Derek Dooley ( American football ) Derek Dooley ( born June 10 , 1968 ) is an American football coach and former player . He served as the head football coach at Louisiana Tech University from 2007 to 2009 , and the University of Tennessee from 2010 to 2012 , compiling a career college football record of 32 – 41 . He is the son of former University of Georgia head football coach and athletic director Vince Dooley . Early years . Dooley was born in Athens , Georgia in 1968 , the son of University of Georgia coach Vince Dooley and his wife , radio talk show host Barbara Meshad Dooley . Dooley played high school football at Clarke Central High School in Athens under legendary coach Billy Henderson . He was a star tight end on the school ' s 1985 AAAA State Championship team . Dooley played alongside other notable Clarke Central ( and later NFL ) players , including kicker John Kasay ( Seattle Seahawks , Carolina Panthers , New Orleans Saints ) , defensive end and former U . T . defensive line coach Chuck Smith ( Atlanta Falcons , Carolina ) and wide receiver Willie Green ( four teams ) . Dooley was a walk - on wide receiver at the University of Virginia . He earned a scholarship with the Cavaliers following his second season and helped the school to three bowl appearances , including an ACC championship in 1989 . In 1990 , he was named first - team Academic All - ACC and participated in the Senior Bowl . He graduated in 1990 with a bachelor ’ s degree in government and foreign affairs , and went on to earn his Juris Doctor ( J . D . ) degree from the University of Georgia School of Law in 1994 . Dooley practiced law at Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough in Atlanta for almost two years before embarking on his coaching career . College coaching career . Dooley started his college coaching career with a one - year stint as a graduate assistant at the University of Georgia in 1996 . Dooley spent the 1997 – 99 seasons as wide receivers coach at Southern Methodist University , while also holding the duties of assistant recruiting coordinator during his final two years . In 2000 , Dooley was hired by Nick Saban at LSU as the Tigers ’ recruiting coordinator / tight ends coach , a capacity in which he served until 2002 . Dooley then spent the 2003 – 04 seasons coaching the Tigers ’ running backs and special teams . In 2005 , Dooley left LSU with Saban when the latter became head coach of the Miami Dolphins . On December 17 , 2006 , Dooley was hired as the new head coach at Louisiana Tech University . He replaced former coach Jack Bicknell , who was fired on December 4 after the Bulldogs finished 3 – 10 in 2006 . On January 15 , 2010 , Dooley was hired as the head coach at the University of Tennessee . He replaced Lane Kiffin , who resigned to become head coach at the University of Southern California after one season at Tennessee . Dooley was replaced by Butch Jones . Athletics Director of Louisiana Tech . On March 6 , 2008 , Derek Dooley was named the Athletics Director of Louisiana Tech University replacing former AD Jim Oakes . Among his accomplishments as the Louisiana Tech AD are promoting former Lady Techster and two - time All American Teresa Weatherspoon to the position of Head Coach of the Lady Techsters basketball program in February 2009 ; upgrading Joe Aillet Stadium by adding a new playing turf , box seats , and videoboard ; and completely overhauling the athletic department from the ground up . Professional coaching career . Dooley was named to the Dolphins ’ coaching staff on January 10 , 2005 by Nick Saban , for whom Dooley had previously worked at Louisiana State University . Dooley served on the staff for two years , but left the Dolphins ' staff in 2006 when he was chosen as the new head football coach at Louisiana Tech . University of Tennessee . Dooley inherited a program for which he would be the third head coach in as many years . Perhaps due to these coaching changes , a number of scholarship players had left the University . The 2010 Tennessee Volunteer football team was expected by many to be one of the worst in school history . With few scholarship players and a very young team , Tennessee started the season 2 – 6 . However , they won their last four regular season games to finish the season 6 – 6 and bowl eligible . Tennessee went on to lose the Music City Bowl to North Carolina on the last play of the game . In 2011 , the team finished a disappointing 5 – 7 , dropping the last game of the season to Kentucky , which ended a 26 game winning streak against the Wildcats . Combined with the 6 – 7 record of 2010 , it was the first time since 1910 – 1911 , that the Vols had finished with losing records in back to back seasons . In the 2012 season , Derek Dooley and the Volunteer football team went 5 - 7 , with all 7 losses being to SEC teams . As a result , Tennessee recorded three consecutive losing seasons ( 2010 , 2011 and 2012 ) . On November 18 , 2012 , Dooley was fired from his head coaching position effective immediately after a loss to in - state rival Vanderbilt . Dallas Cowboys . On February 5th , 2013 the Dallas Cowboys officially hired Dooley as their Wide Receivers coach . Personal life . Dooley ' s wife is Dr . Allison Jeffers Dooley , who is an OB / GYN , and they have three children named John Taylor , Peyton , and Julianna .