Mark Richt releases statement on death of Georgia icon Vince Dooley

The college football world lost one of its most beloved members on Friday afternoon, when Georgia football announced the death of legendary Bulldog football head coach Vince Dooley. In 1980, he was carried off the field after leading the Bulldogs to their second national championship in the Sugar Bowl. Fittingly enough, the iconic head coach was at the game for the Bulldogs’ third national championship when they prevailed victorious over the Alabama Crimson Tide in 2022. Touching statements of emotional support have poured in on Friday from across the college football landscape, whether it’s from Auburn football, Georgia head coach Kirby Smart, or former Georgia head coach Mark Richt. On Friday evening, Richt took to Twitter to share a touching tribute for the Bulldogs’ icon.

Sorry to hear the news of coach Dooleys passing. Obviously one of the greatest coaches of all time. But also the man who hired me and mentored me in my first head coaching opportunity at Georgia. I owe a lot to Coach. May God bless Barbara and the rest of the Dooley family!

— Mark Richt (@MarkRicht) October 28, 2022

“Sorry to hear the news of coach Dooleys passing. Obviously one of the greatest coaches of all time. But also the man who hired me and mentored me in my first head coaching opportunity at Georgia. I owe a lot to Coach. May God bless Barbara and the rest of the Dooley family!” Richt wrote on his Twitter page.

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Legendary Georgia football coach Vince Dooley dies at 90

Vince Dooley, the legendary Georgia head coach, has died. The program announced the news Friday ahead of the Bulldogs’ rivalry matchup with Florida in Jacksonville.

Dooley, 90, passed away Friday afternoon, according to a statement from Georgia Athletics. He was recently released from the hospital following a bout with COVID-19, according to the Athens Banner-Herald, and his daughter said he was doing “so much better.”

A College Football Hall of Famer, Dooley is the winningest coach in Georgia program history, totaling 201 wins in 25 years as Bulldogs’ head coach from 1964-88. He also led them to six SEC championships and a national title in 1980 — Georgia’s last national championship before knocking off Alabama last season.

Dooley also served as Georgia’s athletic director from 1979-2004 and worked as a consultant at Kennesaw State when the university decided to start a football program in 2009. Before arriving in Athens, Dooley served as an assistant at his alma mater, Auburn, from 1956-63 and was even in talks to become the Tigers’ head coach after leading Georgia to the national title. Ultimately, he decided to stay in Athens.

On3’s Nick Schultz also contributed to this article.