TEMPE – Robert “Bobby” Douglas, a monumental figure in the world of Wrestling and Sun Devil Athletics peacefully passed away on February 26, 2026 at the age of 83.
Very sad to hear of our coach Bobby Douglas passing. He was one of the best ever, taught my brothers and I so much! He was in my corner in some of my biggest matches! In my corner in the 1988 Olympic Gold Medal match! Also in my corner for my 1989 World Title! RIP Coach you… https://t.co/NdQ0qieZ9A
— Kenny Monday (@kenny_monday) February 24, 2026
We lost one of the biggest giants in our sport. Coach Douglas did so much for so many there is no way to measure his impact. Without him so many of us would not be where we are today. Thank you Coach. Rest in peace. https://t.co/sF9UuljGr6
— Kerry McCoy (@kmac120) February 25, 2026
RIP Coach. You impacted thousands! https://t.co/g35o9BEKOk
— Mark Branch (@Branch9497) February 24, 2026
In his career on the mat, Douglas became the first black U.S. wrestler at the Olympics (1964, 1968), had a fourth-place featherweight finish at the 1964 Tokyo Games and captained the U.S. Olympic team in Mexico City (1968).
Douglas spent 18 seasons in Tempe, accumulating a 229-95-6 record and leading the team to its first ever National Championship in 1988. He went on to become an eight-time Pac-12 coach of the year in that time, while accumulating 59 total All-Americans and three individual NCAA champions.
Douglas spent an additional 14 seasons as head coach of the Iowa State Cyclones during his long and distinguished coaching career. In his 14 year stint in Ames, Douglas racked up 198 wins and coached three teams to runner-up finishes at the NCAA Championships. At the end of his 2000 season, he was named the NWCA National Coach of the Year.
He is one of only four coaches in wrestling history to win over 400 career dual matches. Douglas' contributions go far beyond collegiate wrestling. He was a loyal and dedicated coach for USA Wrestling for many years. He was the head coach for the U.S. Olympic Team in 1992, as the U.S. team had six medalists, including four golds. He was also the head coach for a pair of U.S. World Teams (1989, 1991).
Douglas ended his storied coaching career with 427 wins, making him one of four collegiate wrestling coaches to win at least 400 matches. In 1987, Douglas was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame as a Distinguished Member.
The 1992 USA Wrestling Man of the Year, Douglas is also a member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, Glen Brand Wrestling Hall of Fame, NAIA Hall of Fame, West Liberty Hall of Fame, Iowa State Hall of Fame and Arizona State Hall of Fame.
The official obituarity can be found here.