Bowman began his coaching career in 1958 at Shawnee High School in Shawnee, Oklahoma as an assistant coach under his brother, Dick Bowman. The next year, he moved onto Central High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma as an assistant football and wrestling coach.[2] He was also the head track coach at Tulsa Central before succeeding John Payne as head football coach and athletic director at Tulsa's McLain High School in 1964.[3] Bowman led McLain to a record of 15–14–2 in three seasons, from 1964 to 1966.[4] He was hired as head football coach at athletic director at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M in 1967, succeeding Red Robertson.[1] Bowman resigned from his position at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M in 1972 to take a job with Hilco Management Corporation, an owner and operator of apartment complexes and shopping malls in Dallas. He was succeeded as head football coach by Reuben Berry.[5]