Joe Bowen is the linebackers coach and run game coordinator for the University of Pittsburgh football program in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and he enters his first season with Pitt in 2026.
Bowen arrived after two seasons at Buffalo, where he served as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach from 2024 to 2025. In 2025, his defense finished among the national leaders in several categories, including sacks, three-and-out percentage, yards allowed per play, passing defense, third-down defense, red-zone defense, and points allowed per possession. He also coached linebacker Red Murdock to first-team All-MAC recognition for a second straight year after Murdock led the MAC and ranked second nationally with 142 tackles while adding tackles for loss, sacks, and forced fumbles.
