Mr. Oscar Downs Jr. is a native of Tuskegee, Ala. He graduated from Tuskegee Institute High School, where he was a member of the drill team and the football team. He also was a member of the Boy Scouts of America, completing the rank of Eagle Scout with Palms and Explorer Scout.
As a student athlete at Kentucky State University, Downs was a four-year letterman on the 1973-1977 football teams. He holds the records for kicking the most extra points in a game, kicking the most consecutive extra points and kicking the longest punt. He was known for the “Boot that Beat Jackson State” and “The Big Kick” for his kicking prowess. Downs played on the 1975 KSU Orange Blossom Classic Football Team and was recognized as a NAIA Honorable Mention Football Player.
Throughout his tenure at KSU, Downs has been the assistant coach for football, tennis, track and field and women’s basketball, as well as coordinator for athletic training. Downs was an assistant football coach from 1973-2008.
He coordinated the Student Mentor Program and the KSU CHOICES Athletic Grant. He served on the NCAA Softball South Regional Committee, the NCAA Softball Committee and currently serves as chairman of the SIAC Softball Committee.
Downs has served as head softball coach and certified athletic equipment manager for 32 and 34 years, respectively.
Coach Downs founded the softball program at Kentucky State University in 1981. The program began with slow pitch softball and converted to fast pitch.
Some of Downs’ many accomplishments as head softball coach include Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Softball Coach of the Year, SIAC Tournament Coach of the Year and SIAC Tournament Champions in 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 and 2006. The Thorobrettes finished as SIAC Runners-Up in the 2011 SIAC Championship Tournament and finished in third place in 2012. As softball coach, his record is 518 wins, 208 losses, 178 SIAC wins and 39 SIAC losses.
In 2008, Downs was inducted into the Kentucky State University Athletic Hall of Fame.
Downs is married to Deborah H. Downs and has two children, Oscar L. Downs III and Meagan A. Downs.
