Thomas University names McDowell head coach of Men’s Soccer
Post Published On:Thomas University officials recently named Joe McDowell of Thomasville as the new head coach of the Night Hawks Men’s Soccer Team.
Originally from Wickford, Essex, in the United Kingdom, McDowell lived in Spain briefly before moving to Bradenton, Florida, for his high school years where he attended IMG Academy. McDowell enrolled at Thomas University in 2010, where he was a member of the Men’s Soccer Team.
During his time on the Night Hawks team, McDowell was a four-year starter. In 2013, the Sun Conference named McDowell Defensive Player of the Week. McDowell was also part of the TU team that won TU’s first-ever Sun Conference Championship in 2013.
“I believe Joe is the right person for this position due to his past experiences with Thomas University,” said Rick Pearce TU’s Director of Athletics. ”Joe has been a part of the program as a player and a student. He will be able to give all his players a great college experience because of this.”
McDowell graduated from TU in 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in Business Management and Administration. For the next four years, he coached soccer teams of all ages with FC Sarasota. After returning to Thomasville in 2018, he served as a volunteer assistant coach with the Night Hawks Men’s Soccer Team for the past two years.
McDowell said the TU Men’s Soccer Team has a culture of accountability, a great work ethic and a vibrant team spirit.
“I want to build on the strong foundation that the program already has that was put in place by previous coaches and players,” he said. “I want to take the program to the next level and beyond. I want to see TU Men’s Soccer continue to make both Thomas University and the city of Thomasville proud – both on and off the field.”
McDowell and his wife, Leslie, live just outside of Thomasville with their 3-year-old daughter.
