Corbin Bowers is the head men’s soccer coach at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota
WINONA, Minn. – As the saying goes: “If you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life.”
Corbin Bowers exemplifies this saying.
Growing up playing soccer and loving the sport, it’s no wonder he loves his position as the head men’s soccer coach at Saint Mary’s University.
Bowers came to Saint Mary’s in 2016 as an assistant coach for both the men’s and women’s soccer teams. One year later, the role of head men’s soccer coach opened up, and Bowers jumped at the chance to be a collegiate head coach — a role that allowed him to continue to engage in his passion for the sport.
Soccer has always been a large part of Bowers’ life.
Born in Ecuador and raised in Colombia, Bowers began playing soccer at age four. In high school, he played semi-professionally and traveled for soccer to different parts of South America. He then moved to Anderson University in Anderson, S.C., where he played NCAA Division II soccer for four years.
Studying exercise science and kinesiology, Bowers had planned to apply for medical school following graduation. However, he didn’t want to stray too far from soccer in his career.
“I had the ambition to be a professional player, I knew I wanted to be involved in the game for as long as I could,” said Bowers. “I couldn’t see myself getting away from soccer and coaching soccer.”
After he graduated, Bowers helped coach the Anderson University soccer team and realized he had found a way to continue to be involved in the sport he loved. Following one year of volunteer coaching at Anderson, Bowers came across an assistant coaching job at Saint Mary’s — and the rest is history.
To Bowers, one of the most important elements of soccer is diversity, be it religious diversity, ethnic diversity, language diversity, or diversity of origin. Everyone has something unique to bring to the table, which helps shape each other into better people.
Watching the players on the team grow athletically, academically, and individually is one of Bowers’ favorite aspects of being the head coach. He feels that the team has a close bond and that he has grown as a coach and as a person working with the athletes.
“We talk about the pursuit of excellence in everything we do. We want to be excellent players, but we also want to be excellent students and excellent in community service as well,” said Bowers. “Anything we as a coaching staff can do to help them be excellent when they leave here makes us feel like we’ve done our job as coaches.”
He encourages his players to seize this time of their life and enjoy it for what it is. Bowers believes being part of a team and playing a college sport are some of the best memories you can have.
“Have the best experience possible,” said Bowers. “Make the best of your time here and give everything you have. Enjoy the moment.”