Melinda Bowen enters her 14th season at the helm of the Mt. SAC Women’s Soccer Program.  She has an impressive Mt. SAC coaching career record of 149 wins, 88 losses and 37 ties (.544 winning percentage). Coach Bowen reached her 100th win on Sept. 21, 2012 against San Bernardino Valley College and will reach her 150th win with her first win this season.

In 2006, she led her team to a record of 16 wins, 7 losses and 1 tie, placing third in the very tough South Coast Conference and qualifying to Southern California Regionals for the second consecutive time.  Prior to taking over head coaching duties, she served as an Assistant Coach at Mt. SAC, under her childhood friend, legendary coach, COA Soccer Hall of Fame Member and current Associate Athletic Director, Debbie Cavion. 

Coach Bowen has tremendous experience coaching soccer and has worked in numerous levels including the high school, club, collegiate and Olympic Development levels.  At the high school level, she served as Head Coach at both Bonita and Rancho Cucamonga High Schools.  At the collegiate level, she has coached at Mt. SAC, California State University at Pomona (Cal Poly Pomona), Fullerton College and Azusa Pacific University (APU).

Serving as head coach while at Fullerton College and APU, she was named Conference Coach of the Year at both institutions.  At APU, Coach Bowen led her teams to two district championships and advanced to the regional championships each season.

Bowen enjoyed a successful playing career, beginning at Mt. SAC where she was a member of the 1982 Conference Championship Team.  She later transferred to Cal Poly Pomona where she served as team captain.  In 1987, she was selected to represent Southern California at the first United States Women’s National Team try-outs.  Later she played goalkeeper on the Southern California Over 30 Olympic Development Program Team.

Bowen received her B.A. from Cal Poly Pomona in Political Science and her Teaching Credential/Masters Degree in Physical Education from APU.

updated 06/01/17