Early High School Athletic Director and Head Coach Brad Bowden has been reassigned according to Early Independent School District Superintendent Brent Koch. Bowden has been employed with EHS for the past three years.
Koch stated Tuesday afternoon that the district has reassigned Bowden to the Early Middle School campus and that the ISD is working out the intricacies of the new position. Koch did not disclose details of the new position; however Bowden’s reassignment was effective Tuesday morning and he will be working on the EMS campus starting Monday, January 14th.
The position of athletic director/head coach is being filled in the interim by Brad Riker, who currently serves the district as the dean of students. Riker does have coaching experience and currently serves as the assistant basketball coach at Early High School.
“Brad Riker will be the interim athletic director by committee,” said Koch. “Both campus principals (EMS & EHS) and myself will work together until a new athletic director is chosen. We will work with Mr. Riker until we get someone in place.”
Koch explained that Riker will still perform his current job as dean of students along with the interim position of AD and head coach. Koch stated that the transition of the assignment and finding a new AD/head coach is a difficult task for the district.“He’s a good man. It’s difficult for the district, the superintendent, Coach Bowden and his family,” said Koch. “He’s been the athletic director and coach for Early High School for three years and we appreciate what he’s been able to do with our program. We appreciate him and his family for the positive impact they have had on the district.”
As an additional staff member at the middle school, Koch explained that Bowden will be an asset.
“He will be an asset on the middle school campus in the capacity that we will use him,” said Koch. “He will benefit our students and provide some flexibility at the middle school.”
The district hopes that the process will go smoothly in finding a new AD and head coach so that the transition can take place this semester, according to Koch.
“We are in a process of preparing the notice of the job vacancy and hope to post it tomorrow. We’ll be well underway this time next week in the process and hope to name someone at the regular board meeting in February,” stated Koch.
The district hopes that a new athletic director can be found and working for the district by March; however Koch explained that it will be up to the new AD how quickly he can make the transition and that a lot depends logistically on where the new AD is moving from.
“We hope to have a new athletic director in place by March so that we can make a seamless transition into the summer,” said Koch. He stated that most districts will work with their coaches who are offered head coaching positions at other districts, but that “everything will have to fall into place when there are families involved.
