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NAPLES--For the past 26 years, Naples Lely High School basketball players, parents, and fans have all had the pleasure of watching the charismatic Don Stewart dawn the sidelines and the results have been good. Last week though, Coach Stewart finalized his decision to step away from the sidelines to spend more time with his family. Well, the Lely staff made sure to find a solid replacement in quick fashion to hopefully have as smooth a transition as possible by hiring Golden Gate High School assistant and junior varsity head coach Ryan Bowen, who currently teaches Exceptional Student Education and will teach in the same department at Lely starting next fall.
Many of you out there have probably never had the chance to meet Coach Bowen, but I have personally had the pleasure of getting to know him over the past couple years while working camps around the state and through covering the local high school scene. Coach Bowen brings with him a very organized, charismatic, and passionate approach to the game of basketball and to working with kids. This may be his first head coaching position on the varsity level but he has had success in all of his past experiences and remains open-minded about how he will approach his new position.
He also realizes that to follow in the foot steps of such a successful and respected coach like Don Stewart was, that there will be pressure, but also some advantages as well.
"This is a great opportunity to continue a tradition that was started by Coach Stewart. I think to go into Lely and change everything is a bad idea. My plan is to go in with an open mind and talk to coach Stewart and tap his wealth of knowledge and take his advice and add my own wrinkles into it," said Bowen on Thursday after learning the job was officially his.
Like mentioned above, Bowen brings with him a track record of successful years as a coach. Before moving to Florida, he coached in New York at Spencer-Van Etten High School where he led their junior varsity team to a 17-2 record and the IAC Division 2 title. While in New York, he also worked with the Elmira Express travel basketball team which allowed him to coach players such as Jeff Foote, who was named the Ivy League Defensive Player of the Year in 08-09, attending Cornell University. Upon moving to Florida he took a volunteer position coaching at Community School of Naples under then head coach Bill Carufe in 2005-06. From there he took the head junior varsity coaching position at Golden Gate High School in 2006. His overall record with the team over the past 3 years is 40-17, including a 17-1 mark in 2007-08 in only his second year. During his time at Golden Gate he has also been an integral part in assisting with the varsity squad that has been to the Regional Playoffs each of his three years with the school, including a District Championship in 2007-08 and two District Runner-Up finishes.
In addition to his high school coaching duties Ryan has worked at summer camps at Syracuse University and Cornell University, as well as been the Director of Titan Academy and Assistant Director of Naples Futures Stars. Ryan is also currently the head coach for the SWFL Select 16-Under travel team that will compete against top notch competition from around the state and country this spring/summer. This should just add to the experience he already possesses with the opportunity to work with some of the top players from the Bradenton through Naples area.
There will be challenges of course, as Lely went 19-8 last season including winning the 4A District 12 title before losing to Bartow in the Regional Final but they lose nine players to graduation, including three starters. However the Trojans do return second leading scorer Zach Hornsby. Bowen will remain positive as always and will no doubt look at this as an opportunity to continue to grow and learn as a basketball coach in a great basketball and school environment. Join us in welcoming Coach Bowen and wishing him Good Luck in the future.
Coach Bowen also wanted to make note, "I could never do this without the support of my family and friends and
most of all my wife Marianne."
Meet Ryan Bowen, the New Head Coach at Naples Lely High School
April 2, 2009
Aaron Seybert
SWFLHoops.com
