Bowser Set to Lead TU Men’s Lacrosse Program, Steps Down as Softball Coach
UPLAND, Ind. – Taylor University and Athletics Director, Kyle Gould, announced on Thursday that Brad Bowser had resigned his post as the head coach of TU softball to assume the same role with TU’s first-year men’s lacrosse program.
“While this is a unique situation, I know of nobody better equipped to take on the challenge of building a program than Brad Bowser,” stated Gould. “He has been involved in college athletics and student development in many different roles and has been incredibly successful in each of them. I have no doubt he will build this program the right way and make Taylor University a destination spot for Christian kids who are committed to lacrosse. Our whole department looks forward to supporting Brad in this new endeavor.”
Bowser ends his eight-year tenure at the helm of the softball program to take over the men’s lacrosse head coaching duties from Jared Nies, who resigned from that role after working to prepare the program for its inaugural varsity campaign in the upcoming 2018-2019 year.
“I am excited to be a part of the men’s lacrosse program at Taylor,” said Bowser. “I look forward to the challenges and successes that come with building a new program and developing a team that competes at the highest level.”
Bowser is no stranger to the sport of men’s lacrosse, having coached Taylor’s club team during his first year in Upland prior to joining the softball coaching staff. Bowser also boasts experience in finding success with new programs, after breaking 16 school records in two seasons as the head softball coach with LeTourneau University’s young program prior to coming on board at TU.
During Bowser’s eight years as head coach of the Taylor softball program, the Trojans also reached new heights while developing into a perennial power within the Crossroads League. Bowser departs as the winningest coach in program history with 212 wins to 139 losses and after leading TU to its only NAIA National Championship appearances in 2014 and 2017.
In addition to rewriting the record books under Bowser’s watch, Taylor posted winning records with at least 32 victories in four of the last five seasons after having never logged consecutive years with winning records prior to the arrival of Bowser.
During the past five years, Taylor went 176-94 overall for a .652 winning percentage and pushed that clip to .682 in league play with a 116-54 mark. The on-field success led to the program’s only Crossroads League Championship in program history in 2014 and produced the only NAIA All-American honors for Taylor in softball, with Lauren Ehle, Alex Lovelace and Davis Carter all taking home that honor within the past five seasons.
“I have been blessed to be around a great group of young women who are also great softball players,” added Bowser. “The players and coaches that I have worked with over the past eight years and their dedication to TU softball have helped make this program into a winning tradition. I want to say thanks to all the players, coaches and families.”
Bowser will now set his sights on building a similar foundation of success with the Taylor men’s lacrosse program, which is set to embark on its first varsity collegiate campaign in the spring of 2019.
A national search for the next TU softball head coach will begin immediately.