Georgia football coaching legend Vince Dooley has been released from the hospital after being treated for what was described as a “mild case” of COVID-19.
According to a recent report by FOX 5 Atlanta, Dooley turned 90 last month.
“Happy birthday to Vince Dooley,” the team posted in a tweet on his 90th birthday.
The news of Dooley’s illness was announced last week, just before the former coach and director of the school’s athletic department was scheduled to appear at the UGA bookstore prior to kick-off against Auburn, FOX 5 reports. Soon after, it was reported he had been battling a case of pneumonia.
“I’m grateful for all the cards, text messages, emails and calls as well as the prayers and concerns,” Dooley said in a statement released by Georgia, according to ESPN. “But I’m ready to go Saturday with my regular book signing session at the UGA Bookstore and certainly the homecoming game.”
During his 25 years as coach at Georgia, Dooley led the Dawgs to the 1980 National Championship, six SEC Championships, 20 bowl games and a career record of 201-77-10, becoming only the ninth coach in NCAA Division I history to win over 200 games, all while coaching a who’s who list that includes 1982 Heisman Trophy winner Herschel Walker, 1968 Outland Award winner Bill Stanfill and 40 First Team All-Americans, the report states.
According to the report, in addition to being named Coach of the Year in 1982 by Chevrolet-WTBS in 1982, Dooley was a seven-time winner of the SEC Coach of the Year, six-time winner of the NCAA District Coach of the Year and the 1980 NCAA National Coach of the Year in nearly every poll.
