Charlie Dowd, who was named Sacred Heart's Deputy Director of Athletics for External Affairs in February of 2019, serves as the administrator for men's and women's hockey, equestrian, men's volleyball, women's rowing and women's rugby. He was named to the National Intercollegiate Rugby Association Executive Committee in the spring of 2023 and has been chair of the Atlantic Hockey America Executive Committee since 2022. Dowd is also part of the New England Women's Hockey Alliance Executive Committee.
From 2012 to 2019, Dowd was the SVP of operations for Harbor Yard Sports & Entertainment, serving as part of the management team that led a resurgence at Webster Bank Arena. Under his direction, WBA hosted National Hockey League games, served as the home venue for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers and hosted concerts such as Bob Dylan, Patti Smith and Arcade Fire. In the NCAA realm, Dowd led successful bids to host numerous NCAA women's basketball and men's ice hockey regionals, as well as serving as the home of SHU men's hockey.
Success in Bridgeport was no stranger for Dowd, who served as general manager and minority partner for the Bridgeport Bluefish from 1997-2006. Under his tutelage, the independent league squad set national attendance records, won eight division titles and captured a league championship. Dowd then spent four years as the general manager of the Connecticut Defenders, where he successfully hosted the 2007 Eastern League All-Star Game. During his tenure, he worked closely with the Stadium Authority and government leaders at all levels to enhance the stadium and fan experience.
A graduate of the City University of New York, Dowd broke into the sports field as a sales representative for the New York Mets in 1988-89. He became the assistant general manager of the Midland Angels, a Class AA minor league affiliate of the Angels, improving advertising and tickets sales by 25 percent during his 1990-91 tenure. Dowd served as the general manager of the Salinas Spurs for the 1991-92 season and was named GM for the New Haven Ravens in 1992.
With the Ravens, Dowd organized and managed the start-up of the Class AA franchise, including overseeing a $3.2 million renovation of Yale Field, which helped the organization to a winning bid for the 1998 AA All-Star Game.
Dowd, who earned his Juris Doctor from Western New England, has made a great impact on the SHU athletic marketing and operations staffs while serving as an adjunct professor at several local universities, including the SHU Sports Management program.
