Born in Reedville, Virginia, Douglas played college football at the College of William and Mary in 1929 and 1930. He served in United States Navy from 1942 to 1945. Douglas also held coaching positions at Drexel University (1949) and Villanova University (1954). He was an assistant coach for the Baltimore Colts in 1953 and was a consultant to the coaching staff of the Cincinnati Reds in 1961 and 1962. In 1979, Douglas was inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame.