Joe Bowden

Biography

Coach Bowden Hometown Dallas, Texas College Alcorn State (2004) - B.S. Alcorn State (2006) - M.Ed. Family Wife, Malika, daughters, Sydney and Cheyenne, son, Jaylon Coaching History 2002-04 NFL Europe, Asst. Linebackers Coach 2006-09 Central Oklahoma, Special Teams Coord./Secondary 2011 Mount St. Mary's (Okla.), Co-Defensive Coord./Defensive Backs 2012 Santa Fe High School (Okla.), Defensive Backs 2012-15 St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams, Asst. Special Teams 2016-17 San Francisco 49ers, Inside Linebackers 2017-20 Missouri Baptist, Defensive Coordinator 2021-24 Tennessee State, Assistant HC/Linebackers 2025 Bowling Green, Linebackers 2026-present Bowling Green, Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers Joe Bowden joined Eddie George's inaugural BGSU staff in 2025 as the linebackers coach. He was elevated to defensive coordinator in February 2026. Bowden came to BGSU after spending four years at Tennessee State as associate head coach and linebackers coach. In Bowden's first year at BGSU, he oversaw a linebacking corps led by captain Gideon Lampron, a first-team All-MAC honoree who was the only FBS player with 100+ tackles and 15+ TFLs entering bowl season. Lampron finished with 119 total stops and 17.5 TFLs and earned Phil Steele honorable mention All-America honors. Under Bowden’s tutelage in 2024, current BGSU linebacker Sander Ellis had a standout freshman season at Tennessee State with 86 tackles including 15.5 for loss with 2.5 sacks. Because of that, he was named a finalist for the Jer