Friday marked the passing of Vince Dooley, the football coach who conducted himself like a professor and led Georgia to a quarter century of success, including the 1980 national title. He was 90.
Dooley passed away quietly at his home in Athens, in the presence of his wife Barbara and their four children, according to the school’s announcement. There was no cause of death listed.
Dooley was hospitalized earlier this month for what was termed as a mild case of COVID-19, but he declared himself fully recovered and ready to sign books at the campus bookstore prior to the Oct. 15 game against Vanderbilt.
Dooley coached the Bulldogs from 1964 to 1988, compiling a career record of 201-77-10, which included six Southeastern Conference championships, 20 bowl games, and only one losing season.
After Bear Bryant, Steve Spurrier, and Nick Saban, he is the fourth-winningest coach in SEC history.
Dooley served as the school’s athletic director from 1979 until 2004 following his retirement from coaching. He created a program that was successful in a variety of men’s and women’s sports.
Throughout the 2019 football season, the field at Sanford Stadium was named in his honor.