Who was Dick Copas and How did he die? Obituary and Death Cause

Dick Copas is a former longtime men’s golf coach at the University of Georgia.

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Dick Copas, a former Georgia golf coach, passes away at age 88.

Copas passed away on Thursday, November 17, after a long illness. He was 88.

Dooley said,

In 1970, Copas was named Georgia’s golf coach, succeeding Howell Hollis, who had coached the Bulldogs for 25 seasons. who became Georgia’s Athletic Director in 1979, “Dick followed a legendary golf coach, but he created a legend of his own.”

Copas came to Athens in 1964 as the Bulldogs’ rookie head football coach, Vince Dooley’s, head trainer. Copas took on the duties of academic counselor and athletic dorm supervisor over the following four years, which meant he spent valuable time with impressionable student-athletes in a variety of settings. Following Georgia’s football victory against Florida, Copas was presented with a game ball, with one player commenting,

“He never gets the credit he deserves, but I don’t know of anyone who isn’t a friend of Mr. Copas.”

In 1964, Copas moved to Athens to serve as Vince Dooley’s head football coach as a rookie. Copas added the positions of the academic advisor and athletic dorm supervisor during the next years, which allowed him to spend crucial time with student-athletes in a variety of situations.

Bulldogs

The Bulldogs gave Copas a game ball after Georgia defeated Florida in football. One player said,

“He never gets the praise he deserves, but I don’t know of anybody who isn’t a buddy of Mr. Copas.”

Dick Copas coached golf for the Bulldogs for 25 years, guiding them to 17 NCAA Championship berths and 10 top-10 results. The Bulldogs under Copas finished second in the NCAAs, the highest place for the school at the time. Copas led the Bulldogs to seven SEC championships as well.

In 1978, Copas won the National Coach of the Year award. He also won the SEC Coach of the Year award seven times. He was honored with a spot in the Golf Coaches Association of America Hall of Fame in 1994. In memory of Copas, the Bulldogs’ most valuable golfer award bears his name. Additionally, the Athletic Association annually bestows the Copas Leadership Award.

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Following the 1996 season, he retired as the Bulldogs’ head coach, and in 1998, the Athletic Association recognized him as Employee of the Year, reiterating his standing in the Georgia community. In 2006, he was admitted into the UGA Circle of Honor.

About his early life

Dick Copas was 88 years old at the time of his passing. He holds an American Citizen and he belongs to the white ethnic group.

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