Doug Kerr

{{Short description|Canadian football coach}} {{Infobox gridiron football biography | name = Doug Kerr | image =  | caption = | number = | current_team = | position = | import = | birth_date = | birth_place = | death_date = May 20, 1960 (aged 58) | death_place = Montreal, Quebec, Canada | height_ft = | height_in = | weight_lb = | high_school = High School of Montreal | college = | coaching_years1 = 1923 | coaching_team1 = Westmount AAA Juniors | coaching_years2 = 1924–1934 | coaching_team2 = Westmount/Westward AAA Intermediates | coaching_years3 = 1935 | coaching_team3 = McGill (Freshmen) | coaching_years4 = 1936–1945 | coaching_team4 = McGill | overall_record = | highlights = *Yates Cup (1938) }} '''William Richard Douglas "Pop" Kerr''' was a Canadian football coach who was the head coach at McGill from 1936 to 1946.

==Westmount/Westward AAA== Kerr was born in Montreal and attended High School of Montreal. He played football for Westmount AAA Juniors, but a spinal injury led him to move to coaching.<ref name="Obituary" /> He led the Westmount Juniors to a Quebec Rugby Football Union title in 1923 and was appointed intermediate coach in 1924.<ref>{{cite news |title=Doug Kerr Chief Coach |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pKYtAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA17&dq |access-date=14 September 2025 |work=The Montreal Gazette |date=June 17, 1924}}</ref> In 1925, the association's name was changed from the Westmount AAA to the Westward AAA.<ref>{{cite news |title=Members Ratify Change Of Name |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5nsuAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA18&dq |access-date=14 September 2025 |work=The Montreal Gazette |date=September 25, 1925}}</ref> In 1929, Kerr coached Westward to the Dominion Intermediate Championship. They reached the final in 1932, but lost to St. Thomas by a single point.<ref name="McGill Hiring" /> During the 1930s, he helped revive Westwards lacrosse program.<ref name="Obituary" />

==McGill== Kerr was named McGill's freshman coach in 1935 and was promoted to varsity coach the following season.<ref name="McGill Hiring">{{cite news |title=McGill Announces Appointment of Kerr as Head Football Coach |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eL4tAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA14&dq |access-date=14 September 2025 |work=The Montreal Gazette |date=February 28, 1936}}</ref> His 1938 team defeated Western 9–0 to win the Yates Cup.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Carroll |first1=Dink |title=Playing the Field |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2VsrAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA16&dq |access-date=14 September 2025 |work=The Montreal Gazette |date=May 23, 1960}}</ref> During World War II, he oversaw McGill's intramural football program.<ref name="Obituary" /> He retired after the 1946 season.<ref>{{cite news |title=Kerr Resigns Coaching Job With M'Gill |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6hI_AAAAIBAJ&pg=PA24&dq |access-date=14 September 2025 |work=The Windsor Daily Star |date=November 6, 1946}}</ref>

==Personal life== Outside of football, Kerr worked for the Chase & Sanborn Coffee Company and its successor, Standard Brands, for more than 35 years. He had two children with his wife Kathleen. Kerr died on May 20, 1960 at the age of 58.<ref name="Obituary">{{cite news |title=Obituaries: W.R. “Doug” Kerr |url=https://archive.org/details/McGillLibrary-rbsc_mcgill_news_v42_1960-61-21180/page/n37/mode/2up?q |access-date=14 September 2025 |work=The McGill News |date=Winter 1960}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Montreal Sports Figure W. R. Douglas Kerr Dies |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2FsrAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA33&dq |access-date=14 September 2025 |work=The Montreal Gazette |date=May 21, 1960}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kerr, Doug}} Category:1960 deaths Category:High School of Montreal alumni Category:McGill Redbirds football coaches