Robert Dowd has been part of SMU's athletic programs since his arrival on the campus for the 1967 season. Dowd started and coached both the men's cross country for 21 years and women's cross country for 11 years before giving up coaching to take over as Director of Athletics for several years. During his coaching career, Dowd's teams posted a 147-34-1 record in dual meets and qualified for the NCAA Division III nationals ten times and the NAIA nationals twice. SMU appeared in a post season national competition for 10 consecutive years (1973-82), finishing as high as fourth in 1980, fifth in 1975 and eighth in 1981. His women's cross country teams were 23-5 in dual meets, appearing in three NCAA Division III nationals and an AIAW National, brining home fourth place national finishes in 1981 and 1982. Dowd's accomplishments during the spring track and field season are equally impressive as his cross country records. In 21 years with the men's team his teams were 124-10 and his women's teams were 11-4 in 10 years. Perhaps Dowd's most impressive record, apart from his 305-53-1 combined won-loss record, is turning out 33 Division III All-America performers during his career from 1967 through 1987. Dowd is a resident of Westport, Mass.