John Bowen was at Gannon for only two seasons, but the 6-foot-8 forward made a profound impact in those two years.
As a junior, he was a key member of the 1986-87 team that advanced to the NCAA Division II championship game.
He led the team with an average of 8.0 rebounds per game despite coming off the bench in 25 of the 28 games. He also ranked second on the team with an average of 11.8 ppg.
In the 1987 national title game, Bowen led Gannon with 17 points and eight rebounds, but the Golden Knights lost to Kentucky Wesleyan 92-74 to finish as the Division II national runner-up. That 1986-87 squad was inducted into the Gannon Hall of Fame as a team in 2010.
Bowen was an even bigger force as a senior in 1987-88 when he averaged 15.0 points and 11.8 rebounds per game while helping Gannon go 24-8 and reach the NCAA Division II quarterfinals.
He finished with 688 points in two seasons, and his career average of 9.7 rebounds per game still ranks sixth on Gannon's all-time list.
Bowen was well traveled before reaching Gannon. He was a high school superstar at Warren High School, where he compiled 2,884 points and 2,163 rebounds. He then attended the University of Notre Dame, where he was a member of the 1983-84 Fighting Irish team that advanced to the NIT Finals. He then transferred to William & Mary before coming to Gannon.
After Gannon, Bowen played one year with the Washington Generals, who toured as the Harlem Globetrotters' opponents.
Bowen already is a member of two Halls of Fame, the Metro Erie Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame (2010) and the Warren County Sports Hall of Fame (2020).
He graduated from Gannon in 1989 with a bachelor's degree in education, and in 1994, he earned his master's degree in higher ed administration at West Virginia University. He received his Principal Certificate from Edinboro University in 2004 and his Superintendent Certificate from Gannon in 2005.
He has been a teacher and basketball coach since 1994 and is currently employed by the Erie School District.
