Legendary coach Vince Dooley has passed away

By Anthony Caruso III | Publisher

Longtime college football coach Vince Dooley has passed away. He was 90.

An official cause of death has not been announced yet. However, he had been battling health problems this year.

Georgia said that Dooley passed away on Friday afternoon. He passed away with his wife and four children by his side.

“I join the entire Bulldog Nation in expressing our sadness over the loss of our legendary and treasured athletic leader and dear friend,” said UGA President Jere W. Morehead. “I first had the opportunity to spend significant time with Coach Dooley when I served as Faculty Athletics Representative 20 years ago. I have always been grateful for the many ways he worked to make the University of Georgia a stronger and better institution. My fondest memory is going to his home to tell him we planned to name Dooley Field in his honor.

“He will be missed by all who had the opportunity to know and learn from him. We extend our deepest sympathy to Barbara and all members of the Dooley family.”

Before January, Dooley was the last coach to guide the Bulldogs to the National Championship, which he did in 1980. As the Georgia head coach, he won six SEC Championships.

He is also the winningest football head coach in Georgia history. He led the Bulldogs from 1964 through 1988.

Dooley was also the Bulldogs’ Athletic Director from 1979 through 2004.

He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. He is also a part of the Georgia Bulldogs and Alabama Crimson Tide Hall of Fame.

“Our family is heartbroken by the death of Coach Dooley,” UGA head coach Kirby  

Smart said in a statement. “He was one of a kind with an unmatched love for UGA! He and Barbara embraced my family from day one. He will be missed by our community, university, and in college athletics.”