Dooley Steps Down as Football Coach at Georgia : He’ll Remain as Athletic Director for Now but May Take a Swing at Politics

Vince Dooley resigned as football coach at the University of Georgia Wednesday after a quarter-century spent transforming the school from also-ran to traditional power.

“It is certainly no secret that I have considered for the past several years a change in careers,” Dooley said.

He answered speculation about a political career by saying: “I have several possibilities which interest me, including opportunities in business as well as a long-standing interest in the politics of this state.”

Dooley said he would not decide his future until after the Bulldogs’ Jan. 1 Gator Bowl game against Michigan State.

University President Charles Knapp said he has accepted Dooley’s offer to remain as athletic director until a new coach is appointed. Dooley’s resignation as coach is effective Jan. 2.

“As you can imagine, this is the most difficult and painful decision I and my family have ever made,” Dooley said, reading his resignation letter at a news conference.

Dooley said he made his decision on Dec. 1 and decided to announce it now because he could not “in good conscience” participate in recruiting new players.

Knapp said he has appointed a search committee to screen coaching candidates.

“I have asked the committee to move speedily in recommending candidates to me from which I can select a new football coach,” Knapp said.

“As soon as a new football coach is chosen, I will move expeditiously to appoint a search committee to recommend a new athletic director to me.”

Knapp said the search committee, headed by Athens banker Bob Bishop, will begin work today. Georgia assistant head coach George Haffner, who was hired as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 1980, Georgia Southern Coach Erk Russell and North Carolina State Coach Dick Sheridan were among those mentioned as Dooley’s successor.

Dooley, 56, began his head coaching career at Georgia in 1964 and won 200 games in 25 years.

“I, for one, hope Coach Dooley will run for governor,” said Lt. Gov. Zell Miller, the only announced candidate. “His candidacy would be one of the best things to happen in Georgia politics in many years. I think he would run well--about like Herschel Walker (who won a Heisman Trophy at Georgia) with fourth and goal to go.”

Miller, a Democrat, is expected to be joined by a crowd of Democratic and Republican candidates.

“It’s obvious I’m not a politician,” Dooley said. “However, I do have a strong interest in government and history. Before I would consider it (a run for governor), I would go around the state, talk to people--more importantly, listen to them--and find out what the issues are.

“Then I’ll see if it’s a possibility for me.”

As for when he would decide, Dooley said: “I think I have a deadline here in early February (to leave as athletic director). Then I’ll think of the future and should make a decision within a reasonably short time.”

There also had been reports that the uncertainty of Dooley’s plans were hurting Georgia’s recruiting. Colleges and universities can begin signing high school seniors to scholarships beginning Feb. 8.

Before Dooley’s news conference, Haffner said he was “only thinking about getting the team ready to play football” and was “shocked” by reports of Dooley’s planned resignation.

Russell, an assistant at Georgia under Dooley for 17 years whose team will play Furman for the NCAA Division I-AA national championship at Pocatello, Idaho, Saturday night, said he has not been contacted and did not know what he would do if offered the job.

Dooley took over a Georgia program which won only 10 games in 3 previous seasons and led the Bulldogs to a 7-3-1 record in 1964, including a 7-0 victory over Texas Tech in the Sun Bowl.

Six Southeastern Conference titles and a national championship in 1980, when he was named national coach of the year, followed.

He capped his silver anniversary season last month by becoming only the 10th coach in NCAA Division I-A history to reach 200 victories.

No. 200 came against archrival Georgia Tech, a 24-3 victory in the regular-season finale on Nov. 26, giving the Bulldogs an 8-3 record that earned them their 20th bowl bid under Dooley.

His record of 200-77-10 is second in SEC history to Paul (Bear) Bryant, who won 292 in the conference, 323 overall.

Dooley considered retirement in 1985 to run for the U.S. Senate, but decided after 3 weeks to remain at Georgia.

Dooley also considered leaving Georgia just after the 1980 national championship season when he was offered the head coaching job at Auburn, his alma mater.