Derek Dooley, former Tennessee coach, seeks Georgia Senate seat
Derek Dooley, former head coach at Tennessee, announced a Republican bid for a U.S. Senate seat in Georgia ahead of the midterm elections. The candidate, who last coached as a senior offensive analyst at Alabama in 2023, plans to advance through the primary and general election. Dooley draws on his Southeastern Conference experience to appeal to voters.
Dooley worked alongside Kirby Smart at LSU in 2004 under Nick Saban and later on Saban's Miami Dolphins staff. He praised Smart's leadership at Georgia, where the Bulldogs reached three College Football Playoff national championship games and won titles in 2021 and 2022. Dooley told Fox News Digital he respects Smart's handling of young players amid off-field issues, including speeding incidents.
Those incidents involved multiple Georgia players. In 2023, Devin Willock and recruiting staffer Chandler LeCroy died in a car crash; Jalen Carter faced reckless driving charges and received probation. Later arrests included Smael Mondon Jr. and Bo Hughley in 2024 for reckless driving, plus suspensions of Nitro Tuggle, Marques Easley in 2025 and dismissal of Nyier Daniels after a police chase.
Dooley opposes congressional intervention in college athletics, urging the NCAA to address name, image and likeness issues. Georgia's Republican primary is set for May 19; a June 16 runoff follows if no candidate wins a majority. The winner faces incumbent Democrat Jon Ossoff in the general election.
