After a successful first season at Stony Brook, Rick Sowell begins his second season with the Seawolves in 2008. He was named head coach of the Stony Brook men's lacrosse program on August 15, 2006. He arrived at SBU after three years at St. John's where he restarted a program that had been idle since 1994 and highly successful coaching stints at Dartmouth College and Georgetown University.

In his first season at Stony Brook, Sowell led the Seawolves to an 8-5 overall mark and a 2-3 mark in the America East Conference and a berth in the conference tournament.

Sowell was tapped to head the rebirth and start up of the St. John's lacrosse program in 2003 after leading two of the top programs in collegiate lacrosse to national acclaim. After a year of building the program back up, Sowell led the Red Storm back onto the field for the first time in 11 years in 2005.

From 1999-2003 Sowell was the head coach at Dartmouth where he revived the Big Green program, taking the team from last to first place in the Ivy League during his five years at the helm. During his fifth and final season in 2003 with the Big Green, Sowell's squad posted an 11-3 record, 5-1 in the Ivy League, en route to a conference title and an appearance in the NCAA tournament. During the title run, the Big Green registered a road victory at No. 2 Princeton, its first win at Princeton since 1958. Under Sowell's leadership the Big Green steadily improved, with four student-athletes earning All-New England honors, two receiving All-Ivy honors and several receiving academic awards. Sowell was also named the NEILA Coach of the Year in 2003.

From 1990-1998, he served as an assistant coach at Georgetown University where the Hoyas grew from an also-ran to a national contender in Division I, participating in the 1997 and 1998 NCAA Tournament. In 1998, the Hoyas finished 10-5 overall and advanced to the quarterfinal round before falling to top-seed Loyola, 12-11.

From 1988-1991, Sowell spent three years as the head coach of the boy's lacrosse team at Mount St. Albans High School in Washington, D.C. While at there he also served as an assistant football coach. Sowell's coaching career began at Washington College in Chestertown, Md. where he helped guide the Shoremen to the NCAA Division III national title game in 1986 and the semifinal round in 1987.

Before dedicating his life to coaching, Sowell played lacrosse at all levels. He began his college career in 1982 at the State University of New York in Cobleskill, transferring to Washington College prior to the 1984 season. As a member of the Shoremen, Sowell was named the 1985 Division III National Midfielder of the Year and was also a two-time All-American. He helped lead Washington College to the Division III national championship game twice. In Sowell's senior campaign he was team captain and earned the Dr. Charles B. Clark MVP Award. He was also named the Best Athlete by Washington College's Athletic Council. His 45 goals and 14 assists earned him first team Division III All-America honors and an invitation to participate in the annual North/South All-Star game.

In the professional ranks Sowell spent five years with the Baltimore Thunder of the Major Indoor Lacrosse League (MILL). While there he was a first team All-Pro selections three times.

Sowell graduated in 1986 with a bachelor's degree in history. He was inducted into the Washington College Hall of Fame on October 21, 2000. Sowell and his wife Catherine live in Malverne, N.Y., with their daughters Kennady and Avery.