Put Me In, Coach: Confessions of a Football Wife

by Barbara Dooley

The wife of football coach Vince Dooley recounts the joys and frustrations of being a football wife

Genres: Football, Nonfiction

227 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 1991

Reviews

[Paul Pessolano · Rating 4 out of 5]

A truly remarkable book that lays out what it was to be a football head coach’s wife during this time. I wonder what it must be like now because it must have been hell then. Forget about the Dooleys, about Georgia and concentrate on the life lead by the wife. Left alone with three young children and playing both Mom and Dad to them while he was concerned about recruiting, practice,and winning.. He is hardly ever at home, and when he’s there, he is still concentrating on football. At this time, the wife has little or any life oh her own, everything revolves around football. I hate to think what is happening today. Of course,salaries are different and the wife is more attuned to what life will be like, as a coaches wife.

[Carmen Redding · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everyone who has ever heard Barbara Dooley speak knows she’s “a character” There’s no one quite like her. We came to Athens as students in the 70’s and immediately began cheering for the Bulldogs. I never realized the pressures experienced by coach Dooley and his family till I read this book.

In her book, Barbara recounts the highs and lows of being the wife of a football coach. She does so with honesty and humor, but also with warmth and great insight that comes only with time. Getting married is easy, but staying married is challenging. In the end, Barbara tells us it all comes down to unconditional love, a deep faith and powerful prayers.

I enjoyed learning more about this very unique woman, her Lebanese roots, her Catholic faith and her devotion to her children, her husband and her God.

[Emily Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a head coach’s girlfriend (and hopefully future wife) this book was both entertaining and informative about the life of a football coach’s wife and family. I really enjoyed reading about Barbara’s experiences and what she has learned and done during her husband’s years as a coach. I have a feeling this book will be one I keep on the shelf to pick up and re-read often :)

[Lane · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book as Barbara Dooley is always entertaining and has a viewpoint. Written 30 years ago, it is interesting to view some of the stories with the added information that has been presented over the years.
Not a football story per say but Barbara view if life.

[Tim Chavel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Any University of Georgia fan will enjoy this book. Barbara is the wife of Vince Dooley. Vince is the former coach and AD at the University. She is very frank and open in her discussion of their family. Having read the book I wonder how they (her and Vince) stayed married. I'm sure it was not as bad as it seemed. It really showed a different side of Coach Dooley. This book is copyrighted in 1991 and tells the story of the Dooleys starting with Vince, then a coach at Auburn, dating Barbara, who was an underclassman at Auburn. I highly recommend to any UGA fan.

[Gary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was not a book with a lot of football in it but some. aIt is a out a oach's wife and their family. I am not sure why but I actually enjoyed it. It has some good humorous parts in it.