Copas did not wear more hats than anyone else at Georgia, but he did them all effectively. Copas arrived in Athens as the head football coach, Vince Dooley. Over the next four years, Copas took on the duties of academic counselor and athletic dorm supervisor, which meant he spent a lot of time with impressionable student-athletes in various settings. Copas was presented with a game ball following Georgia’s football victory over Florida. One player said, “He never gets the credit he deserves.”
Dick Copas Died:
Dick Copas, the University of Georgia’s long-time men’s golf coach, died Thursday, November 17, 2022, at 88, following a protracted illness. During his 25-year tenure as head coach, Copas guided the Bulldogs to 17 NCAA Championship berths, including ten top-10 performances. Copas’ Bulldogs finished second at the NCAAs in 1978, the most incredible finish for the programme. Copas guided the Bulldogs to seven Southeastern Conference titles.
Who is Dick Copas?
Copas took over as Georgia’s golf coach in 1970, succeeding Howell Hollis, who had been in charge for 25 years. “Dick followed a renowned golf instructor, but he made his mythology,” stated Dooley, Georgia’s Athletic Director since 1979. Copas’ Bulldogs earned 31 All-American honors and 61 SEC honors. The most decorated players in high school and college history are Danny Yates, Chip Beck, Peter Persons, Paul Claxton, and Franklin Langham. Seventeen of his former students are now on the PGA Tour.
The Career of Dick Copas:
Copas won the National Coach of the Year award in 1978 and the SEC Coach of the Year award seven times. Copas was selected as the Bulldogs’ most valuable player on the golf team. Copas receives a leadership award from the Athletic Association every year. He stepped down as coach of the Bulldogs at the end of the 1996 season, and his legacy at Georgia was confirmed in 1998 when he was voted the Athletic Association’s Employee of the Year. The UGA Circle of Honor recognised him in 2006.
The Successful Career of Dick Copas:
Copas was named National Coach of the Year in 1978 and the SEC Coach of the Year. Copas’ name is on the prize given to the Bulldogs’ most valuable golf player. The Athletic Association also honours Copas with a leadership award each year. He stepped down as Bulldogs coach after the 1996 season, and his place in the Georgia family was cemented in 1998 when he was named the Athletic Association’s Employee. In 2006, he was inducted into the UGA Circle of Honor. At a later date, a private family-only service will be held.
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