Football Coaches

Glen Fowles '96

• Head Coach
• (2nd year, 18th year on WU staff, 8-2)
• BA, Willamette University  '96
  
• Sparks 216
• (503) 370-6424 voice
• gfowles@willamette.edu

Glen Fowles is in his second season as the head coach of the Bearcats, but he is not new to the Willamette football program. This is his 18th season on the coaching staff. Prior to joining the coaching staff, he played two seasons as an offensive lineman for the Bearcats.

Fowles previously was Willamette's assistant head coach, offensive coordinator (14 years) and offensive line coach. He also has served as the team’s strength and conditioning coordinator.

“For me, Willamette University is home,” Fowles said. “I have met a lot of great people and made many friends in my time at Willamette. I am a product of Willamette and have a passion for this place that transcends football. At this time, I couldn't imagine anyone else being the head coach of this football team.”

Fowles has coached five offensive linemen who have earned All-America honors a total of eight times. Brandon Bennett was selected All-America three times (2005, 2006 and 2007) and Billy Joe Murray was named All-America twice (2002, 2003).

During his years on the coaching staff, Fowles has helped Willamette achieve a combined record of 112-64 (.636). The Bearcats qualified for the NAIA Division II Playoffs in 1996 and 1997, and competed in the NCAA Division III Playoffs in 1999, 2004 and 2008. Willamette lost in the NAIA national championship game in 1997. Willamette has earned a 61-30 (.670) record in the Northwest Conference over the past 16 seasons.

Fowles was the offensive line coach for the Bearcats in 1996 and 1997, before adding offensive coordinator duties in 1998, when Mark Speckman was promoted to head coach. Fowles was named national Coordinator Coach of the Year in 2008, when Willamette went undefeated during the regular season and finished the year 11-1 after qualifying for the NCAA Division III Playoffs. In 2008, WU set school record with 498 points scored and 69 touchdowns.

Willamette averaged at least 200 rushing yards per game during 13 of the 14 years that Fowles served as the offensive coordinator. The Bearcats ranked in the Top 20 in NCAA Division III 12 times. Last fall, playing one of the most difficult schedules in Division III, the Bearcats averaged 220.9 rushing yards per game to rank 30th out of 239 teams.

A native of Canada, Fowles played American football at Westsyde Secondary School in Kamloops, British Columbia. He attended College of the Siskiyous in Weed, Calif., for two seasons of junior college football. He was recruited in part by Dan Hawkins, who later became Willamette’s head coach. Fowles also spent a medical hardship season at Central Missouri State University in Warrensburg, Mo.

Fowles came to Willamette as a transfer student in 1994 and started two years at offensive tackle. He was named Second Team All-Conference as a junior and was drafted by the Ottawa Roughriders of the Canadian Football League.

He chose to return to WU and was chosen Honorable Mention All-NWC as a senior despite missing half the year with a broken leg. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science from Willamette in 1996. Fowles and his wife, Rochelle have a son, Gavin, age 5, and a daughter, Raegan, 3 years old.

GLEN FOWLES AT WILLAMETTE

* NWC champion ** NWC co-champion
# National playoff berth