Parkland's Bowler to take assistant coach job at Eastern Michigan

Cobras head coach led team to national championship in 2026 after runner-up finish in 2025

Apr. 11, 2026 at 6:37am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the chaotic action of a college basketball game, with overlapping planes of navy, green, and orange conveying the energy and intensity of the sport.Bowler's transition from junior college to Division I coaching marks a new chapter in his basketball career.Champaign Today

John Bowler, the head coach of the Parkland College men's basketball team, is set to become an assistant coach at his alma mater Eastern Michigan University, according to a report from CBS Sports' college basketball insider Jon Rothstein. Bowler led Parkland to its first national championship since 1986 this past season after the team's runner-up finish in 2025.

Why it matters

Bowler's move from the junior college ranks back to Division I coaching represents an opportunity for him to return to his roots and potentially position himself for a future head coaching job at the highest level of college basketball. His success at the JUCO level has earned him this chance to join the staff of Eastern Michigan, where he was a standout player in the early 2000s.

The details

In four seasons as Parkland's head coach, Bowler led the Cobras to two national championship game appearances, including a title win in 2026 as an 11-seed. The Chicago native played four years of college basketball at Eastern Michigan from 2002-05, scoring over 1,400 career points for the Eagles.

  • Bowler spent four seasons as the head coach of the Parkland College men's basketball team.
  • Parkland won the national championship in 2026 after finishing as the runner-up in 2025.

The players

John Bowler

The former head coach of the Parkland College men's basketball team, who is set to become an assistant coach at his alma mater Eastern Michigan University.

Eastern Michigan University

The Division I college where Bowler played basketball from 2002-05 and is now returning to as an assistant coach.

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What they’re saying

“Eastern Michigan's Billy Donlon will hire alum and Parkland College (JUCO) head coach John Bowler as an assistant.”

— Jon Rothstein, CBS Sports college basketball insider

What’s next

Bowler is expected to officially join the Eastern Michigan coaching staff in the coming weeks as the team prepares for the upcoming 2026-27 season.

The takeaway

Bowler's move from the junior college ranks back to Division I basketball represents an opportunity for him to leverage his recent success at Parkland into a chance to potentially work his way up the coaching ranks and land a future head coaching job at the highest level of college basketball.