Bill Dooley, former assistant football coach at the University of Georgia and head coach at Virginia Tech, North Carolina, and Wake Forest died at his home in Wilmington, N.C., Aug. 9 at the age of 82.
The younger brother of former UGA head coach and athletic director Vince Dooley died of natural causes, according to the North Carolina athletic department.
UGA reported Bill Dooley compiled a career head coaching record of 161-127-5. Bill Dooley served as an assistant coach at UGA (1964-67) on his brother's first staff.
With the Tar Heels (1967-76) Dooley won three Atlantic Coast Conference titles, including the school's first outright conference championship in 1971. He left North Carolina as the winningest coach in school history. He is still tied for second on the school's wins list, behind only Mack Brown and is still the school's longest-tenured head coach. He also achieved the school's first 11-win season in 1972.
“Coach Dooley was a great coach and an even better man who made a lasting impact on this university and on college football as a whole,” Carolina head coach Larry Fedora said in a statement. “He touched the lives of the young men who played for him in a profound and special way. He proved that Carolina was a program that could produce a winning tradition and his legacy is something we strive to uphold each and every day. Our thoughts are with Marie and the entire Dooley family in this very difficult time.”
Known as the “Trench Fighter,” Dooley is the only Carolina football coach to win multiple Atlantic Coast Conference championships. He led the Tar Heels to ACC titles in 1971, 1972 and 1977, according to UNC.
UGA added after his tenure at North Carolina, Dooley served as the athletic director and head football coach at Virginia Tech (1978-86). He led the Hokies to three bowl games — as many as they had attended in their entire history prior to his arrival. His best team was the 1986 unit, which went 921 and won the Peach Bowl.
Dooley later served as the head coach at Wake Forest (1987-92) where he led the team to an 8-4 record and Independence Bowl berth in his final season.
Dooley's family released the following statement via the North Carolina athletic department:
"Coach Bill Dooley passed away this morning. He will be missed by his family and friends and will be remembered by all of us whose lives he has touched so deeply."
