Former CHS boys coach to lead the girls

PALMER — The 2010-11 season marked Jeff Bowker’s first away from the game of basketball in two decades. Now, after a year off, Bowker is ready to return to the court.

Bowker, formerly a longtime coach within the Colony High boys’ basketball program, has been named the new head coach of the Colony girls’ basketball team.

“It feels good (to be back),” Bowker said Wednesday. “I thoroughly enjoy coaching.”

Following the 2009-10 season, Bowker stepped away from Knights basketball after 19 years with the Colony boys, his final seven as the varsity head coach. He took a break, shifting his focus on other parts of his life. Bowker said he had a chance to do some of the other things he wanted to do, but he missed Colony basketball. His family missed Colony basketball. And when Colony High announced former head coach Tom Lincoln would not return for a third season, Bowker seriously considered applying for the position almost immediately.

“I thought about it, talked to some of my peers, talked to my wife and made sure this was something I wanted to commit to,” Bowker said. “It’s a big commitment, but without question, it peaked my interest.”

Bowker has spent the bulk of his career working with boys, but is looking forward to leading the girls’ team.

“I’m really excited about the challenge,” Bowker said.

Bowker is technically new to the program, but he’s no stranger to Knights girls’ basketball. Bowker’s two daughters played basketball at Colony High.

During his seven seasons as head coach, Bowker’s Knights posted a 129-68 mark. Colony made six straight trips to the 4A state tournament under Bowker’s watch, won a pair of Northern Lights Conference championships and advanced to the 4A state title game twice. Each year with Bowker at the helm, the Knights were known for a brand of basketball that centered on hustle and pressure. Bowker said Colony girls’ fans can expect many of the same things that were seen during his days with the boys program.

“Basketball’s basketball. It’s still the same principles,” Bowker said. “You’re going to see a lot of the same stuff. I’ll just have girls on my bench.”

Bowker will also have one of the Valley’s top girls basketball players in recent memory on his bench next year. Former Wasilla High and Santa Clara University standout Chandice Cronk will join the program as an assistant next season, Bowker said.

“She’s going to be terrific,” Bowker said.

Cronk was a three-time all-state honoree as a Warrior and was named the 2004 Gatorade Alaska State Player of the Year. At Division I Santa Clara, Cronk was named All-West Coast Conference. She became one of the top shooters in the WCC and scored more than 1,000 points in her college career. Cronk also played professionally in Spain.

Bowker inherits a team that has consistently been among the top programs in the state in recent years. The 2010-11 Knights won the Northern Lights Conference title and finished sixth in the state tournament. Many of the regulars from that squad will return, including incoming juniors Mary Klapperich and Allison Leigh.

“There’s a lot of talent,” Bowker said.

Bowker, a Colony mathematics teacher who was recently named the Mat-Su BP Teacher of the Year, has been at CHS since the school opened its doors in 1991. That year, he served as the C-team coach under then head coach Chuck Martin. When Phil Engebretsen was hired as the head coach, Bowker was promoted to junior varsity coach. Bowker succeeded Engebretsen as the boys head coach in 2003.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/matsu_sports.