Megan Dowdy enters her second season as assistant coach for the Bulldogs as she joined the program on August 20, 2016 after a successful playing career at Samord.
Dowdy, started four years in the outfield for the Bulldogs from 2013-2016 and ended her career as one of the most decorated players to have ever come up through the program. The three-time All-SoCon First Team selection holds five career batting titles at the university and will look to translate the success she had during her playing career to her new position as an assistant coach this upcoming season.
The 2016 SoCon Player of the Year will be responsible for assisting with all hitting and offensive strategy for the Bulldogs, specializing in the short game aspect of the sport, and will be tabbed with being the program's recruiting coordinator.
"Megan has a true love for the game, but also for Samford. She will be a great ambassador for not only the program but also for the school." Head Coach Mandy Burford exclaimed. "She was also one of the most decorated players to ever come through the program.
"The amount of accolades she racked up during her playing career has set the bar very high for any player to beat. She will be directly involved with the hitting, outfield, base running, and will immediately hit the recruiting trail for us."
The Fairhope, Alabama native was Samford's first ever NFCA All-Region selection when she was awarded a spot on the NFCA South Region Third Team her junior year and upped that her senior year to be named an NFCA All-South Region First Team selection alongside a pair of highly regarded SEC standouts in Elantra Cox (Ole Miss) and Haylie McCleney (Alabama).
"Megan's graduating class played an integral part of the success we accomplished last season. They set the standard for years to come." Burford conintued. "Having Megan stay involved and move her success from the field to the coaching box will be special to everyone in the program."
Samford, 40-20 overall record in 2016, is coming off of another historic season where the team reached the NCAA Championship Tournament after earning the SoCon's automatic bid which sent the team to the Tuscaloosa Regional. The post-season appearance was the first in the program's history along with winning the SoCon regular season and tournament titles.
