Troy Douglas Hometown: Jacksonville, Fla. Position: Defensive Secondary Coach Experience: 2nd year

Troy Douglas enters his second year as defensive secondary coach at Michigan State.

Despite losing four starting cornerbacks during the course of the 2001 season, Michigan State ranked among the NCAA leaders in pass defense (No. 14 at 176.1 yards per game) and pass efficiency defense (No. 19 with 105.5 rating).

The 36-year-old Douglas spent four seasons under Mike Cavan at SMU (1997-2000) where he coached the running backs his first year before taking over the defensive backs in 1998. During his stint as defensive backs coach, he tutored two first-team All-WAC defensive backs, Tracy Hart in 1999 and Jacoby Rhinehart in ’98, and two NFL Draft picks, including Rhinehart (Arizona Cardinals, 1999) and Donald Mitchell (Tennessee Titans, 1999). In 1998, SMU ranked among the NCAA leaders in pass efficiency defense (No. 12 at 103.8 rating) and total defense (No. 14 at 297.2 yards per game). In his only season (1997) as running backs coach, the Mustangs finished fifth in the WAC and No. 26 nationally in rushing, averaging 197.3 yards per game.

Douglas previously spent two years under Charlie Bailey at Texas-El Paso, where he served as defensive backs coach in 1995 and running backs coach in ’96.

A native of Jacksonville, Fla., Douglas served as defensive backs coach for three seasons under Coach Cavan at East Tennessee State from 1992-94. In ’93, the Buccaneers ranked third in NCAA I-AA in pass efficiency defense. One of his pupils at ETSU, Donnie Abraham (New York Jets) earned his first trip to the Pro Bowl in 2001.

His first full-time coaching assignment came at West Chester (Pa.) University where he worked as defensive backs coach under Rick Daniels from 1989-91. His starting strong safety at West Chester, Lee Woodall, made two Pro Bowl appearances (1995 and ’97) with the San Francisco 49ers.

Douglas began his coaching career as a graduate assistant under Sparky Woods at Appalachian State (1987-88).

Douglas was a four-year starter at wide receiver at Appalachian State (1983-86) and led the team in receptions as both a junior and senior. He still ranks fifth among the Mountaineers’ all-time leaders in receptions (90) and receiving yards (1,401). He also had 12 career touchdown catches.

He earned his bachelor’s degree in communication arts from Appalachian State in 1988. Douglas and his wife Rebecca have two children, Tanner (4) and Taryn (1).

THE DOUGLAS FILE
YEARS AT MICHIGAN STATE: Second. Joined staff on Feb. 26, 2001, from Southern Methodist.

PREVIOUS COACHING EXPERIENCE: College — Graduate assistant at Appalachian State (1987-88); defensive backs coach at West Chester (Pa.) (1989-91); defensive backs coach at East Tennessee State (1992-94); defensive backs and running backs coach at Texas-El Paso (1995-96); running backs and defensive backs coach at Southern Methodist (1997-2000).

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree in communication arts from Appalachian State in 1988.

PLAYING EXPERIENCE: College — Four-year starter at wide receiver at Appalachian State (1983-86).

BOWL/POSTSEASON EXPERIENCE: Player — 1986 NCAA I-AA playoffs. Coach — 1987 NCAA I-AA playoffs, 1989 NCAA Division II playoffs, 2001 Silicon Valley Football Classic.