UC Bearcats, Cincinnati Public Schools mourn death of D.J. Dowdy
CINCINNATI (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER) - A former University of Cincinnati Bearcat football player and Cincinnati Public Schools athletic administrator died on Friday. D.J. Dowdy, most recently the athletic director at Taft High School, was 29.
A University of Cincinnati spokesman confirmed the news Saturday.
Dowdy is survived by his wife and two children.
Bearcat background
D.J. Dowdy was a 6-foot-4, 250-pound tight end for the Bearcats between 2012 and 2016. He was recruited out of Akron by then-head coach Butch Jones but spent his UC career playing for Tommy Tuberville.
Dowdy had 23 career receptions for five touchdowns over his career. His best season was his 2015 junior campaign when he had 12 catches for 104 yards.
Post-UC
Dowdy began as an athletic director at Purcell Marian in 2018 after interning at DePaul Cristo Rey for Principal Andy Farfsing, who had moved on to the Cavaliers. He eventually added “football coach” to his title. The Cavaliers were 17-15 in three seasons under Dowdy with back-to-back winning seasons in 2021 (7-4) and 2022 (6-5). After that season, he returned to full-time AD duties with the Cavaliers.
He was also involved in Staubach Stadium’s building and opening at Purcell Marian, named for Pro Football Hall of Famer Roger Staubach.
In September 2023, he was hired at Taft as interim AD. The Taft basketball team played Hughes Friday night and a moment of silence was held.
There’s no word on arrangements. The Enquirer will update as information is provided.
This report is from our media partners at Cincinnati Enquirer.
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