Former Tennessee Volunteers football coach Derek Dooley is trading in the headset for a political throw at the Republican nomination in Georgia's Senate race against Democratic incumbent Jon Ossoff. Dooley, a political newcomer, announced his bid for the job in a two-minute spot on Monday.
“I spent three decades in coaching, probably doing the exact opposite of what a lot of D.C. politicians were doing,” Dooley said. “I sat in kitchens and living rooms with people from all walks of life. The only thing that mattered was trying to create hope and opportunity for them and that family.”
Dooley coached the Vols to a 15-21 record, including 4-19 in Southeastern Conference (SEC) play from 2010 to 2012. He was also 0-3 against the Georgia Bulldogs, a perennial powerhouse in the SEC, in his three seasons at the helm.
Across the 120-plus season history of Tennessee football (1902-2025), Dooley has one of the worst winning percentages (.417) in program history. He also coached Louisiana Tech to a 17-20 mark from 2007 to 2009.
Dooley is also the son of former Georgia coaching legend Vince Dooley, who led the Bulldogs to a national championship in 1980. In addition, Georgia's title run featured running back Herschel Walker, who unsuccessfully ran for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate in Georgia against Democrat Raphael Warnock in 2022.
Overall, Dooley won 201 games across 25 seasons at Georgia, which included six SEC titles from 1964 to 1988. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1994.
The younger Dooley is hoping for a better run at politics in the Peach State. An endorsement from Gov. Brian Kemp could also help his chances.
Dooley becomes the latest former college football coach to get into the political fray, joining Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville and Ohio Lt. Gov. Jim Tresell.
Sen. Tuberville coached four different college programs, including the Auburn Tigers, Alabama's in-state rival, from 1999-2008. Tressel notably manned the sidelines of Ohio State from 2001-2010, leading the Buckeyes to a national championship over the Miami Hurricanes in 2002.
With college football coaches getting more and more involved in politics, could there be a political future for one right here in Florida?
Mario Cristobal, head coach of the Miami Hurricanes, is only 54 and a Miami native. Cristobal also played for Miami from 1989-1992, winning two national championships during that time.
Up the road, Billy Napier is the head man at Florida, but a 19-19 record with the Gators in three years could have him unemployed soon. Florida notably faces Miami in Miami Gardens on Sept. 20.
Mike Norvell could also be looking for work soon at Florida State. The Seminoles suffered one of their worst seasons in program history last season, going 2-10
Other notable names include Jimmy Johnson, who coached the Miami Hurricanes from 1984-1988. Johnson, 82, officially retired in March after being an NFL analyst for Fox Sports for 31 years.
Jimbo Fisher, who coached Florida State from 2010 to 2017, won a national title with the Seminoles during the 2013 season. Fisher is currently a college football analyst for the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Network.
Former Florida Gators head coach Urban Meyer is currently a college football analyst for Fox Sports. Meyer won two national championships with Florida in 2006 and 2008 and another with Ohio State in 2014, arguably making him one of the greatest college football coaches over the last 25 years.
