Georgia Elections 2026: Who Is Derek Dooley and What Does He Propose?

• Running for Senate seat in Georgia
• Advocates strict border security
• Former coach enters politics

Party: Republican
Office sought: United States Senate

Derek Dooley has stepped away from the sidelines of college football and entered national politics.

The former University of Tennessee football coach is now competing for one of Georgia’s seats in the United States Senate.

Who is Derek Dooley and why is he running for Senate?

The election forms part of the highly important midterm contests expected to influence the political balance in Washington.

Dooley said his goal is to be “the last man standing” after both the primary and general elections.

The Republican candidate bases much of his campaign on the leadership skills he developed during nearly three decades as a football coach.

From football fields to national politics

Derek Dooley, a former University of Tennessee football coach, is launching a bid for the Senate in Georgia, entering a shifting political landscape as candidates vie for coveted endorsements and the chance to unseat Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff. https://t.co/YSLEO1KEbZ

— ABC News (@ABC) August 4, 2025

Born and raised in Athens, Derek Dooley played football from a young age and attended Clarke Central High School.

He later enrolled at the University of Virginia to study International Relations and Government.

During college, he joined the university football team as a wide receiver.

He played for four years and during his final season earned first-team Academic All-ACC honors.

Dooley later attended the University of Georgia, where he earned his law degree in 1994.

Derek Dooley’s professional career initially began outside sports.

He worked as an attorney at the law firm Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough in Atlanta before transitioning into football coaching.

In 1996, he returned to college football as a graduate assistant at the University of Georgia.

From there, he built a 28-year career in the sport, according to his official campaign profile.

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Dooley spent nine years coaching in the National Football League (NFL) and nineteen years coaching college football.

He also became known for simultaneously holding two unusual positions in collegiate athletics.

At one point, he was the only Division I head football coach who also served as athletic director.

Derek Dooley’s views on immigration and border security

One of the central themes of Derek Dooley Georgia Senate campaign is immigration and border security.

The Republican candidate supports strict border security policies and stronger immigration enforcement.

Dooley argues that the immediate deportation of undocumented immigrants who commit crimes should be a priority.

According to his statements: “We all want a closed border.”

He has also supported measures designed to prevent uncontrolled entry into the country.

The former coach frequently criticizes previous federal administrations, arguing they enforced immigration laws too loosely.

Within his proposals, he insists deportation efforts should focus primarily on individuals who “cause chaos in communities.”

However, Derek Dooley has also expressed a somewhat more flexible stance regarding undocumented immigrants without criminal records.

He acknowledges that many longtime residents continue living with uncertainty because Congress has failed to pass immigration reform legislation.

The Republican attributes that situation to congressional inaction over the past two decades.

A new challenge after 28 years in coaching

After ending his coaching career, Derek Dooley has remained connected to college athletics.

He currently works with universities in the Group of Five conferences throughout the country.

His stated goal is to help ensure college sports remain sustainable in the future.

On the campaign trail, Dooley attempts to transfer his sports leadership experience into politics.

The former coach says lessons learned in the Southeastern Conference help him connect with undecided voters.

He also presents his professional background as evidence of discipline and leadership under pressure.

Derek Dooley currently lives in Clayton with his wife, Allison Dooley.

The couple has three adult children.

Now, the Republican hopes to transform his recognition in sports into political support in his campaign for the U.S. Senate.