Clyde Doughty Jr., the longtime Athletic Director at Bowie State University and a revered leader in HBCU athletics, has died, the university announced on Tuesday.
Doughty, who joined Bowie State in 2015, built a legacy of athletic and academic excellence across the Bulldogs’ programs. Under his leadership, Bowie State became a perennial powerhouse in the CIAA, highlighted by multiple conference championships in football, women’s basketball, and track and field.
“We are deeply saddened to share the passing of Clyde Doughty Jr., vice president of Bowie State Athletics and recreation, the school said in a statement. “Since joining Bowie State in 2015 and being elevated to vice president in 2018, his leadership and vision helped shape a standard of excellence for Bulldog Athletics. His legacy will forever remain. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and the entire Bowie State community.”
Before arriving at Bowie State, Doughty spent more than 30 years at his alma mater, New York Institute of Technology, where he served as Athletic Director and later Vice President for Athletics and Recreation. His career embodied a lifelong dedication to education and sport, often emphasizing the importance of mentoring student-athletes beyond the playing field.
Doughty also served on numerous NCAA and CIAA committees, known for his steady voice in advocating for HBCUs and smaller institutions in national athletic governance.
Throughout his tenure, Doughty was widely respected for modernizing Bowie State’s athletic facilities, expanding scholarship opportunities, and creating partnerships that elevated both the university’s athletic profile and its community engagement.
Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.
