A lot has changed in the three decades since Steve McDowell began coaching in the Warren County R-III School District. 

When he began as junior high football coach in 1992, scouts were not allowed to film and every detail about upcoming opponents had to be documented by notepad. Later came the long road trips to exchange VHS tapes. 

As McDowell steps away from the game 29 years later, high-definition footage of the increasingly complicated schemes employed in modern day is now openly shared across the internet. About the only constant has been the presence of McDowell, reliably dawning shorts and a black Warrior windbreaker in any type of weather.

“It’s kind of unheard of these days to stay at one school your entire career,” said McDowell, who recently announced his retirement following the 2020 football season. “I’ve always considered myself a Warrior, since I first began coaching. It’s been a privilege to serve both the school and community.”

His departure brings an end to a teaching career that traversed through five of the six buildings on the R-III campus and included the transition into the current high school.

“Throughout the last season it had been weighing on my mind,” said McDowell. “After the season was over — we had finished pretty strong — so I decided it was time to focus on some other things in life.”

McDowell says he looks forward to spending time with family in Southern Missouri, working on his golf game, fishing and hunting.

“This job can consume a lot of time and energy, and I’d like to be able to spend more time with my folks,” said McDowell, who came to Warrenton directly after graduating from Southeast Missouri State.

The Festus native has since served in every possible assistant coach and coordinator role but says he most prefers his work with the offensive line.

“That’s what I had always played, and I love the big hogs up front and really relate to those guys pretty well,” said McDowell. “I’ve always enjoyed that experience of being a defensive line coach. They’re a lot of fun to work with.”

Among his favorite memories was serving as linemen coach for the 1995 team, which reached the state semifinals under Head Coach Larry Branson. McDowell took over the program in 2001, one season before Warrenton moved from the Eastern Missouri Conference into the Gateway Athletic Conference.

“We started off pretty well but went through a lot of rough patches,” noted McDowell, who had the luxury of having future Missouri Tiger Joel Clinger on the line during those initial years. 

“It’s not often you get to coach a Division I lineman.”

During Clinger’s senior campaign the Warriors went 8-2 but fell short of advancing in the district playoffs.

McDowell also recalls the 2010 season, which saw the installation of turf field at the high school athletic complex and followed with a trip to the state championship game.

“Our trip to the dome that year was a remarkable ride,” said McDowell. “That was awesome to play for a state championship. Just the number of great athletes and people I’ve been able to coach throughout the years is pretty special.”

He was serving as an assistant at that time, before being promoted back to head coach in 2012 and maintaining that position through last fall. Among the highlights of the second stint was a 2017 season in which the Warriors went 9-2 and claimed the GAC Title.

“That was a great group of kids I was privileged to coach,” said McDowell. “We still have five of those guys playing college football right now.”

While much of his time has been spent on the gridiron, McDowell has worn many hats, including track coach and a multitude of teaching positions. He has been an elementary and sixth-grade teacher, strength and conditioning and physical education instructor and is now head of a recently-implemented program called Outdoor Pursuits.

“I’ve done a lot of different jobs,” said McDowell. “I thought I was going to be able to teach in every building, but I didn’t quite get to Warrior Ridge (Elementary). Those changes over the years were refreshing, and I really enjoyed being in the classroom teaching math, science and social studies.”

There will likely be a noticeable missing presence next fall in the hallways and on the sidelines, but McDowell’s legacy carries on through the multiple generations of students who has impacted throughout his career.

“I have no regrets,” said McDowell. “Everything I’ve done and tried to accomplish with these kids has been rewarding. The text messages you receive from former players — it’s very humbling to be honest. Just hope I’ve left a positive impact on our community and the players I’ve been able to coach throughout the years.”