Cross Country Coaching Staff

Lynn Bowen (school bio)
Head Coach

Lynn Bowen, 60, has directed the cross country team and the women's track teams since the 1999-2000 season. Prior to his involvement with the track and cross country teams, he was the head women's basketball coach for 16 years. Bowen ended his basketball coaching career after the 1998-99 campaign with a 292-202 record. Bowen was also the head softball coach for three seasons (1991-93). In addition to coaching the track and cross country teams, Bowen is an associate professor in the Physical Education, Recreation and Exercise Science Department.

A 1972 Evangel graduate, Bowen was a standout soccer player for the Crusaders, earning four letters in the sport. He also participated one year on the Evangel baseball team. Following his graduation from Evangel, Bowen taught and coached at Fair Grove (Missouri) High School for nine years. During that time he was the head coach for all sports at the junior high level and was the head women's varsity basketball coach for two seasons. Bowen also assisted on the Fair Grove football team for six years. He earned his master's degree from Southwest Missouri State University in 1982.

Bowen was hired at Evangel in 1983 as the assistant women's basketball coach to then-head coach Dr. David Stair. Bowen was promoted to the head coaching job for the 1984-85 season. Prior to coming to Evangel as a full-time employee, Bowen stepped in during the 1980-81 women's season and guided the team to an 18-8 record for Stair, who was working on his doctorate. Bowen's 1985-86 women's basketball team won the NCCAA Division I national championship. It was the first national championship won by an Evangel athletic team (Evangel is no longer a NCCAA member). His 1995-96 squad advanced to the final four of the NAIA II national tournament and finished with a 33-5 record. Another coaching highlight for Bowen was his 1993-94 squad's appearance in the round of 16 at the NAIA II national tournament.

While handling the head basketball coaching duties, Bowen served as the NAIA District 16 basketball chair for five years (1987-92) and was a national NAIA II rater for three years (1994-96, 1998-99).

Bowen and his wife, Jan (also a 1973 Evangel graduate), have two children. Their daughter, Tara, is a 1999 Evangel graduate and their son, Tyler, graduated from Evangel in 2002.

To contact coach Bowen, call (417) 865-2815, ext. 7359 or email.