Troy Douglas joined the Georgia State football staff as the assistant coach of the cornerbacks in January 2026. He comes to Atlanta after four seasons at Long Island.
Before serving as the defensive backs coach for the Sharks, Douglas served as the defensive coordinator at Howard University from 2020–21.
During his time at Howard, Douglas led the Bison defense and coached three players to All-MEAC honors following the 2021 fall season, continuing a long-standing track record of defensive development and player advancement.
Prior to Howard, Douglas spent three seasons at Lamar University (2017–19), where he played a key role in the program’s resurgence. In 2018, he helped guide the Cardinals to the FCS Playoffs after a 7-5 campaign, fueled by one of the nation’s most opportunistic secondaries. Lamar ranked among the national top 10 with 17 interceptions, including a pick-six, and placed five defenders on the All-Southland Conference team. Consensus All-American Davon Jernigan ranked among the national leaders with four interceptions, while Rodney Randle Jr. later signed a free-agent contract with the Los Angeles Chargers.
In Douglas’ first season at Lamar in 2017, he developed one of the nation’s top cornerbacks in Nate Jones, who led the Southland Conference and ranked fifth nationally in interceptions, earning second-team all-conference honors. The Cardinals produced two all-conference defensive selections that season.
A coaching veteran with more than 30 years of experience—primarily at the FBS level—Douglas has coached nearly 20 players who have advanced to the NFL. His list of former players includes Tracy Porter, Mike Jenkins, Nate Allen, Da’Norris Searcy and Jerome Murphy.
Douglas’ extensive coaching résumé includes stops at Pittsburgh, Iowa State, North Carolina, South Florida, Indiana, Michigan State, SMU, UTEP, East Tennessee State, Appalachian State and South Carolina State. He also spent three seasons at West Chester, where he began his full-time coaching career in 1989 and coached future Pro Bowl linebacker Lee Woodall.
At Pittsburgh, Douglas coached defensive backs, while at Iowa State he developed three All-Big 12 performers. During his three seasons at North Carolina (2009–11), the Tar Heels intercepted 38 passes across the 2009 and 2010 seasons, ranking among the nation’s top 12 both years.
Douglas enjoyed notable success at South Florida from 2006–08, helping the Bulls to three bowl appearances. USF ranked among the national leaders in turnovers and interceptions during that span, and cornerback Mike Jenkins earned first-team All-America honors before becoming a first-round NFL Draft pick in 2008. The Bulls also finished in the national top 10 in total defense in 2008.
Earlier in his career, Douglas coached cornerbacks at Indiana, where Tracy Porter became an All-Big Ten selection and eventual second-round NFL Draft pick. He also coached at Michigan State, where the Spartans ranked among the nation’s leaders in pass defense, and at SMU and UTEP, where he worked with both running backs and defensive backs.
A former standout player, Douglas was a four-year starter at wide receiver at Appalachian State from 1983–86. He finished his career with 90 receptions for 1,401 yards, numbers that still rank among the top five in school history. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Appalachian State in 1988.
A native of Jacksonville, Fla., Douglas and his wife, Rebecca, have two children.
