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Minnesota State University, Mankato
Minnesota State University, Mankato

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Dean Bowyer

Page address: https://web.mnsu.edu/sports/championshipclub/bowyer.html

Dean Bowyer


Dean

With more than 900 career coaching victories, a passel of conference titles and individual honors, one might expect Minnesota State University, Mankato baseball coach Dean Bowyer to begin showing some signs of slowing down. Don't bet on it. For Bowyer remains as exhuberant and energetic as he always has as he embarks on his 33rd season of coaching collegiate baseball.

As one of the most respected baseball men in the Midwest. Bowyer stands sixth on the NCAA Division II active coaches wins lists with 912 victories. He ranks eighth on the all-time list.

Under Bowyer, MSU baseball teams have played in NCAA post-season competition 18 out of his 27 years at MSU, and have won at least 30 games in 18 out of those same 28 years.

Bowyer has always been able to find the best college talent in Minnesota and surrounding states and nurture it into championship-calibre teams.

During Bowyer's 28-year tenure as MSU's coach, the Mavericks have captured a total of 19 league championships - three when MSU was in the Northern Intercollegiate Conference (NIC) and an incredible 16
in the North Central. As mentioned, MSU has made it to the NCAA post-season party 18 times under Bowyer, and three of those teams made it all the way to the NCAA Division II College World Series. The most recent CWS trip came in 1986 when the Mavericks racked up a 35-15 won-loss mark and finished fourth at the Series. Other CWS teams for MSU and Bowyer were in 1980, when the Mavericks won a school-record 36 games and took third, and in 1979, when MSU went 26-22-1 and was ranked seventh in the nation.

Bowyer's success has not been limited to developing talented teams - he also develops the talent. In addition to two All-America selections, many all-region and all-conference picks, 39 Bowyer-produced players have signed professional contracts. The 2002 team had an unprecedented four players (Adam Steen, Aaron Heitzman, Eric Lonnquist and Jason Cierlik) that were drafted by major league teams and another (Chris Rupert) signed a free agent deal. Two members of the "Bowyer Brood" have advanced all the way to the major leagues. Todd Revenig, who was drafted and signed with Oakland in 1990, debuted with the parent A's in 1992 and reliever Gary Mielke had a stint with the Texas
Rangers.

Backgrounding Dean Bowyer

Dean Bowyer received his B.S. degree in physical education and elementary education from Mayville State in 1966 and his Master's from MSU in 1971. Prior to working on his master's, Bowyer coached basketball and football at Barnesville, Appleton, and Benson High Schools.

He also played professionally in the Baltimore Orioles organization for three seasons and was an all-conference and all-district football player at Mayville State, where he also played baseball and basketball. Bowyer was inducted into the Mayville State Athletic Hall of Fame in 1984 and built a 74-51 record in four years as head coach at Minot State prior to joining MSU in 1977. Bowyer has been named NCC Coach of the Year nine times during his career and in addition to running his own baseball camps during the summer, has served as a consultant at several
clinics.

The Ada, Minn., native and his wife, Cheri, have two children, Shane (wife Laura, son Austin, daughter Gabrielle) and Deana (husband Jerry, son Jett, daughter Jersey).

Dean Bowyer was inducted into Hall of Fame !!!!

ABCA Homepage
Click here to read article.


Dean Bowyer Honor List

1975 NDCAC Coach of the Year
1976 NDCAC Coach of the Year

1982 NCC Coach of the Year
1983 NCC Coach of the Year
1985 NCC Coach of the Year
1986 NCC Coach of the Year
1988 NCC Coach of the Year
1989 NCC Coach of the Year
1990 NCC Coach of the Year
1997 NCC Coach of the Year
1999 NCC Coach of the Year

1976 NAIA Region Coach of the Year
1979 NCAA Midwest Region Coach of the Year
1980 NCAA Midwest Region Coach of the Year
1986 NCAA Midwest Region Coach of the Year


Dean Bowyer Plaque

This piece is located near the sitting area of baseball stadium

1000th Win

1000th Win!

Here's a picture for Coach Bowyer's 1000th Career Win at MNSU!

1000th Win

1000th career win of Coach Bowyer


1000th Win Banquet

Dean Bowyers' Banquet took place this past weekend and many people attended. Here is a picture of the plaque he was awarded and here is a copy of the program from the banquet. Enjoy!


Coach Dean Bowyer Announces Retirement


2007 Championship Picture

Team

Check out the full size.