USA Announces Hiring Of Tim Bowens As New Wide Receivers Coach
USA announced the hiring of former Samford University wide receivers coach Tim Bowens as the Jaguars next Wide Receivers coach. | Photo: http://thebowensbunch.blogspot.com
South Alabama head football coach Joey Jones announced that he has filled one of the openings on his staff on Monday.
Tim Bowens was hired to fill the vacant wide receivers position. Bowens spent the last two seasons at Samford where he helped the 2013 team become the first in school history to earn a berth in the NCAA FCS playoffs since 1992.
Samford led the Southern Conference last season in both passing yards per game (292.8) and total yards per game (415.6) while three of his receivers were among the top six in receiving yards per game.
Kelsey Pope caught 68 passes for 789 yards to earn first-team all-conference honors from the conference coaches and the media. He also ended the season as the school’s all-time career record holder with 250 catches. Karel Hamilton was voted first-team Freshman All-American and tot he conference’s All-Freshman team after a 38 reception, 657 yard season with seven touchdowns.
The Bulldogs claimed a share of their first Southern Conference title since joining the league in 2008 and their first top-20 finish in both The Sports Network and coaches’ polls by going 8-5 overall and 6-2 in conference play.
Bowens also coached wide receivers at UAB for five years where he helped Frantrell Forrest become the second place on the Blazers’ All-Time receptions list. Prior to his stint at UAB, he was the receivers coach at Alabama in 2006, the final year in a four year span with the school where he also served in the roles of assistant director of operations and director of high school/NFL relations.
He played wide receiver at Alabama from 1996-1999 and earned a spot on the Academic All-SEC team his senior year. He helped the Crimson Tide to three bowl games and a pair of appearances in the SEC Championship game. They had a pair of 10-win seasons and twice won the SEC West Division title. In his senior season the Crimson Tide defeated Florida in the SEC Championship game and went on to play in the Orange Bowl.
After his playing career, he served as a student assistant on the Tide staff in the spring of 2000, when he earned his degree. The next two seasons he was the offensive coordinator at Coffee (AL) High School before becomign head coach at Tanner (AL) High School. He was named the Limestone County Coach of the Year in 2002.
Bowens is the half brother of South Alabama defensive ends and outside linebackers coach Freddie Roach.
“I’ve known Coach Jones for some time, I’ve known his sons as well, and appreciate the job he has done from the high school to the collegiate level. I’ve been able to follow his career, and was able to visit with him years ago as well,” Bowens said. “I’m looking forward to coaching in a great conference and to being at a university where things are on the rise. And I’m excited about where this program is going. If you look back five, six years ago, you can see the changes that have taken place and how it has taken humongous steps. To be able to come to a program that is really taking off speaks volumes.”
“Tim is as good of a person that I know,” Jones said. “He’s a very experienced guy, having coached at Alabama, UAB and Samford. Everybody I talked to about Tim has the utmost respect for his coaching ability and him as a person. Of course, I’ve known him for years so this was an easy hire for me.”
Jones still has two open positions on his staff to fill. Bryant Vincent, quarterbacks coach, left for an offensive coordinator position at UAB and Kevin Sherrer, defensive backs and defensive coordinator, left for a coaching position at the University of Georgia. Travis Pearson was promoted to defensive coordinator. Coach Jones is currently interviewing for both the quarterbacks and defensive backs coaching positions.
Spring football practice is scheduled to being on Monday, March 10