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It is with deep sadness that I share the passing of Joseph R. “Joe” Stowell, beloved coach, broadcaster, mentor, and proud Bradley Emeritus and alumnus. He was 99 years old. I was honored to call him my friend.
Coach Stowell’s connection to Bradley spanned generations. As a student-athlete from 1947 to 1950, he helped shape the legacy of Bradley Basketball as a player. He returned in 1956 as an assistant coach and went on to serve as our ninth head men’s basketball coach from 1965 to 1978, leading the Braves to 197 victories during his 13 seasons at the helm. He later coached both high school athletes and Bradley’s women’s basketball team.
But wins and records tell only part of his story.
Coach Stowell mentored countless student-athletes. According to the Missouri Valley Conference, he is the only coach to place both a men's (Joe Allen, ‘68) and a women's (Judy Burns, ‘82) player in the U.S. Olympic Trials. His influence extended far beyond Peoria. He was one of the first coaches to take Bradley’s spirit abroad, conducting international clinics, mentoring players around the world, and serving as an assistant coach for the 1984 Egyptian Men’s Olympic Team in Los Angeles. In doing so, he became a true ambassador, not just for Bradley Basketball, but for Bradley University itself.
Many in our community also came to know his voice. From 1985 to 2010, he joined Dave Snell on WMBD radio, bringing Bradley games to life for fans across central Illinois.
Coach Stowell has been honored with inductions into the Bradley Centurion Society, the Bradley Athletics Hall of Fame, the Missouri Valley Conference Hall of Fame, and the Greater Peoria Sports Hall of Fame. Each year on campus the Coach Joe Stowell Award is presented to the male and female student-athletes who best exemplify his love for Bradley Athletics.
On a personal note, I know how transformative the mentors we encounter during our college experience can be. For so many Bradley students, Coach Stowell was that mentor. He built more than teams; he built confidence, discipline, and character. His legacy lives on in the students he impacted, the lives of the players he coached, the colleagues he inspired, and the global reach he helped establish for Bradley University.
We extend our deepest condolences to Coach Stowell’s family, former players, friends, and all who were touched by his life.
Bradley University is better because Joe Stowell chose to dedicate so much of his life to this institution. We are grateful, and we will remember him with pride. Flags on campus will be flown at half staff for three days in his honor.
Sincerely,
James Shadid
President
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