Others have written and more will write detailed tributes to Coach Vince Joseph Dooley (age 90) as the winningest coach in the history of Georgia football (201-77-10).
That is of course true and adds considerably to his legend, but as many fortunate enough to spend time with Vince Dooley know well, he was so much more than a great football coach.
Born in Mobile, Alabama, and spending his early life in our neighboring state; educated, playing football and later coaching at Auburn University; it might be hard for some to understand how Vince Dooley perhaps became more associated with the University of Georgia and UGA football than anyone on the planet.
Dooley, also a Marine, and his young wife Barbara moved to Athens in 1964 and lived in the same home and neighborhood near Five Points ever since. Dooley’s Dawgs would win their first national championship during the 1980 season, cementing his legendary status in those circles before the age of 50.
The coach was visible and accessible in those days, on campus and around Athens, with Vince and Barbara becoming Athens’ ultimate power couple thanks to their pre-game receptions at their home. And Barbara, the more frank and comedic of the pair, was a popular public speaker, local radio show host, and candidate for public office. Vince Dooley’s heritage was Irish and Italian, and the family was Catholic. Barbara Dooley, a Birmingham native, would add Greek blood to that mix.
Over the course of their 62-year marriage, the Dooleys raised four children, two sons and two daughters. Deanna and Denise were classmates on either side of me at UGA, Daniel is the older son, and Derek would follow his father and uncle into a career in coaching. The family spread geographically but has remained close.
When Dooley passed, all four children were home with their father and mother.
Dooley’s coaching career ended in 1988. He had already been named UGA’s athletic director in 1979, a position he held for 25 years, and his track record there was even more amazing than his tenure as football coach. UGA sports teams across the spectrum of 21 scholarship athletic programs won 18 national championships and 75 SEC titles. Dooley oversaw the Title IX expansion of female sports and scholar dollars during this era, while also raising millions for new athletic facilities as well as nearly $2 million in scholarships for UGA to recruit athletes and non-athletes alike.
Dooley had developed deep relationships all over the Southeast, particularly in Georgia. Among his program alumni and admirers were William Porter “Billy” Payne, CEO of the Centennial Olympic Games, and later, Georgia’s first GOP governor, Sonny Perdue.
Representing Athens and UGA Athletics, Dooley secured four different Olympic sporting events for Athens, including women’s soccer, rhythmic gymnastics, volleyball, and the Gold medal match for soccer between Brazil and Portugal.
Though I have heard some of his players from back in the day discuss how the coach could be at times rather formal and imposing, in his post-coaching years you would constantly see him signing footballs or any memorabilia presented, posing for fan selfies, and fully embracing Bulldog Nation at every level.
My own college fraternity has for years held anniversary celebrations at the five-year mark. For the 35th, 40th, 45th, and 50th, I was able to call on Coach Dooley to leave a warm and often humorous voicemail to our circle.
The Dooleys also started a unique trend, quite unusual in college football, of the program’s subsequent retired coaches returning to Athens to call The Classic City their home. Coaches Ray Goff, Jim Donnan, and Mark Richt each now have an Athens home, and something tells me that when that day eventually comes, Coach Kirby Smart will do the same.
I was glad to be present on the day the field at Sanford Stadium was dedicated as Dooley Field, and knowing how many will want to say farewell to the coach, and likely ruling out lying in state at the Georgia Capitol, I think a life celebration would be fitting in Sanford Stadium, perhaps after the regular- season victory of Georgia vs. Georgia Tech two days after Thanksgiving.
You have left us so much to remember and celebrate Coach, and we want to really spell out Georgia and send you home with one last hurrah from 90,000 or so of your closest friends and family. God bless the Dooley family. RIP Coach.