Doug Belk enters his first season as defensive backs coach for the Denver Broncos in 2026. He was hired by the club on March 12.

Belk, who has 15 years of coaching experience at the collegiate level, joins Denver after spending the previous two seasons as the defensive backs coach at the University of Southern California.

Doug Belk enters his first season as defensive backs coach for the Denver Broncos in 2026. He was hired by the club on March 12.

Belk, who has 15 years of coaching experience at the collegiate level, joins Denver after spending the previous two seasons as the defensive backs coach at the University of Southern California.

Belk helped develop safety Bishop Fitzgerald into a consensus All-American and first-team All-Big 10 honoree in 2025 after totaling 51 tackles (34 solo), one sack (1 yds.), five interceptions (86 yds., 1 TD) and eight passes defensed.

Joining USC in 2024, he made an instant impact on the Trojans as he helped the program average 24.1 points against compared to 34.4 in 2023 while also ranking second in the conference (21^st in the nation) in third down percentage (33.5%). He also assisted in USC's defense improving in several other categories in 2024, including passing yards (3,066), interceptions (12), passing touchdowns (15) and passer rating against (132.5).

Additionally, safety Jaylin Smith earned Third-Team All-Big Ten honors under Belk's tutelage in 2024 after recording 59 tackles, two passes defensed and a team-high-tying two interceptions.

Prior to his time at USC, Belk spent five seasons at the University of Houston, serving in multiple facets with the Cougars. He spent three seasons at the team's defensive coordinator/assistant head coach/safeties coach (2021-23), one season as the co-defensive coordinator/assistant head coach/safeties coach (2020) and one season as the co-defensive coordinator/safeties coach (2019).

Belk mentored 13 players to All-American Athletic Conference honors—including five first-team selections— as well as eight All-Big 12 Conference honorees during his five seasons with the Cougars. He also oversaw the development of six defensive players during that time who were selected in the NFL Draft, including first-rounder defensive lineman Payton Turner and second-rounder defensive end Logan Hall.

In 2023, Belk helped defensive back A.J. Haulcy lead the conference and rank fourth nationally in solo tackles while defensive lineman Nelson Ceaser finished with a 9.0 sacks, which was the second most in the conference.

Belk oversaw a Houston defense in 2022 that ranked 10^th nationally in tackles for loss (7.2 per game) while defensive lineman D'Anthony Jones ranked second the nation in forced fumbles (5) and defensive back Jayce Rogers finished second in the conference in interceptions (3). Additionally, four players on the defense earned all-conference honors, including Jones who earned first team honors while defensive backs Art Green and Gervarrius Owens were named to the second team.

Houston boasted one of the nation's best defenses in 2021 under Belk, leading the country in third down defense (25.8) while also ranking sixth in total defense (301.4), eighth in completion percentage (55.2) and 18^th passing yards allowed (194 ypg). The Cougar's defense also ranked 19^th in the country in points per game (20.5), sixth in yards per game (302.2) and fifth in sacks (45.0).

Prior to his time in Houston, Belk spent two seasons at the University of West Virginia (2017-18), where he served as the cornerbacks coach. With the Mountaineers in 2018, he helped the team finish 20^th in the nation with 15 interceptions while cornerback Keith Washington Jr. tied for the fifth-most picks in the Big-12 with three.

Belk spent three seasons at the University of Alabama from 2014-16, where he was a defensive graduate assistant working with the defensive backs. In his time at Tuscaloosa, he helped the Crimson Tide post a 40-4 record, winning three SEC titles, making the College Football Playoff three times and winning the 2015 National Championship.

While at Alabama, Belk helped coach three defensive backs to All-America honors with safety Eddie Jackson being named twice (2015-16) while cornerbacks Minkah Fitzpatrick and Marlon Humphrey both earning the honor once (2016). Fitzpatrick and Humphrey were also named freshman Al-Americans for the 2015 season with Belk's assistance.

In 2016, Belk helped a defense that ranked first nationally in scoring (13.0), second in total defense (261.8), ninth in pass efficiency (53.8) and 14^th in interceptions (16). He also assisted with a defense in 2015 that ranked third in the nation in scoring defense (15.1) and total defense (276.3), 10^th in interceptions (19) and 30^th in passing yards (200.6).

Belk began his coaching career at Valdosta State in 2011, where he joined the program as a defensive assistant coach and assisted with the special teams before serving as the defensive backs coach from 2012-13. With the Blazers, he coached two Division II All-Americans and three All-Gulf South Conference selections.

Belk played collegiately at Carson-Newman University, where he was a wide receiver and quarterback and graduated in 2010. During his time with the Eagles, he earned all-conference honors while also being named a team captain.

A native of Valdosta, Ga., Doug Belk was born Sept. 16, 1987.