Kirby Smart sits courtside with his son at UGA basketball game… days after suffering family tragedy

Georgia Bulldogs head football coach Kirby Smart was spotted on the court during a college basketball game just days after his season ended and his father passed away unexpectedly.

Smart was on hand Tuesday night to watch the Georgia basketball team take on the No. 6 ranked Kentucky Wildcats at the Stegeman Coliseum in Athens, Georgia.

It comes just three days after Smart’s father, Sonny, passed away due to complications during surgery.

Sonny was in New Orleans prior to Georgia’s Sugar Bowl game against Notre Dame when he fell and broke his hip.

After undergoing surgery to correct the problem, he died Saturday morning surrounded by family. His passing prompted prayers and condolences from across the sports world and the state of Georgia.

‘Terrible news this morning when we heard about the passing of Sonny Smart. I have known Kirby for 25 years and have always enjoyed my interactions with his father,” South Carolina head football coach Shane Beamer wrote on social media.

Kirby Smart’s father, Sonny (right), died after complications from hip surgery

Smart, his siblings and his mother were at Sonny’s side when he died early Saturday morning

‘I’m still recovering from losing Coach [Sonny] Slim and my father [legendary Virginia Tech football coach Frank Beamer] gave Kirby and I years ago on the golf course during a “friendly” father-son match on the 4th of July.

“My heart aches for the Smart family and we send prayers to them all – God bless them all.”

SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey also paid tribute to Smart with a statement on X. “Sonny Smart touched many people in his life and we are saddened by his passing,” he wrote.

‘I have had the privilege of visiting Sonny many times and have enjoyed every conversation. Our condolences go out to Kirby Smart and his family and to everyone who knew his father.”

The impact of Smart Sr. on football in Georgia was illustrated by the words of the state’s governor, Brian P. Kemp, who said his family was “heartbroken” by the loss.

Kemp called him “an incredible father and husband and a great coach in his own right,” adding, “Sonny embodied the values ​​and strength we should all desire.”

According to AL.comSonny was a native of Columbia, Alabama, and a high school football coach in Georgia.

He reportedly posted an overall record of 90-78-1 while coaching at Bainbridge High and Rabun County High. Previously, he coached at Holtville High School in Alabama and played college football at Samford University, per ESPN.

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey (right) was among those paying tribute to Smart

“Samford Football extends its sincere condolences and prayers to the Smart family on the passing of Sonny Smart,” the statement said.

“Sonny played center for the Bulldogs and was a proud alumnus of our university.”

Kirby was joined by his wife Mary Beth and his son Andrew to watch the game on Tuesday evening.

They were treated to an upset as the unranked Bulldogs defeated sixth-ranked Kentucky 82-69. Asa Newell led Georgia with 17 points, seven rebounds and two assists.

Georgia now moves to 13-2 on the season and is 1-1 in conference play. On Saturday they will then take on Oklahoma, which is in 17th place, at home.

Smart, on the other hand, is at the end of his season after the Georgia football team fell to Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl. It was Georgia’s third College Football Playoff appearance in four seasons.

Since taking over his alma mater in 2016, Kirby Smart has never had a losing season at Georgia. In all but his freshman season, UGA finished in the top ten of the AP Poll and the Coaches Poll each season.