Tom Bowen (athletic director)
| Sport(s) | Football |
|---|---|
| Current position | |
| Title | Athletic director |
| Team | Memphis |
| Conference | The American |
| Biographical details | |
| Born |
May 27, 1961 Denver, Colorado |
| Alma mater | University of Notre Dame |
| Administrative career (AD unless noted) | |
| 1987–1995 | De La Salle HS (CA) |
| 1996–2000 | Saint Mary's (CA) (assoc. AD) |
| 2000 | Saint Mary's (CA) (interim AD) |
| 2000–2002 | California (assoc. AD) |
| 2004–2012 | San Jose State |
| 2012–present | Memphis |
Thomas Michael Bowen (born May 27, 1961) is an American sports executive. He currently serves as the athletic director at the University of Memphis, a position he has held since 2012. Bowen held the same position at San Jose State University from 2004 to 2012. He previously worked in the front office for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL).
Early life and education
Bowen was born Denver, Colorado and spent his childhood and Stone Mountain, Georgia and San Francisco, California.[1] He played one year of college football at the University of San Diego, before transferring to the University of Notre Dame and studying for the Catholic priesthood.[1]
Career
Bowen began his career as a high school football coach in Colorado Springs, Colorado. In 1987, he moved to Concord, California to become athletic director at De La Salle High School, a Catholic secondary school.[1] His role in De La Salle's winning tradition of 151 football victories in 12 years attracted the attention of professional sports administrators, and he accepted an executive position as director of community affairs in the front office of the NFL's San Francisco 49ers, later becoming the executive director of the 49ers Foundation. After three years with the 49ers, and with the endorsement of the 49ers' former head coach and general manager, Bill Walsh, Bowen accepted the athletic director job at San Jose State University, overseeing the San Jose State Spartans intercollegiate sports program for eight years from 2004 to 2012. Bowen was credited with the improved performance of the San Jose State Spartans sports teams and for the improvement of the San Jose State athletic facilities.[2]
In 2012, he became the athletic director for the University of Memphis, where he oversaw the transition of the Memphis Tigers sports program from Conference USA to the new American Athletic Conference. His Memphis contract was extended through June 2019 in 2015,[3] after he had been rumored to be a sought-after candidate for other NCAA Division I athletic director positions.[4] At the time of his extension, Bowen was praised for leading the $40 million capital upgrade campaign of Memphis' athletic facilities and for the improved academic performance of Memphis Tigers athletes during his tenure.[5]
References
- 1 2 3 Frank Murtaugh, "Tom Bowen, University of Memphis Athletic Director," Inside Memphis Business (June 2014). Retrieved November 2, 2015.
- ↑ "Director of Athletics: Thomas Bowen". San Jose State University. Archived from the original on May 5, 2012.
- ↑ Associated Press, "Memphis athletic director Tom Bowen gets 2-year extension," Fox Sports (October 8, 2015). Retrieved November 2, 2015.
- ↑ Phil Stukenborg, "Rudd: Tom Bowen to remain University of Memphis athletic director," The Commercial Appeal (April 12, 2015). Retrieved November 2, 2015.
- ↑ "University Of Memphis Extends Contract Of Athletic Director Tom Bowen," MyFoxMemphis (October 8, 2015). Retrieved November 2, 2015.