Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

Dave McDowell

In his 38th season as Head Coach of Queen's Women's Soccer in 2025, McDowell led the Gaels to an overall record of 9-4-1, with a conference record of 8-3-1 and the OUA Quarterfinals. 
 
He was named OUA East Division Coach of the Year in 2023 for the second year in a row after leading the Gaels to a 10-1-1 record and an OUA silver medal. McDowell was also named OUA East Division Coach of the Year in 2022 after leading Queen's to a 9-0-3 record and the OUA Semifinals.
 
McDowell led the Gaels to an OUA Championship in 2021, their sixth Conference Championship with McDowell at the helm. Queen's also won the Consolation Final at the U SPORTS Women's Soccer Championship that season.
 
A two-time CIS/U SPORTS Coach of the Year and seven-time OUA Coach of the Year, McDowell has also guided the Gaels to three national championships, in 1988, 2010 and 2011.
 
Under his guidance, Queen’s has posted a combined regular season record of 281-59-86, has never had a losing season or missed the Conference Playoffs, and has advanced to the National Championships 15 times.
 
The Gaels have allowed 10 or more goals in the regular season only 10 times over his 30+ years at the helm of the program. Offensively, McDowell’s squads are consistently among the league leaders in the nation, highlighted by a team-record 55 goals in 2012.
 
McDowell was a member of Queen’s Men’s Soccer team from 1983-87.
 
A Level 4 NCCP certified coach, the Northern Ireland native lives in Kingston, Ont. with his wife Laura and their two children, Owen and Dannan.

Awards

U SPORTS Coach of the Year: 1998, 1993
OUA Coach of the Year: 2023, 2022, 2010, 2009, 2002, 1998, 1995, 1993, 1990

Career Record at Queen's

 
Regular Season OUA Playoffs CIAU/CIS/U SPORTS Championships
Year W-L-T W-L-T W-L-T
2024 8-3-1 1-1
2023 10-1-1 2-1 0-2-0
2022 9-0-3 1-1-0
2021* 8-2-0 3-0-0 2-1-0
2020 Season cancelled due to COVID-19
2019 12-0-2 0-1-0
2018 8-3-5 1-2-0
2017 12-3-1 2-1-0
2016 11-4-1 2-1-0 1-2-0
2015* 7-2-7 4-0-0 2-1-0
2014 9-4-3 1-1-0
2013 7-2-7 3-1-0
2012 11-2-3 2-1-0 2-1-0
2011*^ 13-1-2 3-0-0 3-0-0
2010^ 14-2-0 2-1-0 3-0-0
2009 13-1-2 2-1-0 1-2-0
2008 8-4-2 1-1-0
2007 8-1-7 0-1-0
2006 12-1-3 2-1-0 2-1-0
2005 7-0-5 3-1-0
2004 8-1-3 2-1-0 2-1-0
2003 8-0-2 2-1-0 1-1-1
2002* 7-1-2 3-0-0 0-2-0
2001* 5-1-4 3-0-0 0-2-1
2000 6-3-1 2-1-0 0-1-1
1999 8-1-3 0-1-0
1998 11-0-1 2-1-0 0-1-1
1997 7-4-1 2-1-0
1996 5-1-6 2-1-0
1995 8-1-3 2-1-0 1-1-0
1994 6-3-3 0-1-0
1993 8-1-1 2-1-0
1992 7-2-1 0-1-0
1991 6-3-1 0-1-0
1990 7-1-2 0-2-0
1989 7-2-1 2-1-0
1988*^ 7-2-1 3-0-0
Total 308-63-91 63-32-0 20-19-4
 
^ National Champions
* Conference Champions