Jay Bowen joined the Chattanooga men's basketball program in July of 2010.  He will assist in all aspects of the program including recruiting, on-the-floor coaching and game preparation.

His impact was immediately felt in a variety of areas.  Not only did the Mocs capture their fourth SoCon North title in seven years under head coach John Shulman, but his recruiting contacts paid off; specifically with the signings of Trey Brown and Xavian Rimmer in the early period.

Bowen had 25 years of coaching experience upon arriving in Chattanooga.  He joins the Mocs with a great reputation as a recruiter as well as coach.

He comes to Chattanooga from the University of Tennessee at Martin where he spent the prior two seasons.  The Skyhawks won the 2009 Ohio Valley Conference regular-season championship, the first such title for the program.  He coached three professional players including Lester Hudson, a second round NBA draft selection of the Boston Celtics.

Before his two seasons at UT Martin, Bowen was the head women's coach at East Texas Baptist University (2007-08) and head boys' coach at Lafayette (Miss.) High School (2004-05).  In between those two head coaching stops, he was the associate head coach for the University of Memphis' women's program.  At the two collegiate programs, he signed two first team all-league performer as well as the Conference USA Newcomer of the Year.

From 2002-2004, he was on staff at Ole Miss with Rod Barnes.  He signed Todd Abernathy who earned SEC Sixth Man of the Year honors for the Rebels.

Bowen spent one season on the bench at Austin Peay the season before heading to Ole Miss.  He was the recruiting coordinator for the Govs signing a class that went on to win two straight OVC titles.

He has two stints as the head coach at East Central Community College in Decatur, Miss.  His first run with ECCC (1989-91) produced the program's best record in 30 years going 21-6 in 1991 earning Area Coach of the Year honors.  His second go around at ECCC was 1998-2001 prior to going to Austin Peay.  Nineteen of his signees signed Division I scholarships in his five seasons heading the program.

From 1996-98, he was the head coach for two seasons at Jackson Academy in Jackson, Miss.  He led the school to the Mississippi State Championship with a 36-2 record in 1997 earning coach of the year accolades.

Bowen worked for five seasons at Georgia State from 1991 through 1996 where he was assistant coach and recruiting coordinator.  He signed five professionals and four future coaches including Rodney Hamilton who went on to become the school's all-time leader in scoring and assists and is the head coach at Indiana Tech.

He got his collegiate start at his alma mater, Christian Brothers (Memphis, Tenn.), beginning with the 1984-85 season.  He was an assistant there through the 1987 season before heading to Armstrong Atlantic State (1987-88).  He spent a year as a graduate assistant at Ole Miss (1988-89) before taking the reins at ECCC.

Bowen is a 1985 graduate of Christian Brothers and earned his master's degree in education from Memphis in 1988.  He and his wife Cristy (Perry) have two daughters, Ashleigh and Katelyn.