The Early ISD board of trustees voted to hire San Angelo Grape Creek Head Coach Brad Bowden Thursday evening as their new Athletic Director and Head Coach.  Bowden has been at the 2A Grape Creek for three years and has a combined record of 8-20 as their football team’s head coach (2-8 in 2009, 4-6 in 2008, and 2-8 in 2007).

Bowden replaces coach Robbie Tindol who resigned last month as Early’s Athletic Director after seven seasons as Longhorn head football coach.  Tindol led the Longhorn football program to a 44-38 record while in Early.

Under Tindol, the Early program had some great moments stopping a 47-year playoff drought in 2005 and reaching the Class 2A state semifinals. Tindol’s Longhorns reached the state quarterfinals in 2006 and then went to the state semifinals in 2007.

Early ISD had 172 applicants seeking the head coach position.