After finishing his playing career Woog began coaching in Minnesota, first, for the 1968-69 season as coach for the Hopkins West Jr. High School hockey team located in Minnetonka, Minnesota where he was a Social Studies teacher. Then as an assistant with the Minnesota Junior Stars under former teammate and fellow Minnesota alumnus Herb Brooks. in 1973 Woog became the head coach for the St. Paul Vulcans and was the only bench boss the team had in the four years it spent in the MWJHL. In the early 1980s Woog served in many capacities for the United States men's national ice hockey team, including as an assistant at the 1984 Winter Olympics, before being named as the head coach for Minnesota. In his first twelve seasons the Golden Gophers reached the NCAA tournament each year (a record for the start of a career) posting six 30+ win seasons, winning five WCHA titles, three conference tournament titles and made the 1989 NCAA Tournament Final. While the ultimate prize eluded him Woog was one of the most successful coaches in the history of the NCAA when he retired in 1999. In 2015, in his honor they named formerly known, Wakota Arena, to Doug Woog Arena in his home town of South St. Paul.