Former Tennessee State associate athletics director for media relations Wallace Dooley Jr. died Tuesday.
Dooley had been at Alive Hospice after suffering from cancer. He was 68 years old.
“We are so saddened by the passing of our friend and colleague Wallace Dooley,” said TSU athletics director Teresa Phillips. “He and his family have been a prominent part of TSU athletics for decades. He was a treasure chest of information and history for our programs. The TSU family sends our prayers and love to his wife Bridgette and his children.”
Dooley began his career at TSU as an undergraduate student working in the sports information department in 1970.
In 1978, Dooley became the first full-time sports information director at Alabama A&M and was twice named the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Sports Information Director of the Year (1987 and 1989).
He went on to serve as the sports information director at the University of the District of Columbia, Virginia State and North Carolina Central.
Dooley also worked as a part time sports writer for The Tennessean.
In 1996, Dooley worked with the Atlanta Olympics as a venue press chief.
He also worked in sports information for the Nashville Kats of the Arena Football League and assisted with game day operations for the Tennessee Titans.
In 2001, Dooley was hired as media relations director and assistant commissioner for the Southwest Athletic Conference. He served in that position until 2006 when he returned to TSU where he worked until 2012.
In 2010, Dooley received the College Sports Information Director’s of America 25-Year Award and in 2012, the Lifetime Achievement Award.
In 1982 Dooley became a founding member of the Black College Sports Information Directors Association.
Funeral arrangements have not yet been finalized.
Courtesy of: Mike Organ