The Wheeling University Women’s Basketball team has announced the hiring of Jess Bowen as the team’s new Graduate Assistant coach for the 2021-2022 season. Bowen joins head coach Matt Schmidt‘s staff and will help lead the Women’s Basketball team through the upcoming season.
Bowen brings with her plenty of experience as both a player and a coach in the sport of basketball. Prior to Wheeling University, Bowen was a four-year starter for the Grove City College Women’s Basketball team from 2017-2021. During her time with the Wolverines, she helped lead the program to a record of 67-27, while winning the Presidents’ Athletic Conference Championship during the 2019-2020 season in an upset win over #4 Washington & Jefferson College.
The Wolverines made the PAC Championship game each season that Bowen was a member of the team, and made it to the NCAA Division III Championship tournament in three out of her four seasons. She was named Grove City College’s Freshman of the Year during the 2017-2018 season, an All-PAC Second Team award winner in 2018-2019, and two All-PAC First Team awards in 2019-2020 and 2020-2021. She was a member of the 1,000-point club, with 1,165 points scored over her collegiate career. She graduated from Grove City College in 2021 with a Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology.
To go along with her playing accolades, Bowen also brings with her eight years of coaching experience as a coach at the North Hills Summer and Winter Camps. She works with players ages 8-11 to help teach them the basic techniques that they need to play the sport of basketball.
Head Coach Matt Schmitt is excited to bring Bowen, and her knowledge of the game of basketball, onto his staff.
“I’m so excited to add Jess to our coaching staff,” said Schmitt. “Everyone that I spoke to through the process in regards to Jess just raved about her work ethic, her basketball IQ, loyalty, and desire to help our student-athletes be the best they can be. Jess instantly connected with our student-athletes and the entire coaching staff at Wheeling. We are truly excited to have her become a member of the Cardinal family.”
The Wheeling University Women’s Basketball team kicks off its season on November 13th when they head to the West Chester Tournament to face West Chester University at 6 p.m.
