Coach Doug R. French died Monday December 23, 2019, at Jackson Madison County General Hospital. He was born October 12, 1946 to the late George and Bessie Ray French in Dyersburg, Tennessee. He served in the United States Air Force and was a member of Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

He dedicated his life to coaching youth sports in Dyersburg for over 35 years. He spent nearly twenty years as an assistant coach for the Dyersburg High School Football and Softball teams and led the Trojans as Head Softball coach for ten years with the new on-campus field being dedicated in his honor. He also was well known as a life-long fan of the University of Alabama Crimson Tide.