An elite former student-athlete at Binghamton, Dr. Kristie Bowers begins her seventh year in the department in 2017-18, now serving as Assistant Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Support and Development. In that role, she is the academic advisor for men's basketball, men's soccer and softball and is co-leader of the Athletics Leadership Institute, Explore, Engage and B You.
Prior to her position in the Student-Athlete Success Center, Bowers spent five seasons as an assistant women's soccer coach with the Bearcats. In 2013, Bowers’ work with the defensive unit translated into seven shutouts and a 1.06 goals against average. While she and the Bearcats were making their push toward another postseason berth, Bowers was honored by her high school, Greece Olympia. Ten years after finishing a standout three-sport scholastic career, she was inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame.
In her first year back with the Bearcats in 2011, Bowers sparked a defensive unit that produced seven shutouts and allowed less than one goal per game. Only two opponents (out of 16) scored more than one goal against BU’s defense all season long.
While an undergraduate at Binghamton, Bowers immersed herself in every facet of campus and has an abundance of achievements and accolades both on and off the soccer field.
A four-year starting goalkeeper (2003-06), Bowers led the 2004 Bearcats to a 14-win campaign that included the program’s first Division I conference crown and subsequent NCAA berth. One year later, Bowers ranked fifth in the nation in save percentage and first in the America East in shutouts. She holds school records for career saves (383) and minutes played (6,544) and earned all-conference honors.
Bowers was equally invested as a student, earning a bachelor’s degree in human development with a minor in chemistry and concentration in biology. She made the America East Honor Roll every semester, held down a 3.35 cumulative GPA and was a member of Phi Eta Sigma Honors Society and Chi Alpha Sigma College Athlete Honors Society. Bowers also was an active member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee all four years, serving on the executive Leadership Committee and representing Binghamton at both the conference and NCAA levels of SAAC.
Following graduation, Bowers also continued her playing career as a goalkeeper for the Rochester Ravens (2005-06) and Rochester Rhinos (2007) of the United Soccer League’s W-League Northern Division.
Bowers pursued her master’s degree at Western Carolina University beginning in 2007. As the graduate assistant coach and goalkeeper coach for the Catamounts, Bowers helped the program capture the 2008 Southern Conference title and advance to the NCAA tournament. The team won 13 games and Bowers’ goalkeeper protege was named the conference tournament MVP.
Off the field, Bowers was a teacher in the health, physical education and recreation department and earned her master’s degree from WCU in teaching with a concentration in physical education in 2009. After returning to Binghamton, she earned her Doctorate in Philosophy in Community and Public Affairs from Binghamton in 2017.
Bowers holds an NSCAA Advanced National license and a United States Federation “D” license.
Kristie is married to Leah Bowers, Associate Head Women's Basketball Coach and Binghamton University alumna.
