| By Colby Wilson
Austin Peay State University head men’s basketball coach Dave Loos announced Tuesday that Jay Bowen has been elevated to assistant head coach.
Bowen, who returned to Austin Peay last season for a second time, has more than 30 years’ experience on the sidelines and is in his third tour of duty alongside Loos—the two coached together at Christian Brothers from 1984-87 and again at Austin Peay in 2001-02.
“I’m happy to announce we’ve promoted Jay to assistant head coach,” Loos said. “We know each other well and I feel like we’re on the same page both on the floor and in the business of recruiting.
“This move at this particular time has much to do with the expansion of duties. I’ve added a lot to what Jay’s been handling, in areas that are very time-consuming. So I felt like that (promotion) was in order, and fortunately we were able to do that. This could not have happened without the cooperation of our administration, so I’m appreciative of the support from (athletics director) Ryan Ivey and (university president) Dr. Alisa White.”
Bowen brings a plethora of experience to the role—he’s served at 11 universities, in every role ranging from graduate assistant (Ole Miss, 1988-89) to head coach for both men (East Central Community College) and women’s (East Texas Baptist) programs during his career.
“I got my start years ago with Coach Loos,” Bowen said. “For him to still have this trust and belief in me after all these years means a lot.”
Bowen will serve as the recruiting coordinator, not only going on the road but organizing the entire staff’s scheduled visits and on-campus visits from recruits. He’s been a standout recruiter at every stop in his coaching journey, becoming well-known for sending players to the next level whether from junior college to Division I or from Division I to the pros.
Additionally, he will coordinate all scouting for the Governors, scheduling which coach will have the responsibility for scouting a particular team, and coordinate all community service projects.
Bowen’s second tour of duty at Austin Peay began with a bang, with the Governors capturing the 2015-16 Ohio Valley Conference Tournament Championship, rallying as the No. 8 seed to win four games in four days to take the crown for the fifth time in Loos’ tenure.
A 1984 graduate from Christian Brothers, Bowen received his Master’s in education from Memphis in 1988.
http://letsgopeay.com/news/2016/9/6/mens-basketball-bowen-elevated-to-assistant-head-coach.aspx
