Springfield High School Head Football Coach Maurice Douglass Sr. is setting an example to students, adults and community members far and wide: ‘It’s never too late to go back to school.’
37 years after leaving the University of Kentucky early for the NFL Draft, Coach Douglass returned to complete his Bachelor’s Degree and graduated from the university today – doing so just shy of his 60th birthday.
Call it a coincidence or a perfect alignment of the stars, the number 37 seems to have a special significance as Coach Douglass also wore jersey number 37 during his nine years with the Chicago Bears.
Coach Douglass said when he left college to go into the NFL, he promised his mother that he would eventually earn his degree and he wanted to keep his promise to her.
“Coach Douglass’ story should be a message of inspiration, especially for student-athletes, about the importance of finishing what you start,” said SCSD Superintendent Dr. Bob Hill. “It’s about so much more than the classes you take or the reports you write – it’s the doors that a college degree can open for you when the game is finally over.”