Douglas Legate Howard (February 11, 1885 – December 14, 1936) was a football player and coach and officer in the United States Navy.

After retiring from the Navy, Howard served from 1934 to 1936 as the dean of St. John's College and, for a short time prior to his death, as president of the Annapolis Banking and Trust Company.

He was also the academy's heavyweight boxing champion and received the Thompson Trophy Cup as the midshipmen who had done the most to promote athletics.

[5] In his first year as head coach, Howard led the 1911 Navy Midshipmen football team to an undefeated 6–0–3 record.

He served as commanding officer of the USS Drayton (DD-23), a destroyer that was part of the second group of American warships to enter the war zone.

[8] He was awarded the Navy Cross for distinguished service in "vigorously and unremittingly" escorting Allied convoys through waters "infested" with German U-boats.

[1][8] Howard was married in November 1910 to Ruth Bowyer, daughter of Superintendent of the United States Naval Academy, Rear Admiral John M.

[17] In January 1943, The United States Navy launched a destroyer escort vessel, the USS Douglas L. Howard, named in his honor.