 Dooley practiced law at Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough in Atlanta for almost two years before embarking on his coaching career.Dooley started his college coaching career with a one-year stint as a graduate assistant at the University of Georgia in 1996.This is where his father Vince Dooley was the athletic director and head football coach who won the 1980 national championship there.Dooley spent the 1997–1999 seasons as the wide receivers coach at Southern Methodist University, while also holding the duties of assistant recruiting coordinator during his final two years at SMU.