Clover Park High School Assistant Wrestling Coach:  1977-1992

Curtis High School Assistant Wrestling Coach:  1992-2000

Curtis High School Head Wrestling Coach:  2000-2012

Born in Bremerton, Washington, September 23, 1948, Doug attended Curtis High School where he wrestled for Hall of Fame Coach Jim Ball (WNWHOF-2017).  Doug was a two-time state placer for the Vikings, placing 7th as a Junior and 3rd as a Senior.  Cowan was a four-sport letterman in Football, Wrestling, Track and Baseball.  He was the recipient of the Outstanding Senior Athlete Award in 1967.  Cowan matriculated to the University of Washington on an academic/athletic scholarship for football and wrestling.  Following an injury, he transferred to the University of Puget Sound in 1971, participating in football and track, earning All-American honors in Football.  UPS honored him with the Ben Cheney Award for the Outstanding Senior Athlete.

Doug began teaching in 1974 in the Clover Park School District teaching science and coaching football and track.  In 1977 he became the assistant wrestling coach under Hall of Famer, Joe Reasons (WNWHOF-2013).  This coaching combination lasted for the next 23 years.  In 1992 both Cowan and Reasons moved to Curtis High School and continued coaching together until Reasons retired in 2000.   Cowan then became the Head Wrestling Coach at Curtis High School where he guided the Vikings to 93 wins until his retirement in 2012.  He coached eleven state finalists and six state champions.  One of those state champions, Kirk White, went on to win a national title for Boise State and later coached the Bronco’s.  His Curtis teams won two Academic State Championships including numerous individual Academic State Champion wrestlers. 

He coached over 2,200 wrestlers several of whom attended and graduated from the U.S. Military Academies then served as officers in the military. Others have gone on to be professionals, educators, firefighters, and law enforcement officers as well as leaders in their communities committed to paying forward the lessons learned from their athletic experiences.

Cowan has been recognized by his peers many times.  He has been the league and regional assistant and head coach of the year and received the inaugural Sportsman of the Year Award during the 50th Anniversary at “Mat Classic” the state Wrestling Championships.  Doug was inducted into the Washington State Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame in 2016.  Cowan will also be inducted into the Pierce County Hall of Fame in May of 2024.

Doug Cowan’s philosophy throughout his career has been to compete, especially against one’s best self; commit to excellence in all endeavors; and lead with impeccable integrity.  Doug and his wife Gail have been married for 46 years and reside in South Kitsap County, Washington on Carney Lake.  Their Daughter Caitlin was also a graduate of Curtis High School and then received her Fine Arts degree from Central Washington University.