Sweetwater hires Bowden as girls’ basketball coach

There will be a new face courtside for the Sweetwater Lady Wildcats, but it is one that everyone in town will recognize.

Robin Bowden has been tabbed the next girls’ basketball coach at Sweetwater, the school announced on its Facebook page.

“Coach Bowden’s passion for these girls is what sticks out when you talk about this job. She wants to pour into those girls and to build relationships with them,” Sweetwater Athletic Director Caleb Norwood said.

Bowden is a former player for the program and has been to the state tournament as a player, per Norwood.

“As a former product of this program, I wish very much to return it to being competitive and something not only the players can be proud of, but the school and community as a whole,” Bowden said.

Bowden served as an assistant coach for boys’ basketball this past winter, a role she will continue with this season.

Before then, she was a part of the staff that led the Sweetwater Jr. Wildcats to the TMSAA state runner-up crown in 2023.

“Surreal. In June, (boys’ coach Joe Allen, assistant Emily Allen and I) agreed to take the girls through summer practice and camps. The opportunity arose to continue with these girls and we felt led to take over the girls’ program,” Bowden said of her decision.

Sweetwater picked up steam in the second half of last season, winning four games after Christmas break.

“To be competitive, but to realize that success for us is going to be measured in growth as a player and a team. This is going to be a marathon, not a sprint and we coaches are very excited about this upcoming season, helping these girls grow in their knowledge of the game of basketball,” Bowden said of her goals.

The Lady Wildcats have seen a series of coaching changes over the past three years. Since Heather Jaramillo’s resignation in 2022, Sweetwater has seen three coaches helm and then leave the program.

“Stability is the biggest thing with this program and that is something that Coach Bowden is going to bring to the table. She is blue and gold through and through and has been around a lot of high levels before. As far as stability, it does not get much better than Coach Bowden,” Norwood said.