PRINCESS ANNE — As the NCAA Tournament begins this weekend (March 19-20), the University of Maryland Eastern Shore will be represented on the sideline during the tournament by former Hawk Jareem Dowling who is an assistant coach with the University of North Texas Mean Green.

The Virgin Islands native played for the Hawks for two seasons from 2003-2005. He played in 56 games during his time in Princess Anne. His time at The Shore came after playing at Cecil College for two seasons and competing in the NJCAA Division II Final Four in 2002-03. He began his coaching career immediately after graduation under Bill Lewit, at Cecil. 

Dowling is in his fourth season with UNT. The Mean Green are 17-9 this season and won the Conference USA Tournament to earn a spot in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2010.

Known for his recruiting prowess, Dowling has had stops at Slippery Rock, Morehead State, Southern Mississippi and Arkansas State during his coaching career. He has contributed to a winning record at each spot he has been as an assistant coach.

He has also been the head coach of the Virgin Islands Junior National Team for the last 12 years and an assistant coach for the Senior National Team.

“Thank you to everyone who ever poured into me from teachers, teammates, family, friends, players and their parents that trusted me along my journey,” Dowling said. “This has little to do with me and everything to do with the people in my life daily! Special thanks to my wife Cierra Dowling and my beautiful daughter Laiya Dowling!”

North Texas is the 13 seed in the south bracket and will take on fourth seed Purdue on Friday (March 19) at 7:25 p.m. on TNT at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

— Ralan Wardlaw, M.A., is assistant sports information director at UMES.