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Former Hawkeye Ryan Bowen becomes a head coach in the NBA G League

Longtime Denver Nuggets assistant coach Ryan Bowen takes the reins for Denver’s G League team

Mike Hlas

Aug. 7, 2025 10:24 am

Ryan Bowen, former Iowa player and the new head coach of the NBA G League's Grand Rapids Gold

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Former Iowa basketball player Ryan Bowen will be the new head coach of the NBA G League’s Grand Rapids (Mich.) Gold.

Grand Rapids is the G League affiliate of the Denver Nuggets, where Bowen had been an assistant coach for the last 10 seasons and a member of the organization for 17, including five as a player. He had a 507-game NBA playing career from 1999 to 2019.

Bowen, 49, is a Fort Madison native who played for Iowa from 1994-1998. He holds the Hawkeyes’ career records for steals in a season (79) and a career (208), and is in Iowa’s top 10 in career rebounds and blocked shots.

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