Ricky Bowers, a 15-time TSSAA state championship coach, moving to emeritus role at Ensworth
Tom Kreager
Ricky Bowers is transitioning out as Ensworth's associate head of school and athletics director for a newly created position that will be more of an advisory role.
Ensworth announced Monday that Bowers, one of the most successful two-sport coaches in state history, will begin serving in a newly created athletic administrator emeritus role. In the position, Bowers will be an advisor to Ensworth coaches and athletic leadership to ensure the continued success of the school's athletic programs.
Bowers, 62, will transition to the new role after the school year.
While Bowers has been a long-time administrator at the school, he's best known for his work as a football and boys basketball coach at the Nashville private school. Bowers has 731 wins as a football and basketball coach in stints at Ensworth and Montgomery Bell Academy. He has a 192-47 football record and 539-205 basketball record.
At Ensworth, he won nine TSSAA championships — five in boys basketball and four in football. He won six state championships — three basketball and three football — at MBA for a total of 15 state championships as a high school coach.
"Coach Bowers has dedicated over 20 years to building successful athletic programs at Ensworth," said Ensworth head of school Prentice Stabler in a release. "He has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the mission and vision of the school and the development of our student-athletes and coaches, both as exceptional competitors and leaders.
"He has been an integral part of our school community for over two decades, and his coaching expertise has been a tremendous asset to our school. We are incredibly grateful for his leadership and commitment to excellence."
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Bowers received The Tennessean's 2023 Fred Russell Lifetime Achievement Award for his career in high school athletics. At that time, he hinted he wasn't done coaching. And this school year he coached Ensworth's freshman boys basketball team.
Bowers, a Nashville native, was a three-sport athlete as a student at MBA and was named All-City in football, basketball and baseball. Bowers later coached MBA to three straight football state titles from 1998-2000 and also three basketball titles in 1998, 2000 and 2001. He left for Ensworth a year later when the school opened and began coaching both sports.
Bowers won five straight Division II-AA basketball championships from 2009-14 at Ensworth and was runner-up in 2017. In football, he won DII-AA championships from 2010-13 and was runner-up in 2014.
"Ricky was a critical part in the success of Ensworth's high school," said Ensworth trustee Kathryn Brown in the release. "The Board knew he was an outstanding coach who would attract excellent coaches to lead each sport. Ricky brought insight and wisdom to all aspects of the school. He had a great understanding of our culture and what would be required academically for the students to be accepted to excellent colleges. Ricky embraced a pioneer spirit to start a new high school, explore new ideas, and achieve excellence."