Legendary UGA football coach Vince Dooley has died

ATHENS, Ga. (WTOC) - Legendary former University of Georgia football coach and director of athletics, Vince Dooley has passed away.

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).

WTOC spoke with Dooley’s long time friend Sonny Seiler about the impact he leaves behind.

“I don’t believe in all of the years that I ever met anyone in the sports world who disliked Coach Dooley. I mean there were plenty of people on the other side that had reason to dislike him because he had whipped them or something. But he never showed that against another coach and no coach to my knowledge ever showed any contempt for him.”

The university confirmed that Dooley died peacefully at his home Friday afternoon at the age of 90.

Head football coach Kirby Smart shared his condolences on Twitter:

Our family is heartbroken by the death of Coach Dooley. 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 in our community, university, and in college athletics.
— Coach Kirby Smart (@KirbySmartUGA) October 28, 2022

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