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USF Loses 3rd Assistant Coach In 6 Days

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By BRETT McMURPHY

bmcmurphy@tampatrib.com

Published: February 18, 2009

TAMPA - University of South Florida secondary coach Troy Douglas resigned from USF today to take a similar position at the University of North Carolina.

Douglas is the third USF assistant to leave the program in the past six days. Former offensive coordinator Greg Gregory went to South Alabama, a program that begins play this season, and defensive coordinator Wally Burnham left to become defensive coordinator at Big 12 doormat Iowa State.

Douglas, 43, had been at USF for three seasons, highlighted by the 2007 season when he coached first-round NFL draft pick Mike Jenkins and All-Big East cornerback Trae Williams.

Douglas was a key recruiter for the Bulls in the Jacksonville area. He is reunited at UNC with defensive coordinator Everett Withers, who was a college teammate of Douglas' at Appalachian State.

In 2007, Withers was defensive coordinator at Minnesota and offered Douglas a position with the Gophers, but Douglas decided to remain at USF when coach Jim Leavitt promised to increase his salary. Douglas made $130,000 at USF in 2007-08, making him the fifth-highest paid of USF's nine assistants.

In 2007, Douglas also turned down an offer to become running backs coach at Middle Tennessee.

Douglas' departure leaves the Bulls with only two defensive coaches – both who just finished their first seasons at USF: defensive ends coach Kevin Patrick and defensive line coach John Hendrick. Patrick also was at USF from 1996-98 before leaving coaching for 10 years.

USF begins spring practice on March 9.

Reporter Brett McMurphy can be reached at (813) 259-7928.

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