Former University of Georgia head coach Mark Richt reassured fans on Thursday that he is in good health after a rumor circulated on social media suggesting he was hospitalized. In a light-hearted post on X, Richt commented, “Apparently, there’s something out there on the Internet saying that I’m in the hospital. Not true. But if you would have seen me running down the street today, it was so pitiful you probably would have thought I needed to be admitted to the hospital. Lol.”
Richt has candidly shared his health challenges over the years, including a heart attack in 2019 and a Parkinson’s diagnosis in 2021. He recently participated in his third annual Chick-Fil-A Dawg Bowl, an event that raises funds for Crohn’s disease research, a cause close to him as his granddaughter Jadyn has been battling the illness since birth.
In an interview after the event, Richt noted the role he’s taken on in raising awareness for Parkinson’s disease. “Once I made it public knowledge I had Parkinson’s everybody wanted me to be their poster child for fundraising,” he said. He emphasized the importance of enjoying life despite the challenges, stating, “Parkinson’s is not a death sentence by any means, so the biggest thing is to learn to enjoy the things you do and when you know you’re going in the end you have peace.”
Richt led the Bulldogs from 2001 to 2015, during which time the team won two SEC championships and played in 15 consecutive bowl games, earning eight national top-10 finishes. After leaving Georgia, he returned to Miami as head coach until 2018. This year, he was proudly inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, honoring his remarkable contributions to the sport.
Fans looking to support the cause can still make donations for this year’s fundraiser, demonstrating the community spirit that Richt has fostered throughout his career.