Adrian Dowell

Biography

Adrian Dowell was appointed Vice Chancellor / Director of Athletics at the University of Nebraska at Omaha on November 15, 2021, by UNO Chancellor Dr. Joanne Li, with a clear objective: to elevate Omaha Athletics to sustained national relevance while strengthening its institutional and community connections. Since his arrival, Omaha has emerged as one of the fastest-rising NCAA Division I-AAA athletics programs in the country, driven by competitive excellence, disciplined financial growth, strategic capital investment, and an integrated, holistic model of student-athlete development. Dowell oversees a $28 million operation consisting of 16 NCAA Division I sport programs, more than 350 student-athletes, 130+ full-time staff members, and over 300 part-time employees. A native of Salem, Virginia, Dowell earned his bachelor's degree from Roanoke College and holds both an MBA and a Master of Sport Management from West Virginia University. A former men's basketball captain, he and his wife Stephanie—a former Maverick soccer standout and UNO Hall of Famer—reside in Omaha with their three children.