TACOMA, Wash. — GoLutes.com is highlighting the six individuals from the 2025 Pacific Lutheran University Athletics Hall of Fame Class that will be inducted on April 12 as part of the 34th induction class. Today's installment features football's Jeff Douglass who was an All-American lineman that played for two national championships while at PLU.
A Tigard, Oregon native, Douglass developed into one of the program's best offensive linemen in PLU history. He played a key role in a four-year stretch that saw the Lutes make four playoff appearances, win two conference titles, play for two national titles, and win the 1993 NAIA Division II National Championship.
Douglass was attracted to PLU by word of mouth and credits legendary Head Coach Frosty Westering for seeing his potential when he first stepped on campus.
"I truly believe that Frosty believed something in me that I could not see for myself. He trusted our group of lineman to largely coach ourselves. He challenged me to grow and really made me think about life. We would often laugh at the stories and certainly his delivery of a message, however his point came through loud and clear."
Douglass was a letterwinner as a freshman in 1990, playing on a squad that averaged 388.1 yards of offense and finished the season with a 9-2 record, advancing to the second round of the NAIA Division II playoffs. That offseason he was able to get an experience of a lifetime, playing in three exhibition games against Evangel College in the first ever American football games played in China.
The following season Douglass was the starting guard for a Lute team that finished the season with an 11-2 record, advancing to the NAIA Division II title game, and outscored its 13 opponents by a 421 to 212 margin.
Douglass was a First Team Columbia Football Association Mount Rainier League selection as a junior while also securing unanimous First Team Little All-Northwest accolades, helping the Lutes win a CFA Mount Rainier League title and advance to the second round of the NAIA playoffs. Douglass was part of an offensive that racked up 413.3 yards per game, even scoring a 56-yard touchdown on a fumblerooski in the playoffs against Linfield College.
His senior season was his best, again securing First Team CFA Mt. Rainier League and Little All-Northwest accolades and guiding the Lutes to another conference title. The Lutes steamrolled their four opponents in the playoffs by a combined 198-58 scoreline, including winning the 1993 NAIA national title with a 50-20 victory over Westminster College. Douglass was an Honorable Mention All-American at the end of the season, anchoring a front five that helped the Lutes set school single season records for passing yards, passing touchdowns, total offensive yards, touchdowns, and scoring— averaging an impressive 44.1 points per game.
Douglass's four years saw the Lutes compile a 41-6-1 overall record, including a 20-2 record in CFA Mt. Rainier League games.
"The relationships with my teammates and classmates are my most treasured accomplishments from PLU and they continue to bless me today."
Away from the gridiron, Douglass relished the experience of living at the 'Pad of Butter' house with teammates Chad Barnett, Ted Riddell, Jon Rubey, and Kurtis Bonar. Douglass developed life-long bonds with his teammates during his four years with his accountability group still meeting almost every week for the last 33 years.
Jeff graduated with a degree in biology in 1993 and serves as a physician with The Oregon Clinic in gastroenterology, getting a chance to make a difference in people's lives on a daily basis. Jeff stayed involved in football as a coach and is a leader for Younglife. Jeff is married to Kristen and have five children— Allison, Elijah, Emma, Katie, and Kaleb.
