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Center ISD hires Barry Bowman to be athletic director/head football coach

New Center ISD Athletic Director and Head Football Coach Barry Bowman (center) with CISD Board of Trustees' President James Greer (left) and CISD Superintendent Dr. James Hockenberry was welcomed to the Roughrider Family after his hiring Fridaiy afternoon. He will begin his duties at CISD Feb. 2.

 

Center ISD Board of Trustees voted to hire a seasoned and successful coach to be the new athletic director and head football coach during a special meeting Friday afternoon.

 

Barry Bowman, currently assistant football coach at Pine Tree ISD in Longview will be joining the Roughrider family starting Feb. 2.

 

Coach Bowman has 26 years experience, including consecutive state football championships at Daingerfield ISD from 2008 to 2010, in addition to a state track and field championship.

 

He’s been recognized for multiple state and regional “coach of the year” honors, including to A.P. Coach of the Year in 2008 and 2010.

 

The CISD AD/head football coach opening drew some 128 applications. Dr. Hockenberry and Center ISD Board of Trustees' President James Greer both thanked the 12-member AD/head football Coach Search Committee for their deligient work in the selection process.

 

According to Center ISD Superintendent Dr. James Hockenberry, “Coach Bowman came to the top immediately and we’re excited to have him as member of the Roughrider Family.”

 

“Coach Bowman believes in a total program for both girls and boys”,  Dr. Hockenberry said. “He places a strong emphasis on middle school programs and expects success for both girls and boy student athletes.”

 

Coach Bowman commented, “I believe that one of my greatest strengths is building a relationship with the kids. I will love and treat kids like they live in my house.”

 

He added, “X’s and O’s are important, but without a genuine relationship, I don’t believe you can be successful. If we build relationships with kids and do it the right way, the scoreboard will eventually take care of itself.”

 

Coach Bowman is a Longview native, and he and his wife, Stephanie have been married 29 years.

 

They have three daughters, two grown, and one that’s a 10th grader. His bio states he played college football at Louisiana Tech and spent a short-time in the NFL as a punter for St. Louis and Seattle. He’s a 1989 SFA graduate.

 

Coach Bowman had a 77-24 record as a head coach, and is 19-2 in the playoffs.

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