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Shreveport, LA---The Chancellor of Louisiana State University in Shreveport, Dr. Vincent J. Marsala announced today that the LSUS Pilots Head Men’s Basketball Coach Chad McDowell will remain the leader of the Pilots Basketball program. Rumors and speculation of McDowell making the transition to NCAA Division I program and cross town rival Centenary College surfaced hours after the dismissal of Head Coach Rob Flaska on March 14th. Before McDowell and his Pilots returned home from their 4th-consecutive NAIA National Tournament appearance in Kansas City just six days ago, many locals had already envisioned McDowell as the new leader of the Centenary Gents.
In front of a modest crowd of 100 people at The Dock this afternoon on the campus of LSUS, McDowell put an end to all speculation by announcing that he was going to remain a Pilot; he is staying home.
“This has been a very long week for both me and my family. The opportunity for change was there, but after talking with family and friends, and saying many prayers over the past six days in hopes that we make the right decision, we are at peace in saying that LSUS is where the McDowell’s belong,” commented McDowell.
After just five short years at the realm of men’s basketball at LSUS, McDowell and his basketball family have collected an overall record of 132-35 (.790%), which includes a 70-18 overall record in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference, and a 65-8 record at The Dock (.890%).
“The entire campus of LSUS, our player’s, and the Shreveport-Bossier community have made playing basketball at The Dock something we all look forward to. It has become something very special; it has become home. We consistently fill the bleachers to near capacity with great people and true basketball fans, and we have been blessed as a coaching staff and a university to have found some very high character, highly motivated, and very talented players over the past five years which has led to an outstanding experience,” said McDowell.
The Pilots are coming off a record breaking year which was ended after a an 83-69 loss in the Sweet-16 at the hands of Azusa Pacific University at the NAIA National Tournament last Friday afternoon. While the Pilots ultimate goal of winning an NAIA National Championship was cut short, the 2007-2008 list of accomplishments is one that will be tough to match by any program.
In 2007-2008, LSUS posted a school record 31-3 (.912%) overall record. In the midst of their 31-win season, the Pilots also set a new record with most consecutive games won (17). Not included in their record but definitely another great accomplishment beyond the Pilots 31 wins were victories over three NCAA Division 1 opponents: McNeese University (86-80); Centenary College (80-72); and Northwestern State University (79-73). McDowell and his Pilots collected their 3rd-Regular Season GCAC Championship after posting an LSUS record 16-2 conference record before waltzing to their 3rd-Consecutive GCAC Tournament Championship. LSUS rounded off a banner year with a thrilling 71-69 victory over the University of Science and Arts (Oklahoma) in the 1st-Round of the 2008 NAIA National Tournament.
“We have been blessed over the past five years to have experienced some great times thanks to so many fantastic people and the game of basketball. And thanks to Chancellor Marsala and our Athletic Director Doug Robinson, we have the opportunity to build upon what has been a great start here at LSUS. My family and I aregrateful for this wonderful opportunity.”
A huge part of McDowell’s success as not just a coach, but as a father and a friend comes from a work ethic that is second to none, a passion for the game of life that motivates others to reach their highest potential, and the belief that family comes first. In the midst of record breaking seasons and astonishing team/family accomplishments, individual accolades are often short lived and “swept under the rug”.
McDowell has often been quoted in the past as saying “good players make good coaches”. Many of his past and present players believe the same to be true in regards to “good coaching makes good players and good people”. It has been apparent that both are true when talking about the LSUS Basketball Program.
Since accepting the position as Head Coach at LSUS in 2003, McDowell has been named the GCAC Coach of the Year three times (2004, 2005, 2008), and has been named the Louisiana Association of Basketball Coaches State Small College Coach of the Year in 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007. His Pilots have been a mainstay in the NAIA Top 25 national ratings which has been highlighted by a No. 1 ranking in 2005-2006, and finished the 2007-2008 season ranked No. 4.
And as for the Pilots who have played at LSUS since 2003, 14 have been selected to the GCAC-All Conference Teams with two being selected GCAC Newcomers of the Year (Frederico Payne 2003, and Josh Porter, 2006), and three GCAC Player of the Year Awards (Frederico Payne, 2004, 2005, and Josh Porter, 2008). At the state level, Payne was also selected as the LABC Small College Player of the Year in 2004 and 2005. LSUS Basketball has also posted the first five athletes in the schools history to NAIA All-American Teams: Payne, 2004, 2005; Josh Porter, 2007, 2008; Freddy Hughes 2007; and Jamon Morris, 2008.
Not only has McDowell led the Pilots to success on the court, he has instilled his first class attitude among his players which was rewarded by the NAIA when it was announced that McDowell was the 2006 Regional Winner of the Champions of Character Coaches Award in 2006, and the 2006 version of the Pilots were awarded the inaugural NAIA Champions of Character Team Award. Two LSUS Pilots, Greg Tyer (2006) and Josh Porter (2008) have also been recipients of the NAIA Individual Champions of Character Players Award.
While there have been many highlights, team and individual accomplishments throughout the continued success over the past five years on the floor, their have been many situations off the floor which the Pilots family have had to endure, none of which stands out more than the night of November 28 during a home game versus Southwest Assemblies of God University. A play near half court saw Josh Porter collide with then teammate Kyile Byrd while trying to intercept a pass. Porter fell to the ground and as a result fractured the C5 vertebrae in his neck. According to several medical experts, 99% of the people with the same exact injury as Josh’s are instantly paralyzed for life; however, after a successful surgery, Porter walked out of the hospital a few days later. To say that Josh Porter is now a walking miracle would be an understatement. But writing that on September 7, 2007 Porter was released to play basketball for the 2007-2008 season, is truly a gift from God.
Not only did Porter complete his story-book collegiate career as the 2008 GCAC Player of the Year and NAIA All-American, he has also been selected to compete in the College Basketball invitational, and most importantly, he has been awarded the 2008 United States Basketball Writers Association “Most Courageous Award” which will be presented to himself along with Coach McDowell at the NCAA Final Four Annual Banquet. Josh was also named yesterday as the Basketball Times Co-Player of the Year Award in the NAIA.
In conclusion, the tandem of LSUS Basketball and Chad McDowell has been a great fit for many student-athletes and the entire Shreveport-Bossier community. While today does not mark the beginning of a newly formed relationship between the two, it does remind us that when you surround yourself with good people, and when you put others thoughts and feelings in as high regards and of importance as your own while keeping God and your family first, there are no boundaries as to what one can accomplish.
Congratulations LSUS and the entire Chad McDowell family. |
