The Prodigal Son Returns: BHS Hall of Famer Gerry McDowell to Take Back Red Raider Basketball Reins
For Immediate Release July 11, 2008
CENTERVILLE — Twenty years ago, then Barnstable High School boys varsity basketball coach Gerry McDowell departed for what would end up being an 18-year career in the collegiate coaching ranks after leading the Red Raider five to an 18-7 record and second SMC Division I championship in five seasons. McDowell ended his high school coaching career with a respectable, 64-43 record (.598) and went on to serve, eventually, as head coach at Wesleyan University.
Now, the prodigal son has returned.
Deemed the key component on BHS Hall of Famer Dick Graves' 1970-71 25-1 Red Raider juggernaut as a junior at Barnstable High School, McDowell went on to lead the Red Raiders in his senior season as the team's sole captain, leading scorer and paced the squad to its second straight Capeway Conference championship title. All totalled, the Red Raiders were 63-7 the three seasons McDowell lettered at BHS, including a 25-0 run through the Class C State Championship title in 1970-71. McDowell was also a star in the triple jump in boys track & field at BHS, competing for four years under Hal Cornforth and helping pace the Red Raiders to an astonishing 28-1 mark and four consecutive Capeway Conference Championship titles. In boy soccer, McDowell was a Capeway Conference all-star goalie for three seasons.
After BHS, McDowell went on to a solid collegiate career at Colby College, whereupon he soon returned to his alma mater Barnstable High School to teach and coach.
At BHS, McDowell served first as an assistant boys basketball coach, eventually becoming boys spring track & field head coach as well as boys varsity basketball head coach (1983-1988).
