Donovan Dowling joined the University of Louisville in July of 2018. He serves as the men's soccer assistant coach and recruiting coordinator. In his role as recruiting coordinator, Dowling has helped lead the charge on nationally ranked recruiting classes in each of his three seasons, including top-10 classes in 2020 (No. 6) and 2021 (No. 9). Dowling helped Louisville to a 5-8-1 mark during the 2020 season, a year split between the fall and spring semesters due to COVID-19. Battling injuries, UofL went just 1-6-1 during the fall portion of the season, but rebounded in the spring and posted a 4-2-0 record and finished second in the ACC Atlantic Division. The Cardinals capped off the spring season with a 2-1 victory over No. 1 Clemson in the regular season finale. Elijah Amo (Real Salt Lake) and Lamine Conte (New York Red Bulls) were both selected in the MLS SuperDraft in January of 2021, and Jake Gelnovatch inked a professional deal with USL Championship club Memphis 901 FC. In his second season at Louisville, Dowling helped the Cardinals produce a 10-8-2 record and earn a berth in the NCAA Tournament. Cardinals earned a pair of NCAA wins, including an upset of No. 14 UC Davis. Dowling helped guide goalkeeper Jake Gelnovatch to eight shutouts, third most in the ACC. Gelnovatch also earned ACC Defensive Player of the Week honors for the first time in his career. Cherif Dieye was selected in the first round of the MLS SuperDraft by New York Red Bulls. In his first season at Louisville, the Cards won their first ever ACC Championship title in 2018, earning the #4 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament before ending the season 11-5-3. The Cards also saw a number of individuals move on to the professional ranks with Tate Schmitt signing a Homegrown contract with Real Salt Lake (MLS), Adam Wilson was selected in the 2nd round of the MLS Draft by Toronto FC, and Geoffrey Dee signed a professional contract with Louisville City FC (USL).   Dowling arrived in Louisville following three seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, where he assisted in restarting the mens soccer program from scratch in 2015. While at UTGRV, Donovan served as the top assistant coach for three seasons where he was directly involved in numerous phases of the program, including recruiting, scouting, compliance, budgeting, travel, and academics. The Vaqueros showed notable improvement during the first three seasons increasing their win total each year, qualifying for the 2016 & 2017 WAC Tournament, and increasing their RPI each year ending 44th nationally.   In addition to his duties at UTRGV, Dowling also coached in the professional ranks as the goalkeeper coach with Rio Grande Valley FC of the USL Championship. In their inaugural season, RGVFC finished second in the USL Western Conference in 2016, qualifying for the USL Playoffs. Dowling worked under current Montreal Impact head coach Wilmer Cabrera in 2016 and under current LA Galaxy II head coach Junior Gonzalez in 2017. Overall, 11 players from RGVFC have signed MLS contracts since 2016.   Prior to helping restart the program at UTRGV, Dowling coached at Northeast Texas Community College, where he served as the head coach of the mens and womens soccer programs for two years. He led the mens 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 mens 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.   From 2011-12, Dowling helped start the first-ever mens soccer program 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 programs 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 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.   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 collegiate 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.   A native of Olathe, Kansas, Dowling earned his bachelor of general studies from Indiana University and added a master of science in sports and human performance from Fort Hays State.