Legendary Georgia football coach Vince Dooley hospitalized with COVID-19
ByBob D'Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
ByBob D'Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
ATHENS, Ga. — Vince Dooley, who guided the University of Georgia to a national title and six Southeastern Conference football titles, has been hospitalized with a “mild case” of COVID-19, a school spokesperson said Saturday.
Dooley, 90, was supposed to make an appearance at the University of Georgia Bookstore on Saturday, a ritual that has become a tradition before home games in Athens, the Athens Banner-Herald reported.
From 1963 to 1988, Dooley compiled a 201-77-10 record at Georgia, according to WSB-TV. In addition to the half-dozen SEC titles, Dooley led the Bulldogs to a 12-0 mark and a national title during the 1980 season.
Dooley remained the Bulldogs’ athletic director after he retired as football coach.
From 1979 to 2004, Georgia athletic programs won 23 national championships and 78 SEC team titles, according to WSB. He retired in June 2004.
Dooley, who was born Sept. 4, 1932, in Mobile, Alabama, celebrated his 90th birthday at Georgia’s game against Oregon in Atlanta to open the 2022 season, according to 24/7 Sports.
In 2019, the university officially named the field at Sanford Stadium after Dooley, WSB reported.
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Photos: Vince Dooley through the years 1976: Vince Dooley, head football coach of the University of Georgia, receives a pat on his newly shaved head from Gov. Busbee at the SEC Coronation party in Athens. Dooley kept his promise to shave his head when the Bulldogs won the SEC and Georgia championships. (Bettmann/Bettmann Archive via Getty Images)
Photos: Vince Dooley through the years 1987: Georgia head football coach Vince Dooley is shown on May 2, 1987. (Mitchell Layton/Sporting News via Getty Images)
Photos: Vince Dooley through the years 1988: Coach Vince Dooley of the Georgia Bulldogs watches his players during a game. (Allen Dean Steele/Allsport via Getty Images)
Photos: Vince Dooley through the years 2005: Coach Vince Dooley and coach Bobby Cremins during Jefferson Pilot Presents - The Southern Sports Awards at the Tabernacle in Atlanta on Nov. 30, 2005. (Rick Diamond/WireImage via Getty Images)
Photos: Vince Dooley through the years 2006: Coach Vince Dooley and Larry Munson appear during WSB Radio - Honors 40 Years of Larry Munson at Waverly Hotel in Atlanta on Aug. 12, 2006. (Rick Diamond/WireImage via Getty Images)
Photos: Vince Dooley through the years 2008: Former Georgia Bulldogs head coach Vince Dooley (seventh from left) poses with his family for photos after Dooley was presented with a replica statue of the one placed on campus in his honor during the game against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Sanford Stadium on November 29, 2008, in Athens, Georgia. (Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images)
Photos: Vince Dooley through the years 2016: Former University of Georgia head coach and athletic director Vince Dooley unveils the banner for 79 games remaining at Turner Field during the game between the Atlanta Braves and the Washington Nationals at Turner Field on April 6, 2016, in Atlanta. (Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images)
Photos: Vince Dooley through the years 2018: Former head coach Vince Dooley of the Georgia Bulldogs watches the action from the sidelines against the Auburn Tigers on November 10, 2018, at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Georgia. (Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)
Photos: Vince Dooley through the years 2019: Vince Dooley, alongside his wife and Jere Morehead, is honored as the field name of Dooley Field is announced prior to the start of the game against the Murray State Racers at Sanford Stadium on September 7, 2019, in Athens, Georgia. (Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
Photos: Vince Dooley through the years 2022: Former Georgia Bulldogs coach Vince Dooley calls out "play ball" prior to the MLB game between the Washington Nationals and the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on April 13, 2022, in Atlanta. (Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
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