Tom Bowen named San José State University AD



December 20, 2004
SJSUspartans.com

Tom Bowen named San José State University director of athletics

San Jose, Calif.-----Tom Bowen, a fund-raising and community affairs executive for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League, has accepted the position of director of athletics at San José State University. Don W. Kassing, San José State University’s Interim President, made the announcement.

The 43-year-old Bay Area native also has served in athletic administration leadership positions at the University of California, Saint Mary’s College in Moraga, Calif., and De La Salle High School in Concord, Calif.

"Tom brings important and valued experience to us. We’re very pleased he has accepted this important leadership position with San Jose State. His administrative and fund raising skills will be essential components to be competitive in the WAC and to make our athletic program a visible and an important part of the university’s efforts to be distinctive," says Kassing. The interim president also praised the efficiency and work of an eight-person search committee led by Pro Football Hall of Fame member and San Jose State University graduate Bill Walsh.

"San Jose State is a wonderful university academically and athletically and I wanted to be a part of it. This is an opportunity to come to a university that has a long-standing tradition of excellence," says Bowen, who accepted a four-year contract agreement with the university. "With the right leadership, we can build a consistent model of success. Our goal is to encapsulate and build up the alumni, Spartan Foundation, coaching staff, student body, our student-athletes and reach into the community."

Bowen was the director of community affairs and the executive director of the 49ers Foundation for the National Football League franchise. He directed all of the team’s fund-raising activities and was responsible for implementing all alumni and current player participation in the community. The 49ers Foundation raised over $3.0-million in the last two years.

As an assistant and associate director of athletics at the University of California from July 2000 through September 2002, he was responsible for all athletic fundraising. Credited with developing the first comprehensive planned giving program for the Golden Bears, the Athletic Annual Fund realized a $2.7-million increase in donations and contributions during his two years at the Pacific-10 Conference school.

At Saint Mary’s College, he was the director of foundations and corporate relations for the Christian brothers institution from May 1995 to January 1997 before moving accepting an associate director of athletics position at the college. From January 1997 through April 2000, he managed the department’s $5.5-million budget, directed a corporate sponsorship program and interacted with the academic senate, faculty and university personnel on student-athlete issues.

The 1983 graduate of the University of Notre Dame played high school football at Moreau High in Hayward, Calif. He majored in theology/sociology and spent six years studying for the priesthood with the Holy Cross Fathers. Bowen went on to earn a master’s degree in administration/education from the University of San Francisco in 1990.

His first professional experience in athletics was at De La Salle High School. From 1987 through 1995, he held the positions of assistant football coach, director of athletic development and athletics director.

The new San Jose State University director of athletics is a Level 2 certified member of the College Athletic Business Management Association (CABMA), the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), the National Society of Fund Raising Executives and an associate member of the Indiana University School of Philanthropy.

He and his wife, Mia, are the parents of three children. Andrew is six-years-old; Peter, two; and, daughter, McKenna, 11-months. The Bowen family currently resides in Danville, Calif.

Bowen replaces Chuck Bell, who was the university’s athletics director for the last 6.5 years. Bell, now 60-years-old, announced his retirement from the university last month.


we need a new AD, but I bet Reaneu thinks Oakes is doing a hella of a job.