UGASports.com's Top Four Bulldog Head Coaches
A year ago, we delivered our “Counting the Days” series (an example with 17 days remaining until the season kicks off). This summer, we explore a topic that has been debated on The Dawgvent for years and years. Twice a week leading up to the season opener, we will post the UGA’s Mount Rushmore of… series, whereby we each present our opinion of the top four Bulldogs representing each positional unit. Whether statistics, big plays, championships won, and/or something else, we have our reasons why these quartets of Bulldogs have been chosen.
Do you agree with our Mount Rushmore of UGA Head Coaches? Who would you put on your list?
Dave McMahon—Twitter @dave_mc_stats
Wally Butts (1939-60): Wally Butts, the “Little Round Man,” was an assistant at Georgia under head coach Joel Hunt before leading the Bulldogs for 22 seasons, including four conference titles (the second most in UGA history). Butts also won a National Championship in 1942 according to the NCAA-recognized DeVold, Houlgate, Litkenhous, Williamson, Poling and Berryman polls/ratings. His 140 wins are the third most in Georgia history, and he had an undefeated season in 1946. Butts was named SEC Coach of the Year three times, led a Heisman Trophy winner in Frank Sinkwich, another who should have been awarded in Charley Trippi, and tutored one of the greatest passers of all time in Fran Tarkenton. Serving as Georgia’s Athletic Director for 16 years from 1948 to 1963, Butts was eventually inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1997.
W.A. Cunningham (1910-19): Like a portion of the previous “Top Four…” articles, some of the choices are easy, and some not so much. For me, Butts, Dooley and Richt were easy. But, who to pick for the fourth? I was going to go with the great “Pop” Warner, but he only coached two seasons at Georgia, including a losing campaign. Harry Mehre, Herman Stegeman, Kid Woodruff and Jim Donnan also received consideration. Subsequently, I was mindful that Georgia football had many “Happy Days” under Mr. Cunningham (sorry I went there), as he produced a 43-18-9 overall record. Prior to W.A. Cunningham’s arrival, Georgia had 13 head coaches in 18 seasons. With Cunningham, the Red and Black had continuity. His teams were 3-0 against Florida and 5-1 against Alabama (Can you imagine what it would be like if a Bulldog coach did that now?). Included in Cunningham’s win total was a 108-0 victory over Alabama Presbyterian and a 101-0 win over Locust Grove (although the opponents were far from powerhouses, those results are staggering). He also guided Georgia’s first All-American in Bob McWhorter, and was also the head coach of UGA’s basketball team for two seasons, recording a 10-6 mark. Most imperative, Cunningham guided a more important group. After coaching, he re-entered the Army and eventually became a general.
Vince Dooley (1964-88): Not only is Vince Dooley the most celebrated head coach in Georgia football history, but he is one of the most distinguished in conference history, and some might argue possibly nationally. Achieving a career record of 201 wins, 77 losses and 10 ties, Dooley became the ninth head coach in the annals of Division I football to reach the 200-win mark. The 201 wins are the most in school history, and the third most by an SEC head coach. Dooley captured at least one SEC championship in three different decades, including a title in just his third season as head coach. Three must have been his magic number as Dooley won three conference titles in a row from 1980 to 1982 (with some help from a certain running back, and others). His six overall SEC titles are tied for the third most ever by an SEC head coach. Dooley coached a Heisman Trophy winner, a Maxwell Trophy recipient, an Outland Trophy winner and 40 First Team All-Americans. He was twice recognized as the NCAA National Coach of the Year, inducted into Sports Hall of Fame of two states (Alabama and Georgia) and was elected into the National College Football Hall of Fame in 1994. While Dooley served as Georgia’s Athletic Director from 1979 to 2004, he helped develop a number of new sports at the University while Bulldog athletics captured 20 NCAA championships and 78 SEC titles.
Mark Richt (2001-15): Due to the current era we live in, the Mark Richt tenure is both beloved and criticized. Richt had an impressive 145-51 record coaching the Bulldogs while leading the program to two SEC titles; however, he never won a national championship. But, if the College Football Playoff was in place during the first half of Richt’s reign, he likely would have had a chance for a title—maybe two. Prior to his arrival, Georgia had appeared in zero SEC Championship Games in nine seasons, yet the Bulldogs played in five under Richt. He had just one losing season (2010), and reached double digits in victories in four of his first five seasons. Richt won over 83 percent of his games at Sanford Stadium—the highest winning percentage by any Bulldog coach. His 145 wins are the second most in Georgia’s history and rank 10th all time in SEC history. Notably, Richt had winning records against rivals Tennessee, Auburn, South Carolina and Georgia Tech and, at one point, had defeated Florida three straight seasons (something Dawg fans would long for now). He was the head coach of Lombardi, Lott, Hornung and Ray Guy Award winners. In addition, five of Richt’s players were named SEC Freshman of the Year, and 13 were first-round NFL draft picks. Perhaps above all, whether at Georgia or currently as the head coach of the Miami Hurricanes, Coach Richt is distinguished as charitable, a family man and a devout Christian.
Patrick Garbin—Twitter @PatrickGarbin
Alex Cunningham (1910-1919): William Alexander (Alex) Cunningham deserves credit for jump-starting the football program at the University of Georgia after it had primarily exhibited sub-par play for nearly two decades since its inception. Prior to Cunningham, 11 of the Red and Black’s first 18 seasons had been non-winning campaigns, including the year before his arrival (1909) when Georgia averaged a paltry two points per contest. In only a season or so, and with the help of legendary halfback Bob McWhorter, Cunningham transformed Georgia football from a substandard program into one of the most respected in the South. For his eight-season career, he won at least twice as many games as he lost in all but one campaign. Cunningham finished with a .679 winning percentage at a school that had won just 47 of 109 games in its history prior to his arrival. What was the reasoning for his instant success? For one, Cunningham was the first coach at Georgia to conduct strenuous practices, while his leadership qualities inspired his teams to continue fighting until the very end of games. In addition, unlike the many Georgia coaches which preceded him, he had the kind of personality that was instrumental in rallying support from alumni.
Harry Mehre (1928-1937): I heavily considered Wally Butts; however, his coaching career was rather inconsistent, including a decade-long stretch whereby he achieved only three winning seasons. On the other hand, although capturing no conference titles, Harry Mehre was about as consistent as they come, achieving eight winning seasons in his 10 years as head coach. But, more so, whereas Alex Cunningham propelled Georgia football to be one of the most respected programs in the South, the Bulldogs progressed to a national level under Mehre. Importantly, he was also known as a coach who always had his Bulldogs well prepared for big games. During Mehre’s tenure, Georgia recorded a 6-2-2 mark against Georgia Tech and was a combined 8-3-1 versus the Eastern elite—Fordham, New York University, and Yale. Although a 6-3-2 season, which ended in his forced resignation, Mehre’s last year at Georgia was arguably his best coaching effort while in Athens. In 1937, the Bulldogs entered the last month of the season marred by injuries and faced with superior opposition. Nevertheless, Mehre’s squad responded without a loss—defeating Tulane and Miami and tying Auburn and Georgia Tech.
Vince Dooley (1964-1988): Dave did a great job of detailing all of Vince Dooley’s records/accomplishments; therefore, I want to do something a little different and instead of detail, more so defend Dooley. For years, I’ve seen and heard the argument of how Dooley had “hardly accomplished anything before Herschel Walker arrived (1980)” and “if it wasn’t for Herschel, Dooley’s coaching career wouldn’t have been nearly as distinguished,” and the like. I’m sure you’ve heard similar, as well. And, certainly, everyone has a right to their own opinion. Also, I’ll note that if he had coached in a similar landscape of today’s collegiate athletics, Dooley probably would have been ousted during the mid-1970s (and, thus, wouldn’t have even coached Herschel). Still, I think many are somewhat unaware of the state—the very sad state—of Georgia football just prior to Dooley’s arrival, and how an unknown coach in his early 30s remarkably—and near-miraculously—turned around the program, and did so instantly. Consider the following accomplishment (a triumph long before the arrival of Herschel): In the 15 seasons before Dooley (1949-1963), Georgia had just five winning seasons and a winning percentage of only .487, which ranked 80th of the 129 schools considered “major-college” teams during that time. On the contrary, in Dooley’s first five seasons, all of which were winning campaigns, he captured two SEC titles and achieved a winning percentage of nearly .750, which ranked as the 13th highest in major-college football during that period, and second in the SEC behind “Bear” Bryant’s mighty Alabama.
Featuring a lot of Coach Dooley, a few other Georgia head coaches, and even a couple of assistants, a video I put together just prior to the 2015 season:
Mark Richt (2001-2015): Like with Dooley, Dave provided more than enough records/accomplishments supporting Mark Richt. So, I’ll be somewhat brief. I’m the first to admit, although the first half of his tenure was a tremendous run, Richt’s final seven or eight seasons were mostly disappointing. And, I believe it was probably the right time he “resigned” from his post when he did. Still, even when looking at the entirety of the head coach’s tenure, and where his .740 career winning percentage ranked nationally and in the SEC, and compare his rankings with those of previous Georgia head coaches, Richt is essentially unsurpassed.
The last seven UGA head coaches with at least a three-season tenure, their overall winning percentage, where that winning percentage ranked among teams considered “major” for the entire span of seasons (No. of major teams), and its conference ranking (No. of SEC teams for the majority of coach’s tenure):
Winning Pct. Rankings of UGA Head Coaches
* Richt's data excludes 2016 TaxSlayer Bowl coached by Bryan McClendon. **Rankings reflect 22 victories vacated by Alabama from 2005-2007 because of "textbook scandal." If 22 wins are included--therefore, more so an "on-field" winning percentage--Alabama ranks ahead of Georgia and, thus, Richt's national and SEC ranking is 9th and 3rd, respectively.
In a few days, we will reveal our next in the UGA’s Mount Rushmore of… series. Until then, again, do you agree with UGASports.com’s list? Who would you put on your Mount Rushmore of UGA Head Coaches?
UGASports.com's Previous UGA Mount Rushmores:
