ATLANTA — Former University of Georgia Bulldogs head football coach Mark Richt announced on social media on Thursday night that he has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.

Richt, now a college football analyst for the ACC Network, released a statement saying, “Truthfully I look at it as a momentary light affliction compared to the future glory in heaven.”

Richt finished his career at UGA in 2015, with 145 wins and 51 losses, making him the second-winningest coach in Georgia history. He was dismissed in 2015 before Georgia chose to go with Kirby Smart as head coach.

Richt’s teams won SEC titles in 2002 and 2005 and lost in the SEC Championship game in 2003, 2011 and 2012.

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After leaving Georgia, Richt was named the head coach of the Hurricanes of the University of Miami, his alma mater, and retired in 2018.

Most recently, Richt can be seen on the ACC Network’s coverage of college football games.

“In the meantime, I am going to enjoy the blessing that I do have,” Richt said.

According to the Mayo Clinic, Parkinson’s is “a progressive nervous-system disorder that affects movement. Symptoms start gradually, sometimes starting with a barely noticeable tremor. ... Parkinson’s disease symptoms worsen as your condition progresses over time. Although Parkinson’s disease can’t be cured, medications might significantly improve your symptoms.”

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution contributed to this article.

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