Issue link: http://catalog.e-digitaleditions.com/i/133852
Assisting the Coach-of-the-Year G By Darren Miller eorge Karl of the Denver Nuggets was named NBA Coach to the Year on May 8, and a piece of the Hawkeye family provided an assist. Thanks to "utility" assistant coach Ryan Bowen, the Nuggets overcame an 11-12 start and finished the regular season with a 57-25 record and secured the third seed in the Western Conference. Bowen lettered for the University of Iowa men's basketball team from 1995-98 and served as video coordinator and administrative assistant for the Hawkeyes from May 2010 to December 2011. "To piece it together like we did and to still win a franchise-record 57 games and end up with the home court (in the playoffs) was a lot of fun," Bowen said. "That's why you see coach Karl getting the coach of the year, because of the way we pieced things together." Houston, New Orleans, and Oklahoma City. During Bowen's 10-year career (he played one game for the Thunder in 2009), he scored 1,319 points with 1,060 rebounds, and 250 assists. Bowen played five seasons with the Nuggets, and Karl has coached nine seasons in Denver. But Bowen never played for Karl. "I have stayed in touch with a lot of people in Denver from when I played," Bowen said. "When an opening came up, he talked to the trainer and the equipment manager, and asked about different former players he knew were interested in coaching. I think they all brought up my name and that's why he initially called me, because of the recommendations from the people who were still there." The next logical step in the coaching progression for Bowen is to become an assistant on the "front of the bench," without scouting responsibilities. A return to the college game is not out of the question. Denver's 38-3 home record was best in the NBA. The Nuggets won their final 23 regular-season games at the Pepsi Center and owned a 24-4 record after the All-Star "I'm enjoying my time here, but I enjoyed my time in break. Their season came to an end with a 92-88 loss Iowa City as well," Bowen said. "I love the college game; at Golden State on May 2; the Warriors took the firstI know the NBA game a little bit better, but I wouldn't round playoff series, 4-2. be opposed to returning to college at some point. Right Bowen's title with the Nuggets is assistant coach, but he now I'm enjoying myself and my short-term goals are spends 1/3 of his time as an advance scout. His biggest to get on the front of the bench fulltime for an NBA team as an assistant, as opposed to being behind the role is player development, working with Denver players before and after practice. As an advance scout, bench and doing the scouting. he travels to watch an upcoming opponent play twice "I always leave my options open. You never know when before they take on Denver. He writes a report and the right opportunity will come along. I'm trying to helps with the game plan. grow as quickly as possible and I'm learning every day. I learned a lot when I was at Iowa under coach (Fran) "I get to dabble in everything involved in coaching," McCaffery and I'm learning a lot now. It has been a Bowen said. "It's also a huge plus to do the advance good transition." scouting: It's a good way to learn the league, putting names with all the plays, and getting tendencies from Bowen and his wife, Wendy, live in Highlands the different teams and coaches." Ranch, Colo., with their three children — Isabel (12), As a Hawkeye player, Bowen scored 1,090 points (34th Benjamin (nine) and Zachary (eight). on the all-time list), with 804 rebounds, and a schoolrecord 208 career steals. He was drafted in the second round by the Nuggets in 1999, playing for Denver, 19