Kirby Smart, Georgia Football share message of condolence for Dooley family
Georgia head coach Kirby Smart passed along his condolences for the family of Vince Dooley followed Dooley’s death via Twitter. Dooley passed at the age of 90 on Friday with Smart’s Bulldogs traveling to Jacksonville to take on rival Florida tomorrow.
“Our family is heartbroken by the death of Coach Dooley. He was one of a kind with an unmatched love for UGA!” Smart wrote. “He and Barbara embraced my family from day one. He will be missed in our community, university, and in college athletics.”
“It is impossible to quantify what Coach Dooley has meant to the University of Georgia,” Georgia Football’s official account added. “He embodied everything that UGA represents and made where this program stands today possible. Dawg Nation, we celebrate and honor the life of a DGD! Thank you, Coach.”
Vince Dooley served as Georgia’s head football coach for 25 years after coming over from his alma mater, Auburn, in 1964. He amassed a record of 201-77-10 and led the Bulldogs to one National Championship and six Southeastern Conference titles. In addition, Dooley was the first ever recipient of the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Award in 1976, an honor named after the former Georgia Tech head coach. Dooley went 3-0 against Dodd in his first three seasons as UGA’s head man.
When Vince Dooley decided to retire as a head coach in 1988, he was the second-winningest head coach in SEC history. He trailed only Paul “Bear” Bryant. His head coaching career at Georgia saw him dominate the Bulldogs next opponent in the present, Florida. Vince Dooley led his teams to a 18-6-1 record against Florida.
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Vince Dooley also earned numerous other honors during his time as the leader for Georgia’s football program, taking home AFCA Coach of the Year, Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year, Sporting News College Football Coach of the Year, and Walter Camp Coach of the Year all in 1980. Dooley also received the Bear Bryant Lifetime Achievement Award in 2010.
In addition to his time at Georgia as head coach, Vince Dooley also served as the school’s Athletics Director. He held that post from 1979 to 2004, overseeing the hiring of three head football coaches and numerous leaders of other programs during that time.
“Legendary former University of Georgia football coach and director of athletics Vince Dooley died peacefully at his home in the presence of his wife and their four children Friday afternoon at the age of 90,” the UGA Sports Communications office shared in a statement. “A member of the College Football Hall of Fame, as well as the Georgia and Alabama Sports Halls of Fame, Dooley is Georgia’s winningest football coach with 201 victories, six SEC titles and the 1980 national championship in his 25 years leading the Bulldogs (1964-88). He was also the recipient of numerous awards for his service as director of athletics over a 25 year tenure (1979-2004).”
Dooley celebrated his 90th birthday less than two months ago on September 4. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Barbara, and four children, Deanna, Daniel, Denise, and Derek.
