[7] After serving as an infantry officer in the United States Marine Corps from 1954 to 1956,[8] he returned to Auburn and eventually obtained a master's degree in history in 1963.

[2][3] During his first season with the team, Dooley finished with a 7–3–1 record and led the Bulldogs to the Sun Bowl, defeating the Texas Tech Red Raiders.

The school lost only one game that year, won the Cotton Bowl Classic against the SMU Mustangs, and the finished as 4th in the final poll of the season.

Two years later, Georgia won their second SEC title under Dooley, but they lost the Sugar Bowl to the Arkansas Razorbacks.

[9] He won his third SEC title with the school in 1976, losing only one game in the regular season and shutting out the Alabama Crimson Tide 21–0 at home.

[2] The Bulldogs finished the 1980 season with a perfect 12–0 record and became consensus national champions for the first time after defeating Notre Dame 17–10 in the Sugar Bowl.

[9] In his 25 seasons as Georgia's head football coach, Dooley won six SEC championships and led the school to 201 victories.

[2] During his tenure as athletic director, he hired former football coach Mark Richt from Florida State University.

[3] He was later hired by Kennesaw State University in December 2009 to work as their consultant, as part of the school's drive to start a football program.

[36] In 2004, Dooley was enshrined into UGA's Circle of Honor, which is the school's highest tribute to former athletes and coaches.

Dooley received the Homer Rice Award, the highest honor given by the Division I-A Athletic Directors Association, in September 2007.

It was designed to accomplish two goals consistent with Dooley's life and legacy – recognizing senior scholars in the field of history and mentoring and developing emerging historians.

[39][40] Historian David Blight and author Rick Atkinson have been named Vincent J. Dooley Distinguished Teaching Fellows.