John Bowler Wins 2025-26 DII Men's Basketball Coach of the Year
Charlotte, NC – Parkland Community College (IL) Head Coach, John Bowler, was selected as the 2025-26 NJCAA Division II Men's Basketball Coach of the Year. Bowler led the Cobras to a national title for the first time since 1986 and the 2nd national championship in program history.
"Parkland College could not be more proud of Coach John Bowler, his coaching staff, and his amazing Cobra Men's Basketball team for winning the NJCAA DII National Championship this year." Parkland Athletic Director, Brendan McHale, expressed. "This achievement was not earned by accident but rather very intentional. Coach Bowler's daily preparation helped to prepare his team for every game. Also, John's leadership and in-game communication with his team was impressive to witness. All of the this helped Coach Bowler get the most out of his Cobra team by helping them achieve the ultimate goal of a National Championship. Well done Coach Bowler, we are extremely proud of you and thank you."
Parkland finished the season with a 29-7 overall record, winning the final seven games of the season to advance through the Central District Championship and National Championship. The tournament run featured a 86-78 victory over Johnson County in the second round, a 92-79 win over Milwaukee Area in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals, the Cobras defeated their region rival Danville Area, 77-66 then following that up with a win over Ellsworth, 76-68, to win the title. Parkland throughout their national championship run were the seeded underdogs in every game. The Cobras were ranked No. 2 in the preseason poll and finished the regular season poll at No. 12.
Bowler just finished his fourth season at the helm for Parkland and holds a 109-29 record with the Cobras. Before coming to Parkland, Bowler spent three seasons serving as an assistant coach at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, an NCAA Division I program. While he was there, Bowler helped to double the Panthers' winning percentage in his first two years, signed two top 50 junior college players and recruited a top 50 recruiting class in the country (according to Rivals and 247sports). The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee compiled 32 wins, including 22 Horizon League conference wins.
Bowler joined the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee staff following one season as the head coach at Des Moines Area Community College in Boone, Iowa. He led the Bears to a 22-10 overall record that winter, with the season coming to a close with a loss in the semifinals of the National Junior College Athletic Association Region XI Division II Basketball Championship.
That season wrapped up a five-year stay at Des Moines Area Community College for Bowler, with the first four as the top assistant on the staff. During that stretch, the team compiled 98 wins, capturing an ICCAC Conference championship, a Region XI championship, while also earning an NJCAA tournament appearance. Bowler's first season at Des Moines Area saw the Bears finish 28-7 and culminated with a trip to the Final Four of the 2015 NJCAA national tournament.
During his time at Des Moines Area, Bowler helped produce multiple all-region and academic all-region players, while sending over 20 Bears on to four-year institutions, with 15 of those moving on to the NCAA Division I or Division II ranks.
