Kirby Smart reflects on car crash that claimed lives of Bulldogs player, staffer

Fresh off two straight national championship wins, it would have seemed that Georgia head coach Kirby Smart was on top of the world where nothing could bring him down.

Unfortunately, as it so often does, life interfered and tragedy struck Smart and the UGA community just days after beating TCU, 65-7, to impressively win the College Football Playoff National Championship.

Tragedy struck early in the morning on Jan. 15, 2023, just hours after the Bulldogs had celebrated their win in the streets of Athens. Smart received a call that one of his players, Devin Willock, and recruiting staffer Chandler LeCroy had died in an early-morning car crash that involved speeding and drinking. One of his star players, defensive tackle Jalen Carter — now with the Philadelphia Eagles — was also involved in the crash but in a different car.

“And I think to that moment of loss and getting that phone call at 2, 3 in the morning just how tragic an accident it was. And you almost can’t believe it’s real. And then the next moment you’re in the emergency room and you’re in there with seven, eight of your players as the word spreads and everybody’s just so sad,” Smart said, recalling the tragedy while speaking on ESPN's “College GameDay” podcast (h/t On3).

“Hardest moments I’ve ever been through as a coach,” Smart continued. “You just dread ever getting a call like that.”

That's the fear of every coach in charge of young athletes, who aren't prone to making smart decisions — especially when alcohol is involved. It's certainly the fear of all parents.

In the wake of the deaths of Willock and LeCroy, Smart's program has come under scrutiny. Specifically, the problem of players driving recklessly has plagued UGA. Since that fateful January morning, at least 11 football players have been involved in traffic-related moving violations.

Still, Smart fights on as a leader and coach, trying to at least honor the lost Bulldogs by making sure his players are well aware of the dangers of reckless driving.

“I think that’s something we talk to the players about a lot,” Smart said. “We’ve got a leadership group that has a lot to do with that and imports knowledge to us. We talked about that during the spring game and got an opportunity during the spring game. Started on the first play, things like that.

“That’s something that’s ongoing and something we talk to those guys about."