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BIG HIRE

Adrian Dowell named UNO Athletic Director

UNO on Nov. 15 announced that Adrian Dowell would serve as its next vice chancellor of athletics. He began his duties Dec. 1.

Dowell, previously assistant vice president and associate athletic director for Creighton University athletics, was selected following a national search. UNO Chancellor Joanne Li, Ph.D., CFA, introduced Dowell during a press conference on UNO’s campus alongside University of Nebraska System President Ted Carter, UNO coaches, student-athletes, and members of the UNO campus and Omaha communities.

“Adrian Dowell is a true Maverick,” Chancellor Li said. “He is a dynamic individual who inspires a winning attitude in others and has proven to be an transformational presence in Division I athletics. 

“I am thrilled for our Omaha community to get to know Adrian, and I look forward to celebrating the success our student-athletes will achieve as a result of his leadership.”

Dowell joined Creighton’s staff in 2014 as the assistant athletic director and senior director for development when he was tasked with the initial build and implementation of the Athletic Development Office. Since the development of the office, Creighton’s Athletic Department raised more than $98 million in gift revenue supporting various strategic priorities.

Dowell was guiding the department’s external affairs and overseeing the Athletic Development Office, including all fundraising efforts for the athletic department consisting of Jaybacker annual giving, endowment, capital and planned giving programs. 

“It is an incredible honor and a privilege to lead this athletic department, and I am grateful to the search committee for this opportunity,” Dowell said. “Greatness is the collective goal at UNO, and I believe there is a strong foundation in place that we can build on together to achieve that goal. I couldn’t be more excited to get started.”

Mike Kemp had been serving as UNO’s interim athletic director since July. That followed the resignation of Trev Alberts as athletic director after 12 years at UNO. Alberts now is athletic director at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Kemp has worked at UNO since 1996, when he became the Mavericks’ first hockey coach. He coached for 12 years and was elevated to associate athletic director in 2009 then to senior associate athletic director for events and facilities in 2019.

Dowell previously served on the Mountaineer Athletic Club staff at West Virginia University, where he served the final three of his five years with the program as a major gifts officer and director of development. While at WVU, Dowell was an integral member of a team that recorded two then-consecutive record-breaking fundraising campaigns as part of WVU’s transition to the Big 12 Conference. He also oversaw all aspects of the premium seating program.

Dowell holds a bachelor’s degree in Health & Human Performance—Sport Management from Roanoke College, where he was captain on the men’s basketball team. He also earned a Master’s in Business Administration and a master’s degree in Sport Administration from West Virginia University in 2011.

He is married to Stephanie (Kirby) Dowell, a former UNO soccer All-American and a 2010 UNO Athletic Hall of Fame inductee. The Dowells have three children: Lauren Grace, Paige and Adrian III. 

President Carter commended UNO on the selection.

“I’m thrilled to welcome Adrian Dowell and his family to UNO and the University of Nebraska,” Carter said. “He will be an outstanding leader for our student-athletes and the UNO community as a whole. Adrian understands that athletics are a vital part of campus life, and he brings a proven record of leadership and success to our university.

“I’m confident he will help the Mavericks compete at the highest levels both athletically and academically.”

GETTING BIGGERS

Adrian Dowell might have big shoes to fill as the new Maverick AD, but the biggest shoes ever in the UNO Athletic director post were worn by Clyde W. … (yes) Biggers.

Athletic Director from July 1972 to June 1974, Biggers was 6-foot-7 and 255 pounds. He replaced Virgil Yelkin as AD and was succeeded by Don Leahy.

See the following list of all UNO Athletic Directors since World War II.


OU/UNO
Athletic Directors
Since WW II

Virgil Yelkin 1946-1972

Clyde Biggers 1972-1974

Don Leahy 1974-1985

Bobby Thompson 1985-1988

Gary Anderson Interim

Bob Gibson 1989-1994

Gary Anderson Interim

Dave Cox 1994-1995

Gary Anderson Interim

Don Leahy 1995-1997

Bob Danenhauer 1997-2004

Bill Wakefield Interim

David Herbster 2004-2006

Tom Frette Interim

David Miller 2007-2009

Trev Alberts 2009-2021

Mike Kemp Interim

Adrian Dowell 2021-current

 

UNO Magazine
Winter 2021

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