National Football Foundation

His record and contributions serving as player, coach, athletic director and commissioner have made Douglas A. (Doug) Dickey a living legend in collegiate athletics and college football. Athletic Director at the University of Tennessee since 1985, Dickey's accomplishments have been recognized by his being named the second recipient of the Foundation's John L. Toner Award, created last year with the first award being presented to the man after which it was named.

The Toner Award is presented to an athletic director who has demonstrated superior administrative abilities and shown outstanding dedication to college athletics; particularly college football. That sums up Doug Dickey's remarkable career.

As a student-athlete, Dickey played under coach Bob Woodruff and was an outstanding quarterback at the University of Florida from 1951-53. In his last season he led the Gators to a Gator Bowl victory.

After college, Dickey hung up his playing gear and put on coaches cleats for a year at St. Petersburg High School in Florida. Then came military service where he coached the Ft. Carson Arkansas team from 1957-63. After discharge came a new calling. Frank Broyles asked him to come to Arkansas. He stayed at Arkansas for six years, learning from and working with Broyles, a Hall of Fame coach. He coached defense his first six years then became head offensive coach the final two seasons.

Dickey broke into the next level in 1964 when his former coach Bob Woodruff, then in his first year as University of Tennessee athletic director, again recruited his former field leader, this time to lead the Volunteer football program as head coach. Woodruff felt that Dickey could make a mark as coach. He was "one of the brainiest quarterbacks I ever saw," Woodruff said at the time. Dickey broke into that next level with a flair, turning a so-so program into a very successful one that brought the Vols two SEC football championships, high national rankings, a host of All-America stars and annual bowl game appearances. He compiled a more than respectable 46-15-4 record during his six year coaching stint at Tennessee.

Dickey's record and his style of coaching did not go unnoticed; especially at his University of Florida alma mater. The college where he had excelled at quarterbacking wanted to see if he could do the same serving as its head coach. He spent nine seasons in Gainesville, starting in 1970, molding a solid, substantial and successful football program. His record at the end of 1978 was 58-43-2. Combining Tennessee and Florida, Dickey's overall record was 104-58-6.

Following his coaching career, Dickey decided he wanted to play on a different kind of field. He wanted to try his hand at business. He joined the Florida Tile Ceramic Centers company which has headquarters in Lakeland, Florida. He briefly served as its Southeast regional sales manager and then for four years found new success as the firms general manager. Then came another career turn, the one that was meant to be.

When University of Tennessee athletic director Bob Woodruff thought it was time to retire he thought immediately of Dickey as his successor. With his long-time ties to Tennessee and his success in the business world, Dickey was a natural to succeed Woodruff. Woodruff knew Dickey had the experience, ability, and integrity to handle the job. Thus it was in 1985 that Doug Dickey took the reins and Tennessee's athletic program has continued to flourish ever since.

His football stadium enlargement plan resulted in increased seating capacity at Neyland Stadium to 102,544, making it the largest on-campus football arena in the nation. The average attendance at Tennessee's home games in 1997 was an incredible 106,538, an all-time national record. As head coach or athletic director, Dickey has been involved in 21 college bowl games.

He didn't limit his football activities to the school. He spent six years on the football rules committee, including three years as chairman. He serves on the NCAA Football Issues Committee, the NCAA Competition Cabinet and the NCAA Certification Committee. He is also a member of the board of the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment.