North Carolina (1967–1977) Bill Dooley, brother of former
Georgia head football coach
Vince Dooley and uncle of former
Louisiana Tech and
Tennessee head football coach
Derek Dooley, came to North Carolina from his post as Offensive Coordinator at
Georgia. Dooley enjoyed success at UNC, compiling a 69–53–2 record in 11 seasons. Six of those seasons were bowl appearances, five losses and one win. In 1967, the Tar Heels struggled to a 2–8 record, with wins over Maryland and Duke. In 1968, Carolina showed a little improvement, finishing 3–7 with wins over
Vanderbilt, No. 7
Florida, and Duke. In 1969, Carolina finished 5–5, their best season in five years. Dooley's 1970 team finished 8–4 and concluded the season with a loss to No. 8
Arizona State in the
1970 Peach Bowl. The 1971 team finished the season ranked No. 18 in the Coaches’ Poll and captured its first outright Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) championship with a perfect 6–0 conference record. The 1972 season marked the pinnacle of Dooley's tenure at North Carolina. The Tar Heels finished 11–1, defeating
Texas Tech in the
1972 Sun Bowl, and became the first team in school history to win 11 games in a single season. Dooley also became the only head coach in UNC football history to win back-to-back ACC championships. The Tar Heels finished the season ranked No. 14 in the Coaches’ Poll and No. 12 in the AP Poll. The Tar Heels rebounded in 1974 with a 7–5 record but lost to
Mississippi State in the
1974 Sun Bowl. The 1975 season proved difficult, as North Carolina finished 3–7–1. Dooley guided the Tar Heels to a 9–3 record in 1976, capped by a loss to No. 19
Kentucky in the
1976 Peach Bowl. In 1977, North Carolina swept the ACC schedule and tied Clemson, which had lost to Maryland, resulting in Dooley's third and final ACC championship. The Tar Heels finished the season 8–3–1 and lost to No. 12
Nebraska in the
1977 Liberty Bowl. The team concluded the season ranked No. 14 in the Coaches’ Poll and No. 17 in the AP Poll. He remained the winningest head coach in North Carolina football history until being surpassed by
Dick Crum in 1987.
Virginia Tech (1978–1986) After his tenure at North Carolina, Dooley served as the
athletic director and head football coach at
Virginia Tech. During his tenure, the Hokies appeared in three bowl games, equaling the total number of bowl appearances in the program's history prior to his arrival. The 1986 team finished the season with a 9–2–1 record and won the
Peach Bowl, the first bowl victory in Virginia Tech history. The team was later credited with a tenth win after
Temple forfeited its entire 1986 season—including a 29–13 victory over Virginia Tech—due to the use of an ineligible player. As recorded by the NCAA, the 1986 season stands as Virginia Tech's first 10-win season. His tenure at Virginia Tech, however, ended shortly afterward amidst allegations of
NCAA recruiting violations and financial mismanagement in the athletic department. After resigning from his positions at Virginia Tech, he sued the university for $3,500,000 alleging breach of contract. The lawsuit was settled out of court. At the time, he was the winningest coach in Virginia Tech history, though he was eventually surpassed by his successor,
Frank Beamer.
Wake Forest (1987–1992) Bill Dooley came to Wake Forest after a brief retirement from coaching. He had previously been a head football coach at
Virginia Tech and
North Carolina. Dooley recorded the second-most wins by a first-year head coach in Wake Forest history, totaling seven victories—trailing only
Jake Dickert, who posted nine in 2025. The next year, Wake Forest compiled a 6–4–1 record and finished in a tie for fourth place in the
Atlantic Coast Conference. In 1989, the Demon Deacons compiled a 2–8–1 record and finished in seventh place in the
Atlantic Coast Conference. The following season, Wake Forest finished with a 3–8 record and finished in last place in the
Atlantic Coast Conference. In 1991, Wake Forest again finished last in the ACC with a 3–8 record. Dooley led the Demon Deacons to one bowl game, the 1992
Independence Bowl, which Wake Forest won, capping off an 8–4 season in which they finished ranked No. 25 in both the AP and Coaches Polls, respectively. Dooley re-retired after that game. Dooley retired after the 1992 season. His six seasons in Winston-Salem are tied for fourth for longest tenure and his 29 wins are third in most wins in Wake Forest history. He had three winning seasons at Wake Forest, 7–4 in 1987, 6–4–1 in 1988, and the 8–4 1992 team. Dooley's final record is 29–36–2. He is tied with Paul Amen for the most Atlantic Coast Conference Coach of the Year honors in school history, with two awards. ==Retirement and death==