Donovan O’Dowd is in his 11th season with the Lynn University baseball team and eighth as the top assistant. In addition to his duties working with catchers, aiding with in-game strategies and coaching third base, he is in his eighth year as the Fighting Knights recruiting coordinator. Prior to taking his place in the dugout and helping Lynn win a National Championship, O’Dowd played two seasons as a catcher for the Blue & White.
During his time as a coach, the Knights have become one of the premier defensive teams behind the plate in the Sunshine State Conference. Under his tutelage, former catcher and Tampa Bay Rays prospect Kyle Holloway led the SSC in baserunners thrown out twice, gunning down 56% of stolen base attempts (52-of-93) in that time, almost double the amount of the next catcher.
A career .309 hitter, O’Dowd batted .342 his first season with the Knights before battling through injuries in 2005. The Torrance, Calif., product reached base safely in his first 22 games and in 28 of the 32 games he played as a senior. He improved his fielding percentage to .990 and caught 31.6% of base stealers.
Born Donovan Wesley O’Dowd on June 23, 1983 in Culver City, Calif., he graduated from Lynn University with a degree in communications in June of 2006 and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in business administration.
