Thomas Walter Dowling (March 8, 1940 – January 7, 2018) was an American
college football
College football (french: Football universitaire) refers to gridiron football played by teams of student athletes. It was through college football play that American football rules first gained popularity in the United States.
Unlike most ...
coach and athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at
Georgetown College
Georgetown College is a private Christian college in Georgetown, Kentucky. Chartered in 1829, Georgetown was the first Baptist college west of the Appalachian Mountains.
The college offers 38 undergraduate degrees and a Master of Arts in educat ...
in
Georgetown, Kentucky
Georgetown is a home rule-class city in Scott County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 37,086 at the 2020 census. It is the 6th-largest city by population in the U.S. state of Kentucky. It is the seat of its county. It was originall ...
from 1973 to 1976, Liberty Baptist College—now known as
Liberty University
Liberty University (LU) is a private Baptist university in Lynchburg, Virginia. It is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia (Southern Baptist Convention). Founded in 1971 by Jerry Falwell Sr. and Elmer L. Towns, Liberty i ...
—in
Lynchburg, Virginia
Lynchburg is an independent city (United States), independent city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. First settled in 1757 by ferry owner John Lynch (1740–1820), John Lynch, the city's populati ...
from 1977 to 1983, and Cumberland College—now known as the
University of the Cumberlands
The University of the Cumberlands is a private Christian university in Williamsburg, Kentucky. About 18,000 students are enrolled at the university.
History
University of the Cumberlands, first called Williamsburg Institute, was founded on Janu ...
—in
Williamsburg, Kentucky
Williamsburg is a home rule-class city in and the county seat of Whitley County, on the southeastern border of Kentucky, United States. The population was 5,245 at the 2010 census. Developed along the Cumberland River, the city was founded in 18 ...
from 1995 to 2002, compiling a career head coaching record of 111–107–4. Dowling was the commissioner of the
Mid-South Conference
The Mid-South Conference (MSC) is a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). Member institutions are located in Kentucky, Ohio, and Tennessee. The league is headquartered in Lou ...
(MSC) from 1995 to 2002.
A graduate of Georgetown College, Dowling coached for over 30 years on the collegiate level. His coaching tree includes
Mike Ayers
Mike Ayers (born May 26, 1948) is a former American football coach. He served as the head football coach at East Tennessee State University from 1985 to 1987 and Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina from 1988 to 2017, compiling career ...
of
Wofford College
Wofford College is a private liberal arts college in Spartanburg, South Carolina. It was founded in 1854. The campus is a national arboretum and one of the few four-year institutions in the southeastern United States founded before the America ...
. Both Ayers' son, Travis Dowling, and his grandson, Ezra Dowling, are named for Dowling.
Playing career
Dowling played football at
Georgetown College
Georgetown College is a private Christian college in Georgetown, Kentucky. Chartered in 1829, Georgetown was the first Baptist college west of the Appalachian Mountains.
The college offers 38 undergraduate degrees and a Master of Arts in educat ...
, serving as co-captain of the 1960 team. He also won the
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_
Track_or_Tracks_may_refer_to:
_Routes_or_imprints
*_Ancient_trackway,_any_track_or_trail_whose_origin_is_lost_in_antiquity
*_Animal_track,_imprints_left_on_surfaces_that_an_animal_walks_across
*_Desire_path,_a_line_worn_by_people_taking_the_shorte_...
_team.
_Coaching_career
Dowling_began_his_collegiate_coaching_career_as_an_assistant_at_his_alma_mater,_Georgetown_College._After_four_seasons_as_Georgetown's_head_football_coach,_he_became_the_third_head_football_coach_at_Liberty_Baptist_College—now_known_as_
Liberty_University_
Liberty_University_(LU)_is_a_private_Baptist_university_in_Lynchburg,_Virginia._It_is_affiliated_with_the_Southern_Baptist_Conservatives_of_Virginia_(Southern_Baptist_Convention)._Founded_in_1971_by_Jerry_Falwell_Sr._and_Elmer_L._Towns,_Liberty_i_...
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Track or Tracks may refer to:
Routes or imprints
* Ancient trackway, any track or trail whose origin is lost in antiquity
* Animal track, imprints left on surfaces that an animal walks across
* Desire path, a line worn by people taking the shorte ...
Dowling began his collegiate coaching career as an assistant at his alma mater, Georgetown College. After four seasons as Georgetown's head football coach, he became the third head football coach at Liberty Baptist College—now known as
. He led the Liberty Flames football">Liberty Flames