Ex-Vols coach Derek Dooley running for U.S. Senate

Former Tennessee football coach Derek Dooley is running on the Republican ticket for the U.S. Senate in Georgia.

Dooley, 57, announced Monday he is entering the 2026 race against Democratic incumbent Jon Ossoff.

"Professional politicians like Jon Ossoff are the problem," Dooley said in a two-minute launch video. "Lawlessness, open season on the border, inflation everywhere, woke stuff, that's what they represent. We need new leadership in Georgia. That's why I'm running for Senate."

Dooley was head coach of the Volunteers for three seasons from 2010-12, compiling a 15-21 record with one bowl appearance. He was fired after a 4-7 season (1-7 Southeastern Conference).

Dooley has the endorsement of Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp but reportedly has not yet received a stamp of approval from U.S. President Donald Trump. The GOP considers Ossoff, 38, to be the most vulnerable Democratic incumbent vying for reelection next year.

Dooley was born in Athens, Ga., where his father, Vince, coached the Georgia Bulldogs to a national championship in 1980.

Derek Dooley has never held elected office but said he will bring "good, old-fashioned Georgia common sense" to the job.

Dooley posted a 17-20 record in three seasons at Louisiana Tech (2007-09) before struggling at Tennessee. After his stint in Knoxville, he worked on the coaching staffs of the Dallas Cowboys (2013-17), Missouri (2018-19), New York Giants (2020-21) and Alabama (2022-23).

He is attempting to follow a similar path to Washington, D.C., as former college football coaches Tommy Tuberville of Auburn and Tom Osborne of Nebraska. Tuberville was elected to the Senate from Alabama in 2020 and Osborne served three terms in the House of Representatives.

--Field Level Media