Kirby Smart explains what legendary coach Vince Dooley means to him, Georgia

He’s too young to have played for Vince Dooley, himself, but current Georgia head coach Kirby Smart has still had his playing and coaching career shaped by the legendary Bulldogs coach.

Speaking on the SEC coaches teleconference on Wednesday morning, Smart shared how he and the other national champion Georgia coach have built a relationship.

“Just a lot of connective tissue there between his experience at Georgia, and even my wife when she played here, watched her play,” Smart said. “He’s meant a lot to a lot of people and I see him at practice from time-to-time, randomly see him at press conference. It’s great to see him there and know that he still cares so much about the program.”

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Dooley was recently hospitalized with Covid and concerns about the 90-year-old were abound. Fortunately, he has recovered and was discharged on Wednesday morning.

He shared a statement via Georgia athletics, noting that he’s ready to get right back into the swing of things.

“I’m grateful for all the cards, text messages, emails, and calls as well as the prayers and concerns,” Dooley said. “But I’m ready to go Saturday with my regular book signing session at the UGA Bookstore and certainly the homecoming game.”

Beyond what Dooley means to Georgia, at-large, he’s also important to Smart. Seldom few people can share in the perspective of what it’s like to coach Georgia.

“Yeah he’s a tremendous — he’s represented UGA for so long with such class and just a wonderful family. He’s been integral to my success, in terms of just me personally,” Smart said. “From the time I was here as a player to the times I’ve known him as a coach, growing up in the profession. We crossed paths, he would come and speak, sometimes at LSU, when Derek was there and kept in touch with him for a long time.”