USC’s Rising Star Bowden Focuses on State Recruiting Strategy

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Lincoln Riley‘s recent appointment of Don Bowden as USC‘s new general manager has sparked excitement around the football program as he embarks on a mission to reclaim the program’s status in collegiate football.

In January, Bowden, who previously worked at Notre Dame, accepted the position with USC, bringing a vision for aggressive recruitment within California, particularly targeting the lucrative 2026 class, which he believes to be the best the state has seen in decades.

Bowden’s journey in Los Angeles began at 18 as a telemarketer, where he learned the art of persuasion in unappealing circumstances. “Because I’m so used to people telling me no, and trying to get them to say yes,” he recalled, underscoring how those skills will transfer to his new role.

His swift rise to success, now recognized as one of the highest-paid personnel directors in college sports, stems from his ability to articulate a clear vision of USC football’s future. “I knew I was coming to USC when, in an hour’s time span, I spoke to Jen [Cohen] and Lincoln and had voiced my aspirations,” Bowden stated. He expressed gratitude for the immediate support he received on his vision from both USC Athletic Director Jennifer Cohen and Head Coach Lincoln Riley.

Bowden’s approach focuses on revitalizing local recruitment, which historically reinforced USC’s dominance during its successful years under Coach Pete Carroll. In a recent analysis, Bowden emphasized that over 80% of top recruiting classes back then were sourced from California and described it as crucial for returning the team to prominence.

“History repeats itself,” he affirmed, pointing out that, in prior successful eras, the foundation of the program greatly relied on recruiting local talent. Bowden’s intention is to reintegrate those practices and create solid ties with local high schools and athletes.

Since his arrival, Bowden has also expanded the Trojan front office by collaborating with talented personnel staffers from his past experiences at Notre Dame and Cincinnati, believing in the power of teamwork to facilitate a comprehensive recruiting approach.

While there had once been concerns regarding USC’s competitiveness against traditional powerhouse programs, Bowden assured, “USC won’t be slowed down” by the evolving landscape of college sports, especially with the institution’s plans to adopt aggressive NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) strategies.

Reflecting on his transition, Bowden remarked, “I always felt like USC was the sleeping giant of college football,” and now he feels positioned to awaken that potential.

Bowden’s enthusiasm is echoed by Cohen and Riley as they have expressed confidence in his vision. The collaborative environment within the program aims to eliminate any notion of internal strife regarding leadership roles; Bowden maintains a stance of unity and shared objectives with both Cohen and Riley.

“We’re all in this together,” Bowden stated, emphasizing that the focus remains on collective success rather than individual dynamics.

With the framework for a new and aggressive strategy in place, Bowden’s fervor brings optimism to USC as it approaches recruitment and prepares to navigate the complex college football environment ahead.