Sean Bowers
Encyclopedia
Sean Bowers is a retired U.S. soccer defender
. He spent most of his career playing indoor soccer, earning the 1992 NPSL Rookie of the Year, four-time Defender of the Year and a six-time first team All Star in four different indoor leagues. He also played four seasons with the Kansas City Wizards
in Major League Soccer
. He currently plays for the San Diego Sockers of the Professional Arena Soccer League
.
where he played his youth soccer with the San Diego Nomads. He also played goalkeeper
at Mira Mesa High School where he was two-time All City. Following high school, he attended Miramar College for two years before finishing college at Quincy University
in Quincy, Illinois
. He played soccer at both Miramar and Quincy. In 1990, Bowers led Quincy in scoring, being name the team MVP. He graduated in 1991 with a bachelor’s degree in political science.
(MISL). While he played in the Sockers season opener, at some point he moved to the Detroit Rockers
of the National Professional Soccer League (NPSL). He was selected as the NPSL Rookie of the Year. He remained with the Rockers until 1995, winning 1994 and 1995 Defender of the Year honors. In addition to playing with the Rockers in 1993, Bowers also played a single season with the Sacramento Knights
of the Continental Indoor Soccer League
(CISL), a summer indoor league. He was named CISL Defender of the Year. In 1995 and 1996, he returned to the CISL, this time with the Anaheim Splash
. The Kansas City Wiz of the outdoor Major League Soccer
selected Bowers in the third round (26th overall) in the 1996 MLS Inaugural Player Draft
. He played four season with the Wizards, serving as the team captain in 1999. However, he continued to play indoor soccer, returning to the Detroit Rockers
in 1997. He played with the Rockers until 2001, when the team folded. The Baltimore Blast
selected Bowers in the dispersal draft. That summer, the NPSL also gave way to the new Major Indoor Soccer League
(MISL). Bowers spent two season with the Blast, winning the 2003 league championship with them. July 16, 2003, the Blast traded Bowers to the San Diego Sockers in exchange for Carlos Farias
and the first and second picks in the 2003 Amateur Draft. He played thirty-three games with the Sockers in 2003-2005, but only five games the next season before the Sockers folded. Rather than pursuing his playing career further, Bowers elected to retire, settle in his hometown and pursue a coaching career. In 2009, he joined the San Diego Sockers of the Professional Arena Soccer League
.
team. Two years later, the team took third place in the Futsal Mundialito
. He earned a total of thirty-six caps, scoring five goals, with the U.S. from 1996 to 2004.
women’s soccer team. This was the start of his coaching career. Bowers began coaching on the professional level with the Detroit Rockers
in 2000-2001. That season, he served as an assistant coach in addition to playing. In 2001, he became the head coach with the Detroit Rocker Hawks, winners of the 2001 USASA
Women's U.S. Open Cup. In 2002, he became the interim head coach of the Baltimore Blast
. At the time, the Blast were at the bottom of the standings. Bowers took them into the playoffs and the Blast ended up winning the MISL championship that season. In 2003, the Blast traded Bowers to the San Diego Sockers. When Bowers arrived in southern California, he became an assistant coach with the California Baptist University
women’s team from 2003 to 2005. He was elevated to the position of head coach in 2006, taking them to an end of season ranking of ninth in the NAIA
. He also was named the head coach of the San Diego SeaLions of the Women's Premier Soccer League
(WPSL) in 2006. That year the SeaLions went to the WPSL semifinals. On March 27, 2007, Miramar College announced the creation of a women’s soccer team with Bowers as its coach.
Defender of the Year
First Team All Star
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
. He spent most of his career playing indoor soccer, earning the 1992 NPSL Rookie of the Year, four-time Defender of the Year and a six-time first team All Star in four different indoor leagues. He also played four seasons with the Kansas City Wizards
Kansas City Wizards
Sporting Kansas City is an American professional soccer club based in Kansas City, Kansas that competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States of America and Canada...
in Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
. He currently plays for the San Diego Sockers of the Professional Arena Soccer League
Professional Arena Soccer League
The Professional Arena Soccer League is an North American indoor soccer league recognized by FIFRA ....
.
High school and college
Bowers grew up in San Diego, CaliforniaSan Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
where he played his youth soccer with the San Diego Nomads. He also played goalkeeper
Goalkeeper (football)
In association football, the goalkeeper occupies a position that represents the last line of defence between the opponent's offence and his own team's goal. The primary role of the goalkeeper is to defend his team's goal and prevent the opposition from scoring a goal...
at Mira Mesa High School where he was two-time All City. Following high school, he attended Miramar College for two years before finishing college at Quincy University
Quincy University
Quincy University a private liberal arts Catholic university in the Franciscan tradition. It is located in Quincy, Illinois and currently enrolls around 1,300 students.-History:...
in Quincy, Illinois
Quincy, Illinois
Quincy, known as Illinois' "Gem City," is a river city along the Mississippi River and the county seat of Adams County. As of the 2010 census the city held a population of 40,633. The city anchors its own micropolitan area and is the economic and regional hub of West-central Illinois, catering a...
. He played soccer at both Miramar and Quincy. In 1990, Bowers led Quincy in scoring, being name the team MVP. He graduated in 1991 with a bachelor’s degree in political science.
Player
In 1991, Bowers signed with the San Diego Sockers of the Major Indoor Soccer LeagueMajor Soccer League
The Major Indoor Soccer League, known in its final two seasons as the Major Soccer League, was an indoor soccer league in the USA from 1978 to 1992. After the folding of the North American Soccer League in 1984, the MISL was the Division I soccer league for the United States...
(MISL). While he played in the Sockers season opener, at some point he moved to the Detroit Rockers
Detroit Rockers
The Detroit Rockers were an indoor soccer team in the National Professional Soccer League from 1990 to 2001. They played in Joe Louis Arena and Cobo Arena in downtown Detroit, Michigan as well as The Palace of Auburn Hills and Compuware Sports Arena in the suburbs...
of the National Professional Soccer League (NPSL). He was selected as the NPSL Rookie of the Year. He remained with the Rockers until 1995, winning 1994 and 1995 Defender of the Year honors. In addition to playing with the Rockers in 1993, Bowers also played a single season with the Sacramento Knights
Sacramento Knights
Sacramento Knights were an indoor soccer team that played from 1993 to 2001 in ARCO Arena and were owned by the NBA's Sacramento Kings. The team played in the Continental Indoor Soccer League from 1993 to 1997. The team then moved to the World Indoor Soccer League in 1998 after the CISL folded...
of the Continental Indoor Soccer League
Continental Indoor Soccer League
The Continental Indoor Soccer League was an indoor soccer league that played from 1993 to 1997.-History:When the Major Soccer League folded in the summer of 1992, two of its former teams joined a group of hockey and basketball arena owners led by Ron Weinstein who wanted to create a league to...
(CISL), a summer indoor league. He was named CISL Defender of the Year. In 1995 and 1996, he returned to the CISL, this time with the Anaheim Splash
Anaheim Splash
The Anaheim Splash was a U.S. indoor soccer team that played in the Continental Indoor Soccer League . It was founded in 1992 as the Los Angeles United, but was sold after the season. The new ownership moved the team to Anaheim, California and renamed it the Anaheim Splash...
. The Kansas City Wiz of the outdoor Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
selected Bowers in the third round (26th overall) in the 1996 MLS Inaugural Player Draft
1996 MLS Inaugural Player Draft
The MLS Inaugural Player Draft, held before Major League Soccer's initial 1996 season, distributed players who had already graduated from college to the league's ten inaugural teams. The draft occurred on February 6 and 7, 1996...
. He played four season with the Wizards, serving as the team captain in 1999. However, he continued to play indoor soccer, returning to the Detroit Rockers
Detroit Rockers
The Detroit Rockers were an indoor soccer team in the National Professional Soccer League from 1990 to 2001. They played in Joe Louis Arena and Cobo Arena in downtown Detroit, Michigan as well as The Palace of Auburn Hills and Compuware Sports Arena in the suburbs...
in 1997. He played with the Rockers until 2001, when the team folded. The Baltimore Blast
Baltimore Blast (current)
Baltimore Blast is an American professional indoor soccer team based in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. Founded in 1992, the team plays in the Major Indoor Soccer League....
selected Bowers in the dispersal draft. That summer, the NPSL also gave way to the new Major Indoor Soccer League
Major Indoor Soccer League (2001–2008)
The Major Indoor Soccer League was the top professional indoor soccer league in the USA. The league was a member of both the United States Soccer Federation and FIFA. The MISL had replaced the NPSL which folded in 2001. According to MISL.net, the league has ceased operations as of May 31, 2008...
(MISL). Bowers spent two season with the Blast, winning the 2003 league championship with them. July 16, 2003, the Blast traded Bowers to the San Diego Sockers in exchange for Carlos Farias
Carlos Farias
Carlos “Chile” Farias is a Chilean soccer forward who has spent his entire professional career in the United States. Over the years, he has played in five indoor and outdoor leagues, including Major League Soccer...
and the first and second picks in the 2003 Amateur Draft. He played thirty-three games with the Sockers in 2003-2005, but only five games the next season before the Sockers folded. Rather than pursuing his playing career further, Bowers elected to retire, settle in his hometown and pursue a coaching career. In 2009, he joined the San Diego Sockers of the Professional Arena Soccer League
Professional Arena Soccer League
The Professional Arena Soccer League is an North American indoor soccer league recognized by FIFRA ....
.
Futsal
Beginning in 1996, Bowers became a regular part of the U.S. national futsalFutsal
Futsal is a variant of association football that is played on a smaller pitch and mainly played indoors. Its name is a portmanteau of the Portuguese futebol de salão and the Spanish fútbol de salón , which can be translated as "hall football" or "indoor football"...
team. Two years later, the team took third place in the Futsal Mundialito
Futsal Mundialito
The Futsal Mundialito is a futsal competition of the same kind of the FIFA Futsal World Cup but with invited nations. It was first held in 1994.-Results:...
. He earned a total of thirty-six caps, scoring five goals, with the U.S. from 1996 to 2004.
Coaching
In 1999, Bowers became an assistant coach with William Jewell CollegeWilliam Jewell College women's soccer
The William Jewell Cardinals women's soccer team represents William Jewell College and competes in the Great Lakes Valley Conference of NCAA Division II...
women’s soccer team. This was the start of his coaching career. Bowers began coaching on the professional level with the Detroit Rockers
Detroit Rockers
The Detroit Rockers were an indoor soccer team in the National Professional Soccer League from 1990 to 2001. They played in Joe Louis Arena and Cobo Arena in downtown Detroit, Michigan as well as The Palace of Auburn Hills and Compuware Sports Arena in the suburbs...
in 2000-2001. That season, he served as an assistant coach in addition to playing. In 2001, he became the head coach with the Detroit Rocker Hawks, winners of the 2001 USASA
USASA
The United States Adult Soccer Association is a national organization and sanctioning body for amateur soccer in the United States...
Women's U.S. Open Cup. In 2002, he became the interim head coach of the Baltimore Blast
Baltimore Blast (current)
Baltimore Blast is an American professional indoor soccer team based in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. Founded in 1992, the team plays in the Major Indoor Soccer League....
. At the time, the Blast were at the bottom of the standings. Bowers took them into the playoffs and the Blast ended up winning the MISL championship that season. In 2003, the Blast traded Bowers to the San Diego Sockers. When Bowers arrived in southern California, he became an assistant coach with the California Baptist University
California Baptist University
California Baptist University is a private, Christian, liberal arts university located in Riverside, California, United States. Originally founded in 1950 as California Baptist College, it is controlled by the California Southern Baptist Convention, an organization affiliated with the Southern...
women’s team from 2003 to 2005. He was elevated to the position of head coach in 2006, taking them to an end of season ranking of ninth in the NAIA
National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics is an athletic association that organizes college and university-level athletic programs. Membership in the NAIA consists of smaller colleges and universities across the United States. The NAIA allows colleges and universities outside the USA...
. He also was named the head coach of the San Diego SeaLions of the Women's Premier Soccer League
Women's Premier Soccer League
The Women's Premier Soccer League is a national women's soccer league in the United States and Puerto Rico, and is on the 2nd level of women's soccer in the United States soccer pyramid, alongside the W-League and below Women's Professional Soccer....
(WPSL) in 2006. That year the SeaLions went to the WPSL semifinals. On March 27, 2007, Miramar College announced the creation of a women’s soccer team with Bowers as its coach.
Honors
Rookie of the Year- NPSL: 1991-1992
Defender of the Year
- NPSL: 1994, 1995
- CISL: 1993
- MISL II: 2002
First Team All Star
- NPSL: 1993, 1995
- CISL: 1993, 1995
- MISL II: 2002, 2003