Former Liberty Christian head football coach Mark Bowles might not have much to say on the record about the people looking to fill his his shoes after his retirement following the 2008 season, but he's also not opposed to throwing his own name back in the hat.
The man who started Liberty Christian's program 25 years ago in his second year at the school, practiced at a rec field in Lewisville, had a campus in Denton, opened a new campus with a top-notch athletic complex in Argyle and got the football stadium named after him in the middle of the 2007 season, is considering returning to the sideline just a couple of months after stepping down.
Bowles led the Warriors to six TAPPS state championship games -- winning three in 1994, 1996 and 2007 -- and compiled a career record of 212-73.
"It's humbling and flattering, and I had quite a few parents ask me to reconsider, so we're in a holding pattern right now," Bowles said. "The other coaches are all behind me and what I want to do. They're giving me a little time away from football to see what it's like, and to see if I want to reconsider."
After some consideration, the Liberty Christian officials decided to shut out outside applicants and will promote from within if Bowles decides to stay off the sidelines.
With spring football around the corner, Bowles knows he needs to come to a decision soon.
"I'm just going to take as much time as they'll give me," he said.
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Athletic director Darron Chrane said he told Bowles he needed a final decision by the end of the month, but expects one sometime this week or next.
If Bowles doesn't come back, it seems the logical guesses to replace him from within would be either offensive coordinator Greg Price or co-defensive coordinator Rick Gailey, who shared defensive responsibilities with Bowles.
Adam Boedeker is a sports writer/blogger for the Denton Record-Chronicle. He hates running, but he tries to do it every day.
