Tom Dowling (American football)

Tom Dowling

Biographical details
Born	(1940-03-08)March 8, 1940 Springfield, Kentucky, U.S.
Died	January 7, 2018(2018-01-07) (aged 77) Georgetown, Kentucky, U.S.
Playing career
1958–1961	Georgetown (KY)
Position(s)	Offensive lineman
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1962–1963	Newport HS (KY) (assistant)
1964–1968	Glen Este HS (OH)
1969–1972	Georgetown (KY) (assistant)
1973–1976	Georgetown (KY)
1977–1983	Liberty Baptist
1985–1995	Cumberland (KY)
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
1995–2002	MSC (commissioner)
Head coaching record
Overall	111–107–4 (college)
Tournaments	0–1 (NAIA D-II playoffs)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
2 MSC (1987–1988)

Thomas Walter Dowling (March 8, 1940 – January 7, 2018) was an American college football coach and athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at Georgetown College in Georgetown, Kentucky from 1973 to 1976, Liberty Baptist College—now known as Liberty University—in Lynchburg, Virginia from 1977 to 1983, and Cumberland College—now known as the University of the Cumberlands—in Williamsburg, Kentucky from 1995 to 2002, compiling a career head coaching record of 111–107–4. Dowling was the commissioner of the Mid-South Conference (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 of Wofford College. Both Ayers' son, Travis Dowling, and his grandson, Ezra Dowling, are named for Dowling.

Playing career

Dowling played football at Georgetown College, serving as co-captain of the 1960 team. He also won the Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (KIAC) championship in the shot put while competing for the track 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. He led the Liberty Flames in their transition from National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) to NCAA Division II competition in 1981.

After Liberty, he moved on to start the football program at Cumberland College—now known as the University of the Cumberlands—Williamsburg, Kentucky.

Later life

Dowling later served as commissioner of the Mid-South Conference (MSC) from 1995 to 2002. He died of pancreatic cancer, on January 7, 2018.

Head coaching record

College

Year	Team	Overall	Conference	Standing	Bowl/playoffs	NAIA#
Georgetown Tigers (NAIA Division II independent) (1973–1976)
1973	Georgetown	3–6
1974	Georgetown	7–2
1975	Georgetown	6–4				18
1976	Georgetown	7–2–1				11
Georgetown:		23–14–1
Liberty Baptist Flames (NAIA Division I independent) (1977–1983)
1977	Liberty Baptist	3–7
1978	Liberty Baptist	4–5–1
1979	Liberty Baptist	9–1–1
1980	Liberty Baptist	7–3
1981	Liberty Baptist	1–9
1982	Liberty Baptist	7–4				19
1983	Liberty Baptist	2–9
Liberty Baptist:		33–38–2
Cumberland Indians (NAIA Division II independent) (1985–1986)
1985	Cumberland	1–9
1986	Cumberland	3–7
Cumberland Indians (Mid-South Conference) (1985–1987)
1987	Cumberland	7–3		T–1st		18
1988	Cumberland	10–1	5–0	1st	L NAIA Division II First Round	7
1989	Cumberland	7–3	5–1	2nd
1990	Cumberland	7–2–1	4–1	2nd
1991	Cumberland	4–5	3–3	T–3rd
1992	Cumberland	3–7	1–4	5th
1993	Cumberland	2–9	2–3	T–3rd
1994	Cumberland	5–5	1–4	T–5th
1995	Cumberland	6–4	5–3	4th
Cumberland:		55–55–1
Total:		111–107–4
National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth