"As Davenport University's Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics, I am very passionate about providing our student athletes a successful life in the balance experience that strives for excellence in the classroom, during competition and in the community. Commitment to academic excellence is our top priority. We currently have over 690 NCAA DII NCAA student-athletes at Davenport University and over 1,000 across 44 athletic programs. It is our goal to create an environment that will provide our student-athletes with a great experience both academically and athletically. Community involvement is also very important to the success of our athletics program. Davenport University student-athletes have given their time to numerous causes like Hurricane relief, school readings, community outreach, free camps and clinics, Habitat for Humanity, Make-A-Wish and Red Cross blood drives. We are very proud of their servant leadership and look forward to continued work within our community. Davenport University continues to partner with many organizations and companies in West Michigan. These relationships are very important to the overall success of our program. We thank all of our supporters/sponsors for their help and look forward to building additional relationships within the community. GO PANTHERS!" - Lowden
BIO
When Paul Lowden was named Davenport's Director of Athletics in 2002, he started with two programs (hockey and women's basketball). Entering the 2024-25 athletic season, Davenport has 26 NCAA Division II athletic programs and compete in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) and an affiliate member in the GMAC (STUNT, men’s wrestling and men’s Lacrosse). The Panthers also sponsor 18 additional athletic programs listed as Non-NCAA Sports. Among those sports, women's rugby and STUNT are currently emerging sports in the NCAA and could become fully-sponsored in the near future.
Under Lowden’s leadership, Davenport University has successfully won ten GLIAC championships since becoming full members in the 2017-18 school year.
During the days of NAIA affiliation, the Davenport athletic department claimed six consecutive Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) All-Sports Trophies from 2010-2016. DU teams also captured 87 WHAC regular season and tournament titles under his watch. In addition, Lowden was named the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference Athletic Director of the Year in 2011-12.
The department also has brought home 37 team national championships, including four when Lowden was a head coach in the sport of ACHA hockey. Altogether, under Lowden's guidance, the breakdown is Cheerleading, STUNT, Dance, ACHA Men’s D1 hockey, ACHA Men’s D2 hockey, Women’s Lacrosse, Men’s Lacrosse, Women’s Rugby, Men’s Rugby, and Men’s Soccer. There have also been six individuals that have won a national championship including four in track and field and two in wrestling.
As a coach of the ACHA D2/D1 hockey team from 2002-2011, Lowden posted a career record of 308-81-13 while leading the Panthers to four straight national titles from 2007/08 season thru the 2010/11 season. He coached two ACHA Player of the Year winners and many All Americans. Lowden has also helped many student-athletes gain professional contracts overseas in Europe through various ACHA and private Select Team trips. As a student-athlete, Lowden played four years of NCAA D1 Hockey for Ferris State University from 1983 to 1987, holds the career all-time total points and total goals scored records. Lowden also played six years of professional hockey in Germany. Lowden is a member of Ferris State University’s Athletic Hall of Fame.
Lowden received his MBA in with a specialty in Strategic Management in 2008 from Davenport University. His undergrad degree was completed in 1987 at Ferris State University where he received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration.
Lowden resides in Hudsonville, Mich., with his wife Lisa. They have three children - daughters Kristyn and Kaitlyn and their son Kyler, who currently is a member of the ACHA Division I hockey team at DU.
