CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — After leading Parkland men’s basketball to its first national championship since 1986, Cobras head coach John Bowler is set to get back into Division One coaching, according to a recent report.
Bowler will be hired as an assistant coach at his alma mater Eastern Michigan, according to CBS Sports’ college basketball insider Jon Rothstein:
Source: Eastern Michigan's Billy Donlon will hire alum and Parkland College (JUCO) head coach John Bowler as an assistant.
The Chicago native spent four seasons in Champaign, leading the Cobras to two national championship game appearances, including a runner-up finish in 2025, followed by a win in the national title game in 2026 as an 11-seed.
Bowler played four seasons of college basketball at Eastern Michigan from 2002-05, where he scored over 1,400 career points.
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com.