Ned Fowler

Ned Fowler (born January 16, 1944)

Teams coached: Tulane Green Wave, Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks
Tulane record: 70-45 (.609)
Stephen F. Austin record: 78-87 (.473)
Overall record^: 148-132 (.529)

Career Accomplishments:

  • NCAA National Championships:  0
  • NCAA Tournament Appearances:  0
  • NIT Championships:  0
  • NIT Appearances:  2  (1982, 1983)

Awards:

Coaching Career (head coach, unless noted):

1990-1996 Stephen F. Austin
1987-1990 Auburn (asst)
1981-1985 Tulane
1974-1981 Tyler JC (TX)

Ned Fowler Facts

  • Ned Fowler
  • Born January 16, 1944
  • Hometown: Murchison, Texas
  • Alma Mater: East Texas State University (BA, 1966)
  • After graduating from East Texas State (now East Texas A&M), Fowler’s first coaching job was as the head boys’ basketball coach at Richard King HS in Corpus Christi, TX (1969-74)
  • Fowler became the head coach at Tyler Junior College (TX) in 1974, leading the team for seven seasons
    • The team went 31-4 and finished with a #3 national ranking in the NJCAA in his final year (1980-81)
  • Moved up to the Division I ranks in 1981, taking over as head coach at Tulane
    • Went 70-45 over four seasons, with NIT appearances in both 1982 and 1983 and a winning record every year
    • His tenure is best remembered for scandal, however, with several players – including their star, John “Hot Rod” Williams – getting arrested as part of a point shaving scandal
    • More violations and illegal activities with later uncovered, and while Fowler has largely been cleared of knowledge of most activities, he did admit to providing a small payment to Williams (against NCAA rules)
    • Finney and his two assistant coaches all resigned in 1985 and the school decided to shutter the men’s basketball program completely (it was re-instated in 1989)
  • After two years out of coaching, Fowler was hired by Sonny Smith to be one of his assistants at Auburn; the associate AD at the time was Hindman Wall, who had previously been the AD at Tulane
  • Became a head coach again in 1990, taking over a Stephen F. Austin program that had gone 2-25 the year prior
    • Went 11-17 in his first year, the +9 win turnaround earning him the 1991 Southland COY award
    • Helped build the program at SFA, going 17-11 in 1995-96 – the program’s most wins since moving up to D-I
    • Despite this, Fowler was let go following that season and the program would finish below .500 the next six years

Ned Fowler Coaching Tree

  • Derek Allister (Stephen F. Austin)

 

^ overall record includes head coaching positions at the NCAA Division I level only