WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH FALCON FACTS: Legendary Coach And Educator Dr. Beverly Downing

RALEIGH, N.C. (March 31) – Anyone familiar with Saint Augustine’s sports knows Dr. Beverly Downing was a legendary coach in the 1980s and 1990s.

But that only tells half the story about her.

Downing was an outstanding educator who was equally successful in the academic world.

Beginning her career in 1980 as an instructor, Downing rose to the rank of Tenured Associate Professor and became the Chair of the University’s Division of Education. At the same time, Downing built top CIAA contenders in basketball and softball.

The former Saint Augustine’s coach is intelligent, and she expected her student-athletes to hit the books. Her basketball and softball teams annually posted over 3.0 grade point averages.

Downing not only preached academics; she set an example for others to follow.

As school administrator, Downing received a grant from the National Youth Sports Program to serve over 400 youth annually in the Raleigh community each summer during the late 1990s.

Observing her potential as a leader, Saint Augustine’s President Dr. Prezell R. Robinson recommended her for the Harvard University Management Development program. Downing earned a spot in the program completing it in 1993.

Raising more than $20 million in grant funding during her tenure at SAU, Downing implemented many other programs. She established the Community Health and Wellness Center (Taylor Hall) on campus from a building that had been condemned. She also established one of the first higher education on-campus charter school collaborations in the country where many teacher education majors gained first-hand classroom experiences.

A professional development school was also established through the Teacher Education under her watch. Through grant funding, she created an Alternative Teacher Education program that was the largest in the state (public or private). An accelerated program, not conventional at the time, offered teacher certification with more than 500 majors who attended class from Friday to Sunday for six weeks. The program produced four N.C. Teachers of the Year at the school, district and state levels.

Downing earned a master’s degree from Hampton University and a doctorate from Middle Tennessee State University. Accomplished in accreditation and grant writing, Downing is currently the Associate Provost at Huston-Tillotson University in Austin, Texas, where she recently led the institution to a successful accreditation visit with all standards met. Downing has provided technical assistance in accreditation, which led to the success of over 40 Institutions of Higher Education (public and private) during her career.

As a coach, Downing had few peers in Division II.

The nationally ranked Lady Falcons lit up the scoreboard under Downing, who won 260 games in 16 seasons as women’s basketball coach. They led the nation in scoring during the 1988-89 season.

Saint Augustine’s ruled the Southern Division and were perennial CIAA contenders, reaching the conference championship game and advancing to the NCAA Division II Tournament in 1992 and 1993. In 16 seasons, Downing produced 12 winning teams.

Softball was terrific under Downing. The Lady Falcons captured the Southern Division crown every year she coached (four) and brought home the CIAA title in 1989 and 1991.

Downing was well-respected in the coaching community. She was a 7-time CIAA Coach of the Year winner in basketball and softball combined.

In 2002, Downing was honored for her achievements. She was inducted into the Hall of Fame at her alma mater Livingstone College, where Downing was an All-CIAA basketball and softball player. The Female Student Athlete of the Year Award at Livingstone is named in her honor.

She now resides in Austin, Texas where she started her own business (BLD Education, LLC) in addition to being the Associate Provost at Huston-Tillotson University.

Coach Downing is proof that athletics and academics can co-exist. In fact, they thrive together.

Below is a Q&A with Coach Downing.

Can you describe your experience as head coach of the Lady Falcons? 

In my role as head coach of the Lady Falcons basketball team and softball team, I found great rewards relative to my passion for helping young people move their lives and the lives of their families while achieving their education. Do not get me wrong, as a former outstanding student-athlete at the high school and college levels, I had great love and passion for each of the sports. While my introduction to sports came late in my life, using those skills helped me receive my education.

As I recruited student-athletes throughout the country, I looked for girls who had athletic talent and the willingness to learn. They also had to have the drive to earn their college degrees. Education was always important to me. I looked for “no excuse” student-athletes willing to take on any challenge and prepare to meet those challenges. Many, not all, but many of my student-athletes came from impoverished backgrounds, just like me. I was able to recruit some great young ladies to Saint Augustine’s during those days because I was looking for the whole person. I have very few or any student-athletes that just wanted to “play ball.”

They wanted to become the best they could be, and I was there to help make that come true. That is what I loved about being the head coach. Although I was never paid to coach, the rewards were great. As I sit and reflect on many of the young women I coached, and where they are now in their lives, that is my reward.

Most people think that I stopped coaching to become a college administrator. That is far from the truth. Saint Augustine’s was one of the rare places where I could do both, and I took advantage of that opportunity. I served as an instructor and moved up to tenured professor and Chair for the School of Education while simultaneously coaching. I loved every minute of it.

What was your most memorable moment or highlight as Lady Falcons coach? 

The most memorable moment or highlight for me as the Lady Falcons basketball coach was when we took a group of unknown (by media) players up to Pittsburgh-Johnstown, Pa. They were sitting on top of the NCAA in our region and nationally. After a very patronizing welcome and tour of their head coach’s accomplishments, the Lady Falcons hit the court. They picked us to play the first round of their Invitational, thinking they would have an easy win. The Lady Falcons took to the court running and ran them out of their own gym. It was a great win for the team.

We moved into the national ranking at number nine after that game.

In softball, a colleague of mine was the head coach at UNC-Chapel Hill. We both served on the NCAA Inaugural Softball Sports Committee together. So, we decided to schedule each other. We did not have a field, so we visited them. We played ten innings tied up when my third baseman got injured. After the substitution, they hit a line drive (as we would have done) to the third baseman.

Fresh off the bench with very little playing time or skill, the ball got past her, and we ended up losing 1-0. That was a thrilling game.

What advice would you give the current women student-athletes at SAU? 

I would say to the current student-athletes, “On the court you are an athlete, off the court, you are a Lady.” Always respectably carry yourself.

Second, ALWAYS take your education seriously. Education is the one thing that nobody can take away from you. One bad fall, and your athletic career is over. It indeed will vanish as you get older. A solid, well-paying career will make room for you to be comfortable.

Third, always be willing to help others; the rewards and benefits will last a lifetime.

Finally, our motto as a team and recited before every game was the words of Vince Lombardi, “Winning is not a sometime thing, it is an all-time thing. There’s no place for second place; first place is the only place.” Go Falcons Go!!!  Apply this to your whole life.

Why would you recommend SAU to a high school student-athlete? 

While I have been away from SAU for some time now (19 years), I still hold it near and dear to my heart. It is a place where your dreams can come true. They have the environment, the personnel, the resources, and the leadership to support your vision for your life. Dream Big, and make it happen.