Derek Dooley is a 57-year-old former University of Tennessee football head coach and attorney making his first run for public office. He is the son of legendary University of Georgia football coach Vince Dooley and has no prior electoral experience. Dooley entered the Republican primary in August 2025 with backing from Governor Brian Kemp, positioning himself as a political outsider focused on 'Georgia First' leadership. Before coaching, he practiced law in Atlanta. He spent nearly three decades coaching at collegiate and professional levels, including 3 seasons as Tennessee head coach (2010-2012) with a 15-21 record, and assistant coaching roles with NFL teams including Dallas Cowboys and Alabama.
Derek Dooley was born in Athens, Georgia, where his father coached the University of Georgia Bulldogs for 25 years. He attended Clarke Central High School and University of Virginia, where he walked on to the football team as a wide receiver. He earned a law degree from University of Georgia and practiced law in Atlanta before his nearly three-decade coaching career. He served as head coach at Louisiana Tech (3 seasons) and University of Tennessee (3 seasons, 2010-2012, 15-21 record), and as both head coach and athletic director at a Division I program. He continued assistant coaching roles including with NFL Dallas Cowboys and University of Alabama (senior offensive analyst 2022-2023) before entering politics.