So, who exactly is Chuck Douglas?

In the online Maryland community, few voices are more prominent than his. Douglas posts reactions after Terps games, trades jabs with fans and fills recruits’ mentions with long pitches about joining the program.

“Are you a bot?” one user replied to a 2023 post.

“Are you a real person or a burner account? Seriously cannot tell,” another posted.

“Convinced this guy isn’t real,” an account replied in 2024.

Douglas laughed at the conspiracy theories.

“I’m not sure why,” Douglas said. “I ignore the noise.”

The 62-year-old — whose X account has more than 6,000 followers and 68,000 posts — is exactly what his bio says: a Maryland alum and former Washington Wizards executive that now uses social media to stay connected to the programs he loves. It’s an obligation, he said.

“Can I go overboard at times? Maybe. … Am I biased? Yeah, no question about that,” Douglas said. “I’m emotional because I care.”

Douglas graduated from the University of Maryland in 1985 — becoming the school’s first sports administration major after creating an individual studies curriculum that pulled from journalism, radio, film, business and sport courses. His College Park experience fuels his fandom.

[Fans growing restless as Maryland football drops fourth straight, 55-10 to No. 2 Indiana]

Douglas created his X account in December 2013. Rewatching old Maryland games during the COVID-19 pandemic reignited his passion and ramped up his posting, he said.

There’s no set routine for Douglas’ posting. He said he tries to highlight all Maryland programs — not just the major revenue sports. If the volleyball team pulls off a rare win, he’ll post about it.

He said he tries to ignore rival trolls, but if someone is factually wrong about Maryland athletics, he’ll jump in and correct them. He aims to be positive and fair and cools off quickly during losses, he said.

“I’m not here just as a PR arm for the university … I’m a fan,” Douglas said. “If I can educate somebody, and they’re obviously wrong, and they’re just being haters, then I’m going to educate them.”

Then there’s the recruiting pitches to prospects, where Douglas frequently posts references to Maryland’s conference titles and this university’s educational standing.

“Chuck always had this cut and paste ready to go in his back pocket,” a user replied in 2022.

Are the blurbs pasted from a notes app on his phone? Partially.

He said he keeps a few boilerplate lines saved, but customizes each pitch by sport and recruit.

“​​How many of those recruits even read that? I have no idea,” Douglas said. “It’s just trying to get the word out about the school.”


More than just boosting a recruit’s interest, he wants them to understand the impact Maryland could have on them.

“I’m a living example of an alum who achieved all of his dreams,” Douglas said. “Maryland is a place you can achieve anything and everything you ever dreamed of.”

[Zahir Mathis nearly quit football. Now he’s flourishing at Maryland.]

After his graduation, Douglas joined the Washington Bullets on a one-year, $1,000-a-month deal as a public relations and coaching assistant. He was soon promoted to video coordinator before moving to the talent side as a scout.

After serving in several scouting positions, he became assistant general manager in 1990 and vice president of player personnel near the end of his time with the Bullets. He oversaw college scouting, opponent breakdowns and draft prep. In 1996, he scouted and signed center Ben Wallace — the only undrafted, modern-day player to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Douglas worked for the Wizards until 2010, overseeing drafts that brought in Terps Juan Dixon and Steve Blake. He then launched a consulting firm that places U.S. college players on European teams.

“He would stay in the office probably until midnight or later, many a night, watching tapes,” said John Nash, Bullets general manager from 1990 to 1996. “He watched every frame of every tape. And he was very, very thorough.”

Douglas, far right standing, with the Washington Bullets. (Courtesy of Douglas)

Two decades in the NBA gave Douglas a perspective he now applies to his Maryland fandom, he said.

“I know how hard it is to win,” Douglas said. “You’re climbing a mountain every day.”

Douglas has built relationships across Maryland’s athletic department. Football coach Michael Locksley follows him on X, and Douglas said he maintains contact with staffers like Kirby Mills. Douglas recalled former football receivers coach Gunter Brewer telling him, “You help more than you know.”

Women’s basketball coach Brenda Frese and athletic director Jim Smith also follow him. Douglas said he is enthusiastic about Smith and the future of the athletic department.

“We need fans like that — we need people who believe in where we’re going and the direction we’re taking things,” said Mills, senior associate athletic director and chief development officer.

Maryland’s most talked-about “bot” is just a faithful alum with a phone and a lot of passion for his alma mater.

The algorithms may change, but one constant remains: Douglas will keep tweeting — and keep believing in his Terps.