Troy Douglas is in his third season as Carolina's defensive backs coach. He is in his 24th season as a college coach, and has spent 22 seasons working in the defensive secondary. Douglas was a teammate of interim head coach Everett Withers at Appalachian State.
Under Douglas' direction, Carolina's defensive backs have quickly developed into one of the top units in the ACC. Despite being hit hard last year by suspension and injuries, Carolina was among the national leaders in interceptions with 19 for the second straight season. Safety Da'Norris Searcy led the team with four picks and was a fourth-round selection in the 2011 NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills.
This fall, the Tar Heels must replace all four starters, including Searcy and all-conference performers CB Kendric Burney and S Deunta Williams. Carolina returns cornerback Charles Brown and safeties Jonathan Smith and Brian Gupton after all three sat out the 2010 season. Brown has the most experience with 22 career starts and six interceptions.
Douglas came to Chapel Hill after serving three years as the defensive backs coach at South Florida. During his tenure in Tampa, USF earned three bowl bids and won 26 games.
At USF, Douglas played a major role in developing one of the nation's top defenses. In 2008, the Bulls finished 10th in the country in overall defense and in 2007, USF led the country in turnovers, interceptions and fumble recoveries. His secondary produced 17 of the 23 interceptions, including three by first team All-America Mike Jenkins, four by third team All-Big East safety Nate Allen and six by second team All-Big East corner Trae Williams. Jenkins was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft and Williams was picked in the fifth round by Jacksonville. Two more of Douglas' pupils were picked in the 2010 NFL Draft, including second-round pick Nate Allen and third-round selection Jerome Murphy.
Douglas also has coached at Indiana (2004-05), South Carolina State (2003), Michigan State (2001-2002), SMU (1997-2000), UTEP (1995-1996), East Tennessee State (1992-1994) and West Chester (1989-1991). At Indiana, he coached cornerback Tracy Porter who became a second-round pick of the New Orleans Saints in 2008. Porter picked off a pass and returned it for a touchdown in the Super Bowl win over Indianapolis. During his two years as the secondary coach at Michigan Sate, the Spartans still ranked 14th in the nation in pass defense despite losing four cornerbacks through the 2001 season.
In his one year at South Carolina State, Douglas was instrumental in building a defense that led I-AA in pass efficiency defense.
At SMU, Douglas coached running backs for one season (1997) before moving to the defensive side of the ball. In 1998, SMU was ranked 14th nationally in defense.
In his two seasons at UTEP, Douglas coached the secondary in 1995 and running backs in 1996, after three seasons as the secondary coach at East Tennessee State. At ETSU, the Buccaneers ranked third in the nation in pass efficiency defense, and one of Douglas' players - Donnie Abraham - went on to a very successful career with the New York Jets that included a Pro Bowl appearance.
Douglas began a full-time coaching career as the defensive backs coach at West Chester (Pa.) in 1989, where he coached Lee Woodall, a Pro Bowl player in 1995 and 1997 as a 49er.
A native of Jacksonville, Fla., Douglas was a four-year starter at wide receiver for Appalachian State from 1983-86. He led the team in receiving as a junior and senior. When he graduated, he ranked third all-time at ASU with 90 career receptions for 1,401 yards.
He earned a bachelor's degree in communications arts (1988) and was a graduate assistant at his alma mater before his first full-time position at West Chester.
Douglas and his wife, Rebecca, have two children - Tanner and Taryn.
The Douglas File Date and Place of Birth: Sept. 23, 1965 in Jacksonville, Fla. Family: Wife, Rebecca; son, Tanner; daughter, Taryn Education: Appalachian State, bachelor's degree, 1987 Playing Experience: 1983-86, Appalachian State, wide receiver
Coaching Experience: 1988 Appalachian State (graduate assistant coach) 1989-91 West Chester (assistant coach/defensive backs) 1992-94 East Tennessee State (assistant coach/defensive backs) 1995 UTEP (assistant coach/secondary) 1996 UTEP (assistant coach/running backs) 1997 SMU (assistant coach/running backs) 1998-2000 SMU (assistant coach/defensive backs) 2001-02 Michigan State (assistant coach/defensive backs) 2003 South Carolina State (assistant coach/defensive backs) 2004-05 Indiana (assistant coach/defensive backs) 2006-08 USF (assistant coach/defensive backs) 2009-present (assistant coach, North Carolina/defensive backs)
