View Derek Dooley's Bio Quotes on Derek Dooley Press Conference Audio RUSTON ? Louisiana Tech President Dr. Dan Reneau introduced Derek Dooley as the 31st head coach in Bulldog history Monday during a 3 p.m. press conference held in the Hall of Fame Room of the Thomas Assembly Center.
Dooley, son of former Georgia head coach and athletic director Vince Dooley, comes to Louisiana Tech after serving as an assistant coach for the Miami Dolphins the past two years.
?From the very first time I met Derek Dooley when we went to Miami, I was super impressed,? Reneau said. ?He is a man of integrity, character and high intelligence. He knows coaching from one end to the other. It?s a new day for Louisiana Tech, and Derek Dooley is the man we need to lead us into this era of success.?
Dooley, who will continue his responsibilities as the Dolphins tight ends coach through the end of the season, is very familiar with the college and high school football scene in the south after serving as an assistant coach at LSU under Nick Saban for five years and as the wide receivers coach at SMU from 1997 through 1999.
?We are very excited to have someone of his abilities direct our program,? said Tech Athletic Director Jim Oakes. ?Derek Dooley?s character, leadership abilities and work ethic make him the right fit for this football program.?
Oakes said Dooley will sign a five-year contract in the range of $300K to $400K per year.
Through his experiences in the college and professional coaching scene, the 38-year-old Dooley has earned a reputation as one of the rising young stars in the profession.
?Derek was born to be a football coach, but not just because he is the son of a former head coach and grew up around it,? said Scott Lenahan, head coach of the St. Louis Rams who worked with Dooley at Miami last season. ?He understands the commitment it takes to be a winner at all levels. Guys like him just need this opportunity and now it?s official, so watch out. He?ll have a lot of success.?
During Dooley?s two years at Miami, he oversaw the continued development of tight end Randy McMichael who finished fourth in the AFC among tight ends in receptions, yards and touchdowns in 2005.
?Coach Dooley is such a bright person,? McMichael said. ?He?s made me a better person on and off the field. He?s made me focus every day on every aspect of the game. As a coach, he makes you the best player you can possibly be. He?ll coach you like you?ve never been coached, and he?ll push you to your maximum potential. He is a phenomenal teacher.?
While at LSU, Dooley served as the team?s running backs coach and special teams coordinator in 2003 and 2004, helping lead LSU to the national title during the latter season. In 2003, running back Justin Vincent set a LSU freshmen record by rushing for 1,001 yards as he went on to be named MVP of both the SEC championship game as well as the Sugar Bowl.
In 2004, the Tigers finished first in the SEC in rushing led by Ally Broussard and Joseph Addai, a first round draft choice of the Indianapolis Colts in 2006.
Dooley joined the Tigers in 2000 and for the next three years served as the recruiting coordinator and tight ends coach, and helped mentor tight end Robert Royal, who is now the starting tight end for the Buffalo Bills.
?I?m very excited for him,? Royal said. ?I really admired and looked up to him during my years in college. Not only is he a great coach, but he is a great man. He comes from a background of tradition of winning, and he represents what you expect from in a coach. You can believe and fully trust him. He is a high-character man. One of the many things I respected about him as a coach was he tells you the truth.?
Dooley began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Georgia in 1996 before moving to Southern Methodist as the wide receivers coach in 1997.
A walk-on at the University of Virginia, Dooley earned a scholarship with the Cavaliers in his second season and helped lead the programs to the ACC championship in 1989 and three bowl appearances.
He was named first team Academic All-ACC in 1990 and participated in the Senior Bowl. He earned his bachelor?s degree in government and foreign affairs from Virginia in 1990 and then earned his law degree from Georgia in 1994.
Dooley and his wife, Allison, have two sons, John Taylor and Peyton, and one daughter, Julianna.
