Doug Colman is in first season as the Senior Defensive and Special Teams Coach with the Toledo Rockets.
Colman has 22 years of coaching experience at the professional, collegiate and high school levels. He also played linebacker in the NFL for six seasons from 1996-2001 for the New York Giants, Tennessee Titans, Oakland Raiders, Cleveland Browns and New York Jets. He was a team captain and special teams MVP for the Giants in 1996 and 1998. While with the Titans in 1999 and participated in the “Music City Miracle” game winning touchdown vs. the Bills AFC “Wild Card” game, allowing the Titans to continue their path to Super Bowl XXXIV vs. the Rams.
Colman most recently served as the assistant special teams coach for the Cleveland Browns from 2019-21. In 2019, the Browns’ special teams finished in the top 10 in opponent kickoff return average (5th/20.4), most kickoff returns over 20 yards (5th/22) and field goal percentage (10th/86.2%). during Colman’s time there and in 2020 appeared in their first playoff appearance since 2003 and their best record (11-5) since 1999. Helping Head Coach Kevin Stephanski receive AP NFL and PFWA Coach of the Year awards.
Colman is a 2001 graduate of the University of Nebraska, where he played under Hall of Fame Head Coach Tom Osborne from 1991-95. He was a four-year letter winner and two-year starter for the Cornhuskers, who won five conference championships and back-to-back national championship titles in 1994 and 1995, going a perfect 25-0.
Colman began his coaching career in 2001 as the head freshman coach at Ocean City High School in NJ, followed by a year stint as the Defensive & Special Team Coordinator at Oakcrest High School in NJ. He then became the Head Coach of Absegami High School in Galloway, NJ from 2003-07. While there he led the Braves to three straight conference championships with four straight NJ state playoff appearances. His teams made the state finals in 2005 and 2006 and won the school’s first and only NJSIAA state championship in 2006. He earned conference coach of the year honors in 2004 and 2005, was the NFF South Jersey Coach of the Year in 2004 and served as head coach at the Adam Taliaferro Classic All-Star Game in 2006.
In 2007, Colman was a linebacker coach and assistant special teams coach in NFL Europe with the Amsterdam Admirals. He returned to his alma mater in 2008, spending two years at Nebraska as a defensive assistant, working with the linebackers and on special teams. The Cornhuskers won Big XII North Division titles and a pair of bowl games in Colman’s two seasons there. He worked with numerous future NFL players, including defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, who was the No. 2 pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, kickers Brett Maher and Alex Henry, and linebackers Phillip Dillard, Cody Glenn and Will Compton.
Colman went on to coach at Tulane (2010-11) where guided LB Trent Mackey to become a 2-time All-Conference performer as well as being the 4th and 2nd leading tackler nationally. As the Linebacker Coach and Assistant Special Teams Coordinator at Coastal Carolina University (2012-13) he helped the Chanticleers become Big South Conference champions both years, while making it to FCS 2nd round in 2012 (school’s 1st playoff win) and the Quarterfinals in 2013. During this time, he coached FCS All-American and 2-time Big South Defensive POY Quinn Backus, 2-time Big South LB Mike McClure, Big South Special Team POYs, kick returner Nico Mastromateo (2012) and Ladarius Hawthorne (2013).
In late 2013, he accepted Penn State’s Linebacker coaching position, but then followed Head Coach Bill O’Brien to the NFL as the Houston Texans’ Assistant Special Teams Coordinator and Linebackers assistant. There he helped the Texans win 2015 and 2016 AFC South Division titles. Houston ranked No. 1 in punting in 2014 as well as No. in overall special teams according to PFF in 2015. He worked with 9x NFL All-Pro Punter Shane Lechler who holds the NFL record for highest career average per punt (47.6). In 2015, he helped LS Jonathan Weeks achieve NFL Pro-Bowl status. Colman assisted Mike Vrabel and his linebacker core working with veteran ILB Brian Cushing, ILB Benardrick Mckinney (2016 2nd Team All-Pro), and OLB Jadaveon Clowney (2016 Pro Bowl). In 2016 the Texans finished 1st in Total Defense (the only time in Texas franchise history), 2015 and 2014 finished 1st in 3rd Down Defense (2015, lowest % rate in franchise history), while in 2015 setting the franchise record of 45 sacks with 22.5 sacks coming from the linebackers.
From there, Colman was an Assistant Special Teams Coach for with the Dallas Cowboys where he reunited with kicker Brett Maher in 2018. Dallas was NFC East Champions with Maher going 6-of-7 from 50+ yards, which was the second-highest percentage by a first-year kicker in NFL history.
Colman’s father, Wayne Colman, was a linebacker for nine years in the NFL for Philadelphia and New Orleans, as well as a long-time high school football and track coach. Colman and his wife Colleen have four daughters, Logan, Sarah, Grace, and Anna, and one son, Matthew.
Doug Colman’s Coaching Experience
2022 Toledo - Senior Defensive and Special Teams Coach
2019-21 Cleveland Browns - Assistant Special Teams Coach
2018 Dallas Cowboys - Assistant Special Teams Coach
2014-17 Houston Texans - Assistant Special Teams Coordinator and Linebackers Assistant
2012-13 Coastal Carolina University - Linebackers Coach and Co-Special Teams Coordinator
2010-11 Tulane University - Linebackers / Nickels Coach and Assistant Special Teams Coach
2008-09 University of Nebraska - Defensive Assistant and Linebackers / Special Teams Coach
2007 Amsterdam Admirals- Linebackers Coach and Assistant Special Teams Coach
2003-07 Absegami High School - Head Coach and Teacher
