McDowell receives Champions of Character Award at the NAIA National Convention
April 17, 2012
Newport Beach, Calif. - The national winner of NAIA's Champions of Character Coach Award is announced every year in the last week of April. The winner is then recognized at the NAIA National Convention the following year. Coach McDowell was the recipient of the award for the 2010 - 2011 season and was recognized Sunday night at the NAIA Awards Banquet. McDowell participated in the NAIA Convention as well sitting on a Champions of Character Panel to discuss some proven ways to incorporate the Champions of Character Program into a sports team.
The Champions of Character program promotes five core values that are crucial to the development of our youth: integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship, and servant leadership. The mission of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIN) Champions of Character (COC) program is to provide training to ensure character is demonstrated through conduct as well as competition, so students know, do and value the right thing in all areas of life.
Sunday, April 15, 2012, was not only the NAIA Awards Banquet where McDowell was introduced by NAIA's John McCarthy but was McDowell's birthday as well. "It is an honor to be recognized by the NAIA for this award and it was nice that the awards banquet was on my birthday. However, the most special part of the entire deal is that my wife Jennifer was able to be on stage to present me with the award." Before McDowell gave thanks to all the players and assistant coaches that made this possible, he joked with the crowd that his wife, Jennifer, made the trip because she still didn't believe him getting the award was true. He also mentioned his appreciation to Chancellor Dr. Marsala and Athletics Director Doug Robinson for giving him the opportunity to lead the Men's Basketball Program nine years ago. Dr. Terry Harris, Faculty Athletics Representative, makes the trip annually for the convention and attended this year's awards banquet in support of McDowell.
