Dowler played football, basketball, and baseball at Colgate University.

He played with the Brooklyn Dodgers in the National Football League (NFL) for two games in 1931.

Dowler holds the dubious distinction of being the only men's basketball coach in school history to guide his team to a winless season.

[3] He finished his one-year stint as basketball coach at Akron with a 9–14 record.

Dowler served in the United States Navy as a lieutenant during World War II.