Pitt Football: Panthers Hire Iowa State’s Troy Douglas As DB Coach
By Matt Shetler
Paul Chryst’s Pitt football team lost an assistant coach last week when wide receivers coach Bobby Engram left to return to the NFL, taking a job with the Baltimore Ravens.
On Tuesday morning, they added to their staff.
Dec 26, 2013; Detroit, MI, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers head coach Paul Chryst during the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl against the Bowling Green Falcons at Ford Field. Pittsburgh Panthers defeated Bowling Green Falcons 30-27. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
Troy Douglas, who is entering his 27th season as a college football coach, has accepted a position on the Pitt staff to coach the defensive backs, sources told the Tribune-Review on Tuesday.
Douglas most recently was the defensive backs coach at Iowa State the past three years, and he has been with 11 schools since he graduated from Appalachian State in 1988.
He has also has coached at South Florida (2006-08), South Carolina State (2003), Michigan State (2001-2002), SMU (1997-2000), UTEP (1995-1996), East Tennessee State (1992-1994) and West Chester (1989-1991).
Douglas played wide receiver at Appalachian State where he was a four-year starter and ranked third all-time when he graduated with 90 receptions for 1,401 yards.
He has a knack for turning out NFL caliber defensive backs, including current Oakland Raider Tracy Porter.
At Pitt, Douglas will have his work cut out for him as the Panthers picked off only eight passes in 13 games last season. Hopefully Douglas can help the Panthers do better in that area and others.
A possible rumored replacement for Engram is Erik Campbell, who spent the past season with the Montreal Alouettes of the CFL. Campbell is familiar to Chryst from his time coaching wide receivers in the Big Ten at Iowa and Michigan.