Thomas Dowler

Thomas Dowler
Biographical details
Born(1908-07-03)July 3, 1908
Erie, Pennsylvania, U.S.[1]
DiedDecember 6, 1986(1986-12-06) (aged 78)
Fulton County, Georgia, U.S.
Playing career
Football
1927–1929Colgate
1931Brooklyn Dodgers
Basketball
1928–1931Colgate
Baseball
1930Colgate
Position(s)Quarterback (football)
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Football
1931Colgate (assistant)
1935William & Mary
1939–1940Akron
Basketball
1934–1937William & Mary
1939–1940Akron
Head coaching record
Overall10–13–5 (football)
30–43 (basketball)

Thomas Moran "Spook" Dowler[2] (July 3, 1908 – December 6, 1986) was an American football, basketball, and baseball player and coach of football and basketball. He served as the head football coach at The College of William & Mary in 1935 and at the University of Akron in 1939 and 1940, compiling a career college football record of 10–13–5. Dowler also coached the William & Mary men's basketball team from 1934 to 1937[3] and the Akron Zips men's basketball team in 1939–40, tallying a career college basketball mark of 30–43. Dowler played football, basketball, and baseball at Colgate University. He played with the Brooklyn Dodgers in the National Football League (NFL) for two games in 1931.

Coaching career

William & Mary had not yet joined an athletic conference during Dowler's first two seasons as head basketball coach, but for his third and final season, the Tribe had become a member of the Southern Conference. Dowler holds the dubious distinction of being the only men's basketball coach in school history to guide his team to a winless season. The Tribe went 0–13 in conference play and 0–18 overall during the 1936–37 season. Dowler went 21–29 over his three years at William & Mary.[3] He finished his one-year stint as basketball coach at Akron with a 9–14 record.

Later life and death

Dowler served in the United States Navy as a lieutenant during World War II. He later resided in Atlanta and died on December 6, 1986.[4]

Head coaching record

Football

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
William & Mary Indians (Virginia Conference) (1935)
1935 William & Mary 3–4–3 2–0–1 1st
William & Mary: 3–4–3 2–0–1
Akron Zippers (Independent) (1939–1940)
1939 Akron 5–4
1940 Akron 2–5–2
Akron: 7–9–2
Total: 10–13–5
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

References

  1. ^ "Akron Picks Tom Dowler—Former Colgate U. Star to Direct Zipper Grid Team". Youngstown Vindicator. Youngstown, Ohio. Associated Press. July 15, 1939. p. 7. Retrieved September 21, 2018 – via Google News.
  2. ^ "Tommy Dowler Past Stats, Statistics, History, and Awards - databaseFootball.com". Archived from the original on May 31, 2012. Retrieved June 30, 2012.
  3. ^ a b William & Mary men's basketball history - Media Guide 2007-08 Archived May 11, 2008, at the Wayback Machine. Accessed March 24, 2008.
  4. ^ "Dowler". The Atlanta Constitution. Atlanta, Georgia. December 10, 1986. p. 24. Retrieved May 10, 2020 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.