Dean Bowyer built a career record of 1064-538-7 in his 36 years as a collegiate baseball coach - 32 years at Minnesota State (formerly Mankato State) and four years at Minot State. At the time of his retirement from college coaching in 2008, his 1064 wins ranked fifth on the all-time NCAA Division II list.
Under Bowyer, Minnesota State baseball teams played in NCAA post-season competition 21 out of his 32 years with the Mavericks and his teams won at least 30 games in 22 out of those same 32 years.
Bowyer’s 32-year tenure in Mankato included a total of 22 league championships - three when Minnesota State was in the Northern Intercollegiate Conference (NIC) and an incredible 19 in the North Central. MSU made it to the NCAA post-season tournament 21 times under his tenure and three of those teams made it all the way to the NCAA Division II College World Series (1979, 1980 and 1986).
A native of Ada, Minn., Bowyer helped produce three All-America selections and many all-region and all-conference picks during his MSU career. A total of 26 MSU players coached by Bowyer were selected in the Major League Baseball draft and 46 Bowyer-produced players signed professional contracts. Two former Mavericks who played for Bowyer advanced to the major leagues. Pitcher Todd Revenig, who was drafted and signed with Oakland in 1990, debuted with the parent A’s in 1992 and reliever Gary Mielke was drafted by Texas and had a stint with the Rangers from 1987 through 1990.
Bowyer received his B.S. degree in physical education and elementary education from Mayville State in 1966 and his Master’s from MSU in 1971. Prior to working on his master’s, Bowyer coached basketball and football at Barnesville, Appleton, and Benson High Schools. Bowyer was an all-conference and all-district football player at Mayville State, where he also played baseball and basketball. Bowyer, who played professionally in the Baltimore Orioles organization for three seasons after graduating from college, was inducted into the Mayville State Athletic Hall of Fame in 1984. He built a 74-51 record in four years as head coach at Minot State prior to joining MSU in 1977. Bowyer was named North Central Conference Coach of the Year 11 times during his career and in addition to running his own baseball camps during the summer, has served as a consultant at several clinics.
A NSIC Hall of Fame and American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame inductee and a recipient of the NCC Legacy Award, Bowyer was inducted into the Minnesota State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2009.