Donovan Dowling joined the program as an assistant coach in January 2015.
Dowling came from Northeast Texas Community College, where he served as the head coach of the men’s and women’s soccer programs for the last two years. He led the men’s team to a program-best 17-4-2 record in 2014, with a ranking as high as No. 4 in the nation en route to an NJCAA Tournament berth. For his efforts, Dowling was a finalist for National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) National Coach of the Year. In 2013, the men’s team was one of the most improved teams in the NJCAA with a 14-7 record, compared to a 5-14-1 record the season prior to his arrival.
Dowling also was an assistant coach with the Midland/Odessa Sockers FC in the USL Premier Developmental League (PDL) during the 2014 season, helping lead the team to an organizational best 7-4-3 record and second place finish in the Mid-South Division. During his time there, Dowling assisted in all aspects of coaching, including the recruitment of players, on-field coaching, scouting of opponents, and organization of summer camps. The PDL is currently the top-level men's amateur soccer competition in the United States, and is considered to be the fourth tier of competition, behind Major League Soccer, the North American Soccer League and the USL Professional Division.
The Broncs are set to take the field in 2015 for the first time since 1997. Dowling, though, has experience in that regard as well, helping start the first-ever men’s soccer program from scratch at Fort Hays State University as an assistant coach. In 2011, the inaugural team finished 11-5-2, while receiving votes in the NSCAA Top 25 poll. In 2012, the team did one better, as Dowling helped lead the Tigers to an 11-6-2 record, along with the program’s first-ever trip to the NCAA Tournament, advancing all the way to the Sweet 16. The Tigers were ranked for the majority of the 2012 season, with a high of No. 9 in the nation.
Dowling also coached from 2009-11 with the Fort Wayne Fever as the Director of Goalkeeping for the entire club, while also serving as the assistant coach for the 93’ and 95’ Fever boys’ teams. Both of his Fever teams were Indiana State Cup Finalists and Midwest Regional League Champions. Dowling was then involved in the Kansas Olympic Developmental Program from 2011-13.
A goalkeeper, Dowling played collegiately at the NCAA Division I level at IPFW, where, as a two-year starter, he set program records for goals against average and shutouts in a season while earning All-Summit League honors.
He played his first two seasons at Barton County Community College, where he was a Third Team All-American and First Team NSCAA All-Region and All-Conference honoree, leading his team to the No. 2 ranking in the nation while serving as the sophomore captain. A two-year starter, Dowling compiled a 39-4-2 record during his career.
Dowling then went on to play four professional seasons in the PDL, three of which were with the Kansas City Brass, and one of which was with the Springfield Demize.
A native of Olathe, Kan., Dowling earned his Bachelor of General Studies from Indiana University and holds a Master of Science in Sports and Human Performance from Fort Hays State.
