ATHENS, Ga. (WTXL) - Dan Magill, described by many as the greatest Georgia Bulldog of all time, died Saturday night in Athens at the age of 93.
An Athens native, Magill began his 60-year association with University of Georgia athletics as a baseball batboy in the 1930's and continued in numerous roles until his retirement in 1995.
Magill had no peer as an innovator and promoter, and is known nationally for building over time the country¹s finest collegiate tennis facility
"I don¹t know of anyone who contributed more to our program through his time, his commitment, his life," said former UGA athletic director and head football coach Vince Dooley. "He, more than anyone else, has always been the true Bulldog spirit of the Georgia people."
Magill retired as tennis coach following the 1988 season after leading the tennis Bulldogs for 34 years and becoming one of the most influential men in the history of collegiate tennis.
He remained on the Georgia athletic staff through 1995 as Director of Men¹s and Women¹s Tennis as well as Assistant Athletic Director for Public Relations and the Georgia Bulldog Clubs. During his long tenure with the University, he also served 27 years as sports information director and
25 years as secretary of the Georgia Bulldog Club, which he founded in 1953.
In 1996, Magill was inducted into the UGA Circle of Honor -- the highest honor for former coaches and athletes at Georgia -- and was a recipient of the 1994 Bill Hartman Award which goes annually to a former athlete or coach who has made a significant impact in his chosen career.
He¹s also a member of the National Collegiate Tennis Hall of Fame, State of Georgia Sports Hall of Fame, and Southern Tennis Hall of Fame.
As a tennis coach, his brilliant 34-year record at Georgia was a staggering 706-183 making him the all-time winningest coach in NCAA Division I history at the time. His team won a record 13 Southeastern Conference outdoor championships and eight indoor league titles. He won two NCAA national championships in 1985 and '87. His 1985 Bulldogs performed the unmatched "hat trick": they ranked No. 1 in the final national team rankings, No. 1 in individual singles (Mikael Pernfors), and No. 1 in doubles (Mikael Pernfors and Allen Miller).
His players won five national collegiate individual championships: Pernfors, NCAA national singles champion, 1984 and '85, and Volvo All-America singles champion in '84; Allen Miller and Ola Malmqvist, ITCA indoor doubles in '82 and NCAA national doubles champions in '83.
He is survived by his wife, Rosemarie Reynaud Magill and three children: Hamilton III and daughters Shannon and Mollie. A private funeral will be held Thursday, August 28, at 10:00 a.m. A celebration of Magill's life is scheduled for noon Thursday at the Athens Country Club.
* From UGA Sports Information
