Gene McDowell - Football Coach (1985-97) - UCF Hall of Fame Class of 2023

Coach Gene McDowell led Knights through three difference levels of football competition; NCAA Division II (1985-89), Division I-AA (1990-95) and into Division I-A (1996-97).

He finished 86-61 in his career while leading UCF teams to NCAA playoff appearances in 1987, 1990 and 1993. McDowell led the Knights to the Division II semifinals in 1987 and Division I-AA semifinals in 1990. He won Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year award in 1990.

McDowell is known as “Father of UCF Football” based on growing program on and off the field. He is credited with pulling UCF from brink of extinction due to financial woes and served in dual role as football coach and athletics director in late 1980s. McDowell helped obtain first $1 million donation for football from Wayne Densch.

He won more games than any other UCF head football coach as the longest-tenured individual in that role and also served as the Knights’ athletic director, he died on Jan. 26, 2021. He was 80.

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