Tavares Bowens - Assistant Football Coach - Defensive Line - Football Coaches - University of Northern Colorado Athletics

Tavares Bowens

Title:
Assistant Football Coach - Defensive Line

Tavares Bowens joined the Northern Colorado football staff in February 2020. He has over 10 years of coaching experience.

His most recent stop came at Valor Christian High School with three-time Super Bowl Champion Ed McCaffrey. Bowens help Valor Christian High School to a 24-2 record in two seasons and 5A State CHSAA State Championship in 2018 as the co-defensive line coach alongside two-time Super Bowl Champions Travis Kirske. The Valor defense ranked as one of the best defenses in Colorado history accumulating 65.5 sacks and 183.5 tackles for loss in just two seasons.

Before coaching at Valor Christian, Bowens was at Chaparral High School in Parker, Colorado. He coached under former Northern Colorado Offensive Coordinator and Offensive Line coach Rod Dobbs and current UNC Defensive Coordinator Scott Darnell as the team’s defensive line coach. The Wolverines defense amassed 38 sacks, 108 tackles for loss and 74 QB hurries.

Bowens coached the defensive line for the Colorado Crush of the Indoor Football League under former NFL All-Pro New York Jets Linebacker and Marvin Jones. The Crush defense ranked first in the IFL in tackles and third in fumble recoveries.

He was the head coach and defensive coordinator of the Florence Phantoms of the American Indoor Football League in 2008. Bowens led the Phantoms to its best season in history with a 13-4 record and 2008 AIFA Championship. The Phantoms boasted the topped ranked offense and defense in the AIFL that season. Former Bowling Green MAC Player of the Year and Arena Bowl XXIV Champion QB Omar Jacobs led the Phantoms offense under Bowens, throwing for 3,000 yards and won the AIFA MVP award. The Phantom defense finished with 46 sacks and Bowens was named AIFA Coach of the Year.

Bowens served under now Allen University head coach Teddy Keaton to help the Lakeland Thunderbolts
to their first AIFA Championship. The Thunderbolts had the top-ranked defense with Bownes as the Assistant Defensive Coordinator and Linebacker Coach before taking over the Florence Phantoms. Linebacker and defensive end Terrence Royal went on to sign with the Tampa Bay Storm of the AFL and led them to Arena Bowl XXIII after playing under Bowens.

He was the linebacker and defensive line coach for the Orlando Predators of the Arena Football League in 2005 and 2006 working under former Washington Redskins head coach Jay Gruden. Bowens helped the Predators to a 2006 Southern Conference Championship and advanced to Arena Bowl XX under former Washington Redskins Head Coach Jay Gruden.

From 2000-2006, Bowens coached at the high school level throughout the Central Florida area in Polk County. He coached defensive line, running backs and linebackers developing players that would go on to star at top Division I programs en route to prominent NFL careers including Vince Williams, Mike James, Karl’s Williams and Chauncey Davis.

Bowens attended Saginaw Valley State for college playing for former Minnesota head coach Jerry Kill. He averaged over 6 yards per carry as a fullback. The Cardinals ranked as the best rushing offense in the NCAA Division II ranks.

Bowens has been married 18 years to Kimberly Bowens and they have two children together, Bryce and Kai. Bryce was diagnosed with Autism at the age of 2. The Bowens family volunteers for the Special Olympics and Autism Speaks of Colorado in connection through their Bryce Bears Foundation for Children with Autism.

Bowens is a cousin of former University Florida Gator Safety, Tony Joiner and former Anaheim Angels outfielder, Kenny James. Bowens also is a childhood friend and classmate of NBA Hall of Farmer, Tracy McGrady.