Nick Saban releases statement on Vince Dooley's passing
The coach many consider to be the greatest to ever do it said his farewell to former Georgia head coach Vince Dooley on Friday. Alabama head coach Nick Saban released a statement where he made his feelings about Dooley known.
“Vince Dooley was one of my favorite people in the world and a wonderful friend to the entire Saban Family,” Saban said in a statement. “Vince represented the University of Georgia and all of college football with tremendous integrity and class as both a coach and athletics director. No place was that more evident than his impact on the young men he led over a lifetime as a coach. Terry and I are deeply saddened to learn of his passing and our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife Barbara and their entire family. He will be missed by many.”
Vince Dooley’s son, Derek, coached for Saban at LSU and then again when Saban moved on to the NFL to become the head coach for the Miami Dolphins. Derek Dooley then became the head coach at Louisiana Tech before being hired to the same post at Tennessee.
Vince Dooley 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.
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.
You can add published author to Dooley’s list of achievements. Vince Dooley is also a member of sports hall of fames in two states, Georgia and Florida. Prior to his coaching career, Dooley served in the United States Marine Corps as an infantry officer.
The passing of Vince Dooley comes on the heals of another UGA legend’s death. Charley Trippi passed away at the age of 100 on October 19.
Dooley is survived by his wife of 62 years, Barbara, and four children, Deanna, Daniel, Denise, and Derek.
