Former Auburn head coach let go from flailing Sun Belt school

A former Auburn football head coach was let go from the flailing Sun Belt school he had won just 10 games for the past three seasons Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
A former Auburn football head coach was let go from the flailing Sun Belt school he had won just 10 games for the past three seasons Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

Former Auburn football head coach Terry Bowden has been fired from his post at Louisiana-Monroe on November 26 following a 10-26 record while in charge of the Warhawks from 2021-2023.

“After a thorough review, we have decided to make a change in the leadership of ULM football,” University of Louisiana-Monroe Director of Athletics John Hartwell said in a ULM press release. “I want to thank Coach Terry Bowden for all he has done over the last three years for our football program and our university.”

As the press release notes, the Warhawks went 5-19 in the Sun Belt during Bowden’s tenure in Monroe. Instead of moving the program forward following a Matt Viator that showed promise before collapsing in 2020 with a 0-10 season, Bowden’s run was starting to send ULM back to that same place.

Fellow fired head coach praised ex-Auburn football head coach Terry Bowden

On September 12, ahead of a Week 3 matchup against ULM, then-Texas A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher, who was infamously fired before the end of the 2023 season, had heavy praise for Bowden; particularly his first season after taking over for Pat Dye in 1993.

“Brilliant guy,” Fisher said of Bowden (h/t On3). “Like I said, in 1993 probably did one of the best coaching jobs in college football history. Ended up winning 20 in a row for a year and a half almost. Very smart guy, was my coach personally. Tremendous guy, loved ball, tremendous competitor, built programs, did everything he did.

“One of the few guys that ever got a law degree while he was a GA, graduated law school while he was GAing which is amazing. Studied in Oxford, England over in England, very smart guy. Loved ball, coached, and was very close with him.”

While Fisher could resurface in the head coaching job market, Bowden may have to settle for analyst roles for a few years following his disappointing tenure in Monroe.