The Ave Maria University football program named John Bowers as special teams coordinator in January of 2021. Bowers is in his first season in that position with the Gyrenes.
Bowers was a key part of James Madison University’s rise to prominence on the NCAA FCS level while holding several roles on the Dukes’ staff from 2014-2016, including associate head coach and special teams coordinator. James Madison earned three consecutive playoff appearances during that span, including a 28-14 victory over Youngstown State in the 2016 NCAA FCS National Championship Game. His other collegiate experience includes stops at Western Washington University, Bowling Green State University, Eastern Michigan University, Kent State University, Eastern Illinois University, Eastern Michigan University, Illinois State University (defensive coordinator), and Austin Peay State University (defensive coordinator).
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During his time at Bowling Green, Bowers served under former University of Florida and Ohio State University head coach Urban Meyer, who is now the head coach of the National Football League’s Jacksonville Jaguars. Meyer then called on Bowers again during the 2013 season to join the Ohio State staff as a recruiting assistant, which culminated in a perfect 12-0 record for the Buckeyes. Bowers also helped guide Eastern Illinois to back-to-back Gateway Conference Championships as well as NCAA FCS Playoff appearances in 1995 and 1996.
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Bowers graduated from James Madison University with a Bachelor of Science in Health and Physical Education and followed that with a Master of Science in Education. He is married to his wife Joanne and they have two sons, David and Ross. The Hagerstown, Md., native also lettered in both football and baseball at James Madison.
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