Avon Old Farms coach Rob Dowling is a true pioneer when it comes to Northeast prep school baseball. He has been in charge of the AOF program for 26 years, coming over directly following his graduation from Trinity College.
Through that long period of success, Dowling has coached countless numbers of high-profile athletes who have gone on to to play at the professional and college levels. In addition to his time with the Winged Beavers, Dowling has also coached in the NECBL with Team Connecticut, has been involved with the Area Code Games and has assisted pro scouts in prospect and post draft workouts at Fenway Park and at the Summer Rivalry Classic.
"Although my main baseball job has been at Avon, I have had some incredible experiences in baseball,'' said Dowling. "I feel lucky to have met some incredible people, and it has been so much fun. I have always loved the game, and my involvement with baseball has enriched my life very much. But it is never about me or the guys I coach with. It is always about the players. The only pressure I feel is to do the best job I can in that single year with the group that we have. Success is not defined by wins as far as I'm concerned. It is rooted in if we got the best out of that particular group.''
Under Dowling, Avon Old Farms has had it share of success. Since 1996, the program has won 16 Colonial and Founders League championships.
