Doug McDonald was a two-time recipient of the Bob Dellinger Award, which is presented annually by Amateur Wrestling News to recognize the wrestling writer of the year. It is the only media award listed in the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. 

McDonald also received the Print Journalist of the Year award from the National Wrestling Media Association and the Fran Fisher Award for Excellence in Sports Journalism. He is a member of the Pennsylvania State Wrestling Coaches Association Hall of Fame and was among the 13 members in the inaugural class of the Centre County Sports Hall of Fame.

He covered scholastic, collegiate and international levels of wrestling for the Centre Daily Times since 1958. McDonald covered 23 NCAA Division I Championships. 15 EIWA tournaments and 10 Eastern Wrestling tournaments.

McDonald was a regular contributor to Amateur Wrestling News and the programs for the NCAA Wrestling Championships.