One of the most prominent alumni in Binghamton Athletics history, Leah Bowers begins her first year at the Program Coordinator for Athletics Operations.
In addition to a Hall of Fame basketball career from 1998-02 at Binghamton, she served on the coaching staff of the Bearcats for 12 years. Most recently, she was the Associate Head Coach from 2016-18.
Bowers is a 2002 graduate of Binghamton, where she had a stellar four-year career. In her years with the Bearcat coaching staff, Bowers helped with the development of the programs posts players, which includes four All-Conference selections. Under Bowers’ tutelage, Alyssa James, progressed into the 2016 and 2017 America East Defensive Player of the Year as well as an all-conference player.
In addition to working with the teams post players, Bowers assists with all facets of scouting and recruiting, as well as the team’s academics. Bowers also coordinates community outreach for the Bearcat program. Throughout the 2014-15 season, Bowers and the Bearcats worked with over a dozen local organizations to meet the needs of community members, consistently partnering with Special Olympics of Broome-Tioga as well as the Magic Paintbrush Project. The women’s basketball team was honored with the athletics department community service award in 2015.
Bowers is currently ranked fifth all-time with 1,341 career points, and first with 978 rebounds as well as 236 blocks. During Bowers’ four years in the program, Binghamton went 94-22, won the 1999 New England College Conference title as well as both the 2000 and 2001 ECAC Division II championships. At the end of the 1999 campaign, she was voted the NECC Rookie of the Year. In 2013, she was inducted into the Binghamton University Athletics Hall of Fame.
Following her basketball playing career, Bowers played one season with the Bearcat softball team. She then rejoined the Bearcat basketball program as a coach. She was a graduate assistant coach during the 2003-04 season and a full-time assistant during the 2004-05 campaign.
From 2005-08, Bowers was a member of the Meteors Basketball Club in Dublin, Ireland. She was voted the team MVP and led the Meteors in scoring, rebounding, blocks and steals. During the 2008-09 campaign, Bowers was a member of the Killester Basketball Club (also based in Dublin, Ireland). Once again, she led her team in scoring, rebounding, blocks and steals. During her time in Ireland, Bowers was a head coach at the middle school, high school and club level. In 2007, Bowers served as Assistant Coach for the U-18 Irish Girls National Team that competed in the European Championships in Timisoara, Romania, finishing at the top of their group for the first time in team history.
Bowers received her bachelor’s degree in Human Development in 2002 and her master’s degree in Social Science in 2004, both from Binghamton University. She is married to Dr. Kristie Bowers, a 2007 graduate of Binghamton who earned her Ph.D in 2017. Kristie is currently the Academic Advisor for the Binghamton men’s soccer, men’s basketball and softball teams.
THE BOWERS FILE (COACHING)
2016-Pres: Associate Head Coach, Binghamton University
2009-16: Assistant Coach, Binghamton University
2004-05: Assistant Coach, Binghamton University
2003-04: Graduate Assistant Coach, Binghamton University
THE BOWERS FILE (PROFESSIONAL PLAYING EXPERIENCE)
2008-09: Killester Basketball Club (based in Dublin, Ireland)
2005-08: Meteors Basketball Club (based in Dublin, Ireland)
PLAYING HONORS
- Inducted into the Binghamton University Athletics Hall of Fame in 2013
- Finished her Binghamton career with the program record for rebounds (978) and blocks (236)
- Also finished her Binghamton career with 1,341 points
- NECC Rookie of the Year in 1999
- All-NECC in 1999 & 2000
PERSONAL
Education: Binghamton University, 2002 (B.A. in Human Development) and 2004 (M.A. Social Sciences)
