Tom Dowling (American football)

Thomas Walter Dowling (March 8, 1940 – January 7, 2018) was an American football coach best known for his stint as head coach of Liberty University in the 1970s and 1980s. A graduate of Georgetown College, Dowling coached for over 30 years on the collegiate level. His coaching Family tree includes Mike Ayers of Wofford College. Both coach Ayers’ son Travis Dowling, and his grandson Ezra Dowling are named for Coach Dowling.

Tom Dowling
Biographical details
Born(1940-03-08)March 8, 1940
Springfield, Kentucky
DiedJanuary 7, 2018(2018-01-07) (aged 77)
Georgetown, Kentucky
Playing career
1957–1960Georgetown (KY)
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1969–1972Georgetown (KY) (assistant)
1973–1976Georgetown (KY)
1977–1983Liberty
1985–1995Cumberland (KY)
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
1995–2002MSC (commissioner)
Head coaching record
Overall111–107–4
Tournaments0–1 (NAIA D-II playoffs)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
1 MSC (1988)

Playing career

Dowling played football for Georgetown College serving as co-captain of the 1960 team. He also won the KIAC championship in the shot put while competing for the track team.[1]

Coaching career

Dowling began his collegiate coaching career as an assistant at his alma mater, Georgetown College. After four successful seasons he became the third head coach at Liberty Baptist College (now called Liberty University). He led the Flames in their transition from NAIA to NCAA Division II in 1981.[2]

After Liberty, he moved on to start the football program at Cumberland College (now called University of the Cumberlands) in Williamsburg, Kentucky.[3]

Later life

Dowling later served as commissioner of the Mid-South Conference from 1995 to 2002.[4] He died of pancreatic cancer on January 7, 2018.[5]

Head coaching record
Year Team Overall ConferenceStanding Bowl/playoffs NAIA#
Georgetown Tigers (NAIA) (1973–1976)
1973 Georgetown 3–6
1974 Georgetown 7–216
1975 Georgetown 6–417
1976 Georgetown 7–2–111
Georgetown: 23–14–1
Liberty Flames (NAIA independent) (1977–1980)
1977 Liberty 3–7
1978 Liberty 4–5–1
1979 Liberty 9–1–118
1980 Liberty 7–3
Liberty Flames (NCAA Division II Independent) (1981–1983)
1981 Liberty 1–9
1982 Liberty 7–4
1983 Liberty 2–9
Liberty: 33–38–2
Cumberland Indians (NAIA) (1985–1986)
1985 Cumberland 1–9
1986 Cumberland 3–7
Cumberland Indians (Mid-South Conference) (1985–1987)
1987 Cumberland 7–3
1988 Cumberland 10–15–01stL NAIA Division II First Round
1989 Cumberland 7–35–12nd
1990 Cumberland 7–2–14–12nd
1991 Cumberland 4–53–3T–3rd
1992 Cumberland 3–71–45th
1993 Cumberland 2–92–3T–3rd
1994 Cumberland 5–51–4T–5th
1995 Cumberland 6–45–34th
Cumberland: 55–55–1
Total:111–107–4
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth
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References
  1. "Pikes Alpha Lambda Alumni Association Hall of Fame" (PDF). Retrieved February 25, 2007.
  2. "Liberty Football History" (PDF). Retrieved February 25, 2007.
  3. "Liberty Coaching History" (PDF). Retrieved February 25, 2007.
  4. "Georgetown College Hall of Fame Bio". Archived from the original on April 4, 2008. Retrieved February 24, 2008.
  5. Thomas Walter Dowling
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