,” the University of Georgia said in a statement.
Sonny and Sharon Smart were a familiar presence at Georgia football games, often seen celebrating postgame victories on the field with their son.
Kirby Smart has frequently spoken about the impact his father had on his life and coaching career.
“He's taught me so much about the way you handle things, the right way, the wrong way,” Kirby shared before Georgia's national championship game against TCU in January 2023. “Control the controllables. The moment's never too big if you're prepared. I always watched the way he prepared our teams and staff in high school. He was a very wise man, a man of few words. A lot of my core beliefs came from the way he ran our programs.”
Born in Columbia, Alabama, near the Georgia state line, Sonny Smart walked on to the football team at Samford University, where he played center and earned his degree. After retiring from coaching, he settled in the mountains near Clayton, Georgia, and led a 55-and-older golf league.
In a 2017 column for the Athens Banner-Herald, Sonny reflected on his coaching career: “Coaches and players develop those special bonds, and I had the most enjoyable experience of all by being able to coach my son, Kirby.”
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp expressed his condolences on social media, writing:
“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 should all wish to have. We are praying for Sharon, Karl, Kirby, Kendall, and all of their loved ones during this difficult time.”
Sonny Smart's legacy lives on through his family, the countless athletes he mentored, and the profound influence he had on Georgia football through his son, Kirby.