Western Kentucky hires Bowen

KU defensive coordinator Clint Bowen celebrates after a first-half defensive stop against Oklahoma on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2009, at Memorial Stadium.

Former Kansas University assistant football coach Clint Bowen will be named defensive coordinator at Western Kentucky during a press conference today, he confirmed in a text message to the Journal-World on Tuesday.

Bowen, the longest-tenured member of former Kansas coach Mark Mangino’s staff, was one of nine assistants let go following new Kansas coach Turner Gill’s arrival in December.

In nine seasons at KU, Bowen served as coach of the tight ends, running backs, and safeties, as well as special-teams coordinator and co-defensive coordinator, before being promoted to defensive coordinator prior to the 2008 season.

Despite a number of defensive injuries in ’08, the Jayhawks finished 8-5 and beat Minnesota in the Insight Bowl, though the following season proved far less fruitful. The Jayhawks finished just ninth in total defense and 10th in scoring and pass defense in the Big 12 during a 5-7 ’09 campaign that ended with the forced resignation of Mangino and the subsequent removal of his entire coaching staff.

As of Tuesday, all but two former Kansas assistants — co-defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Bill Miller and tight-ends coach/recruiting coordinator Brandon Blaney — had found new homes.

Offensive coordinator Ed Warinner was named offensive line coach at Notre Dame, receivers coach David Beaty and offensive line coach John Reagan joined the staff at Rice (Beaty as offensive coordinator, Reagan as run game coordinator/tight-ends coach), special teams coordinator/running-backs coach Louie Matsakis and defensive line coach Tom Sims have accepted the same positions at Youngstown State (Sims will also serve as assistant head coach) and cornerbacks coach Je’Ney Jackson is expected to be introduced as a member of the Southern Mississippi defensive coaching staff later this week.

Former director of strength and conditioning Chris Dawson will serve in the same capacity at Kansas State.