Chan Gailey held coaching jobs with eight different pro teams in two leagues, NFL and World League. He coached five different college programs, his longest term being the six years (2002-07) as head man at Georgia Tech.
While he and Bobby Dodd are the only Tech coaches to win seven or more games in six consecutive seasons, Gailey never beat Georgia while on the Flats and never finished a season in the Top 25. He was replaced by Paul Johnson, whose two winningest seasons have been his first two, while employing numerous Gailey recruits.
After the Buffalo Bills fired Gailey in 2012 — following a 16-32 record over three seasons — Gailey thought he’d try being something else: A small town man of leisure.
At 62, he and his wife live in the northeast Georgia town of Clarkesville, in the renovated 1920s home his grandmother once owned. Both of his sons and his five grandchildren live nearby.
He came down from the Blue Ridge foothills Monday to address the Touchdown Club of Atlanta, pausing to answer a few questions about his life and his sport.
Q: Two years out of football now, what occupies your time?
A: I've planted a garden both years. I do my yard work and I play golf. I tell people I finally found something I'm good at — retirement.
Q: You don’t miss coaching?
A: You miss the relationships. You miss the competition of game day a little bit. That's about it. We enjoyed being in it. We enjoy being out of it.
Q: In Clarkesville, how do you feed your competitive side?
A: I play golf. And you have to keep your yard up, people get competitive about that.
Q: What’s your handicap?
A: A one. But I'm not that good.
Q: Doesn’t sound like you’re in any hurry to get back into coaching.
A: You never say never in our business, but it's highly doubtful. I have five grandkids around me. I'm always at a Little League game or a grandparents' breakfast at school, something all the time. It would have to be something truly unique (to get him back in the game).
Q: So, you’re home this weekend, how much football did you watch?
A: I'll watch a college game; I'm not much for pro ball. I saw most of the Auburn-Mississippi State game, some of the Ole Miss-Texas A&M game. Didn't see much of the Georgia game, I was on the ninth hole when that one started.
Q: Speaking of Georgia, wouldn’t you like one more chance to beat the Bulldogs?
A: You always want the opportunity to win a game, but that also comes with the opportunity to lose. I've had my opportunities. Let's give the younger guys a chance. I actually pull for Georgia now. I have a great deal of respect for Mark Richt.
Q: As a former Florida quarterback and grad, when do you think the Gators are going to turn it back around?
A: People ask me that often, but they're surprised to find out that I don't keep up with Florida at all.
Q: Certainly the biggest college story hereabouts has involved Georgia’s Todd Gurley and the investigation over whether he improperly sold his autograph and likeness. Do you think players should be able to profit off their name or should they otherwise be paid?
A: I'm in favor of players receiving money, having it set aside in a fund until they graduate. Whatever the amount, whatever they can get. If they leave early, they don't get it. If they don't graduate, they don't get it. And every time the player's involved in an NCAA infraction or an arrest, (the amount in the fund) gets cut in half.
Q: How ‘bout those Cowboys (he was head coach in Dallas 1998-99)?
A: I joke about (Cowboys owner Jerry Jones) a lot, but Jerry and his wife were extremely nice to Laurie and me. He was a micro-manager; he wanted his hands on everything. I used to joke that deep down he wants to coach the team but he realizes deep down that he can't fire himself if things go wrong. I think he has backed off since then. I really am happy for him and his (5-1) team.
Q: You seem genuinely content. And, judging from the light tone of the Touchdown Club speech, certainly more relaxed than when you were coaching at Tech.
A: That's because it doesn't matter what I say one lick. Nobody cares. And they're not (even) going to put anything I say in the Tri-County Advertiser in Habersham County.
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