Former Georgia and Miami head coach Mark Richt reveals he has Parkinson’s

Former college football coach Mark Richt announced on Thursday that he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. 

Former Georgia and Miami head football coach Mark Richt announced on Thursday that he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.

According to the National Institute of Health, Parkinson’s disease is a brain disorder that leads to several factors, including shaking, stiffness, and difficulty with walking, balancing, and coordination. The disease is likely to pop up 50 percent more in men more than in women.

Several people sent their best wishes to the former coach while praying for a speedy recovery, including current members of both the Bulldogs and Hurricanes football teams.

Mark Richt’s diagnosis is saddening, and prayers are coming out for a respected member of college football.

Richt first became the head coach at Georgia in 2001, where he registered an 8-4 record. From 2001-2015, Richt compiled a 145-51 record as head coach of Bulldogs, second only to Vince Dooley in Georgia history. His tenure included a 41-10 victory over the Hawaii Warriors in the 2008 Sugar Bowl. While coaching in Athens, Richt produced several quality players who went on to play in the NFL, including wide receiver A.J. Green and quarterback Matthew Stafford.

Following the 2015-2016 season, Richt departed Athens and headed to South Beach to be the head coach of the Miami Hurricanes. While in Miami, Richt lasted three seasons and finished with a 26-13 record, and earned an appearance in the 2017 Orange Bowl, where the Hurricanes lost to the Wisconsin Badgers 34-24, their third consecutive loss of the season after starting out 10-0 and being ranked as high as No.2 in the nation.

Since leaving the sidelines, Richt has been working as a college football analyst for the ACC Network. Best wishes to Mark Richt on a speedy recovery, and prayers are extended to his family for peace and comfort.

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