Jeff Bowers begins his 26th season with the women’s soccer program in the 2025-2026 season as the most successful coach in program history. He has guided the women’s soccer program to seven undefeated ODAC seasons, the only coach in program history to accomplish that feat. He is one of the winningest coaches in Division III and ranks 15th with 352 career wins.
In 2024, the women’s soccer team had an overall record of 10-6-3 finishing 8-2 in the conference. They made it to the ODAC Conference final for the fourth consecutive year. Six players were named to the ODAC All-Conference Team. Shyenne Diaz, Adrianna Gunther and Allie Greco were named to the United Soccer Coaches Association All-Region teams with Gunther being named to VaSID All-State First Team. Three Marlins were awarded College Sports Communicators Academic All-District accolades.
In 2023, the team finished with a 17-4-2 overall record including a 9-0-1 conference record on the way to their 3rd ODAC conference championship title and another run to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen. Seven players were named to the ODAC All-Conference Team lead by Defensive Player of the Year Rachel Quigley, Conference Player of the Year Sam Crawford, and for the fourth time Jeff Bowers was named as the ODAC Coach of the Year. Sheyanne Diaz and Julia Marrone joined Quigley and Crawford on the USC All-Region teams. In closing, Quigley received USC Scholar All-American honors, and Sam Crawford was named a First Team All-American.
2022 saw VWU reach the NCAA Division III Final Four for the second time in program history. The Marlins finished fourth in the country with an overall record of 18-3-4 while going 8-1-1 in the ODAC. On the national stage, the Marlins tabbed three All-Region players named by the United Soccer Coaches, two NCAA All-Tournament players, and one USC All-American in Rachel Quigley (3rd-Team), who set a school record with a .918 save percentage that had been unchanged since 1994. Additionally, Bowers was named the Virginia Sport Information Director (VaSID) Coach of the Year for the success of his Marlin team. Eight of his Marlin student-athletes garnered ODAC All-Conference accolades.
In 2021, the Marlins won the ODAC Championship title and advanced to the NCAA first round to face Messiah. VWU went 12-6-2 overall with a 7-1-1 record against ODAC foes. Bowers was named the ODAC Coach of the Year while also having two of his players claim major awards Sam Crawford, the ODAC Player of the Year, and Breacain McClenahan, the ODAC Rookie of the Year. In addition, the Marlins brought in seven ODAC All-Conference team honorees. A trio of Marlins, Crawford, McClenahan, and Kennedi Anders, earned VaSID All-State accolades as well as USC All-Region honors following the completion of the season.
Bowers guided VWU to its most successful season ever in women's soccer in 2006, highlighted by an Old Dominion Athletic Conference championship and a berth in the NCAA Division III final four tournament, ultimately finishing 18-4-4 following a pair of wins in the national tournament.
He also won a pair of games in the NCAA tournament while setting the school record with 20 wins in the 2003 campaign. That team captured the ODAC regular season title, earning a berth in the NCAA tournament before advancing to the national quarterfinals. He has mentored the Marlins to all six NCAA tournament victories.
He has coached the professional women’s soccer team, the Hampton Roads Piranha, during the summer of 2004 following the success of his 2003 season with the Marlins.
Bowers holds a Premier License from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) and a License from the United States Soccer Federation.
He has coached three State Players of the Year and four ODAC Players of the Year in his time as mentor of the women’s soccer program.
Prior to his time as the head coach of the Marlins, Bowers served as an assistant coach for the men’s and women’s programs at Messiah College. He has also been on staff at camps at the College of William and Mary, University of Kentucky, Ohio State, Messiah, and York College.
He served as the head coach at Spring Grove Area High School and an assistant at York Catholic High School and York Suburban High School after graduating from York College with a degree in secondary education and accounting in 1995. He earned his master’s in sports administration from Western Maryland University in 1998.
Career Highlights
Coaching Record: 352-116-73 / 211-32-23 ODAC
ODAC Champions: 2006, 2021
ODAC Regular Season Champions: 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2017, 2021, 2023
ODAC Coach of the Year: 2003, 2005, 2021, 2023
State Coach of the Year: 2003, 2006, 2022
NCAA Appearance: 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2023
NCAA Elite 8s: 2003, 2006, 2022
NCAA Final Fours: 2006, 2022
All-ODAC Honorees: 160
All-State Honorees: 47
All-Region Honorees: 47
Academic All-District Honorees: 15
All-American Honorees: 11
