Terry Bowden away from UL-Monroe to care for ailing father

University of Louisiana Monroe head coach Terry Bowden has temporarily left the program to spend time with his family. Quinn Harris-USA TODAY Sports

Terry Bowden steps away from UL-Monroe to care for ailing father Bobby

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 8/6/21

Last month, the college football community learned that legendary former Florida State Seminoles head coach and Hall of Famer Bobby Bowden is dealing with a terminal medical condition later confirmed to be pancreatic cancer.

University of Louisiana Monroe head coach Terry Bowden, Bobby's son, has temporarily left the program to spend time with his family:

ULM associate head coach Rich Rodriguez addresses the team after Friday’s first preseason practice. Head coach Terry Bowden traveled to Tallahassee, Fla., Thursday to spend time with his parents. His father Bobby was diagnosed with a terminal medical condition earlier this summer pic.twitter.com/3FOydcYqFh
— ULM Football (@ULM_FB) August 6, 2021

Adam Rittenberg of ESPN adds that UL-Monroe offensive coordinator Rich Rodriguez, a former college head coach at multiple institutions, is serving as interim coach during Bowden's absence. There's no announced timetable for Bowden's potential return.

"There’s a spiritual side of me that thanks God for all the good times I’ve had with my father," Bowden told Adam Hunsucker of the Monroe News-Star. "We’ve known for a couple weeks that it was terminal. As it gets closer, we’re thankful that it hasn’t been a difficult or painful process for him.

"The knowledge that with Rich here and us being close, I have no problem turning it over to him because he’s done it almost as long as I have. I’m comfortable enough in my shoes to let him step in and know that our program will run smoothly."

Meanwhile, Rodriguez told the Monroe News-Star the change will "be a seamless transition."

UL-Monroe hired Bowden last December. The Warhawks are scheduled to open the 2021 season versus the Kentucky Wildcats on Sept. 4.

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