USF Athletic Hall of Fame
Director of Athletics (1966-82)
There is no doubt that Bowers had a lasting impact on the University of South Florida, and in particular, the USF Athletics Department.
Bowers was the leader that made the push for intercollegiate athletics at the university, working to establish the Sun Belt Conference and several USF athletic facilities, including the Sun Dome (now called the Yuengling Center). Serving as director of athletics from 1966-82, Bowers also helped establish USF’s basketball program and introduced soccer as the Bulls’ first sport after serving as a member of the USF physical education department from 1963-66.
The retired U.S. Army captain and former basketball player for the University of Tennessee also made a big hiring in 1976 by adding Hall of Fame pitcher Robin Roberts as USF’s baseball coach. Roberts won 262 games for the Bulls from 1977-85 and the four-time Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year led USF to two regular season league titles.
Upon his resignation as AD, Bowers served as an associate dean, professor and director of development for the USF College of Business Administration from 1982 until his retirement in 2003. Bowers passed away on Nov. 29, 2007, but his legacy lives on in Green and Gold spirit.
Bowers was inducted into the USF Athletics Hall of Fame with the first class in 2009.
