MBU Athletics

Coach Joe Bowden has been with Missouri Baptist since the Fall of 2017 after a one-year stint as the inside linebacker’s coach for the San Francisco 49’ers under Head Coach Chip Kelly.

Prior to his time in the Bay Area, Bowden spent four seasons serving as an assistant linebackers coach for the then St. Louis Rams. Prior to that he coached for three years at the high school level in Oklahoma. He spent nine seasons playing linebacker in the NFL, primarily with the Houston Oilers/ Tennessee Titans. He was a standout in college, earning Big Eight defensive player of the year and All American in 1991.

In 2013, Bowden helped oversee a young St. Louis Rams’ linebacker corps that was highlighted by Alec Ogletree, who led the team in tackles as a rookie (155) and tied for third in the NFL with six forced fumbles. Ogletree and MLB James Laurinaitis started all 16 games, and Laurinaitis enjoyed his fifth-consecutive 100-tackle season.

In his first season in St. Louis, Bowden assisted with a group of linebackers that continually made big plays throughout the season. Both Laurinaitis and Jo-Lonn Dunbar started all 16 games, and Laurinaitis was on the field for every defensive snap. Laurinaitis posted a career high 174 tackles to lead the team, while Dunbar ranked second with 157 and led the team with 23 tackles for loss.