GRAMBLING, La. | Former Grambling State University assistant football coach Doug Porter, who served under head coach Eddie Robinson, passed away at the age of 94 on June 5, 2024.
Porter, who was the oldest living member of the College Football Hall of Fame, was a member of the GSU coaching staff, serving as offensive coordinator from 1966-73. During his time with the G-Men, he was a part of six Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) championship teams and won two black college national titles.
Porter also served as head coach at Mississippi Valley State, Howard and Fort Valley State. He led MVSU from 1961-65, Howard from 1974-78 and FVSU from 1979-85 and again from 1987-96. He compiled a record of 155-110-5 with four SIAC championships, seven SIAC Coach of the Year Award and one MEAC Coach of the Year Award in 1974.
He led his teams to six Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference titles and two NCAA playoff appearances. He was also chairman of the NCAA Division II Football
Committee and president of the National Athletic Steering Committee. He returned to Grambling in 1997, becoming an advisor to former GSU coaches Doug Williams, Melvin Spears and Rod Broadway.
The Memphis, Tenn. native played college football at Xavier University (La.) before enlisting in the United States Army from 1951-54 where he attained the rank of first lieutenant.
He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2008.
A remembrance celebration will be held on Friday, June 14, 2024, from 6-8 p.m., at the Black & Gold Room in the Favrot Student Union on the GSU campus. Former players, friends, and family will share their memories of this incredibly accomplished football coach, teacher, colleague, father and mentor.
A funeral mass for Douglas Taylor Porter will be held on Saturday, June 15, at 11 a.m. at St. Benedict’s Catholic Church, 471 Main Street in Grambling, La.
Story by Grambling State Athletics.