AKRON, Ohio, Dec. 22 (UPI) -- Former Auburn football Coach Terry Bowden was hired Thursday to coach the Akron Zips.
It will be his first major college head coaching position since his six-year tenure at Auburn ended in 1998 -- when he resigned after starting the season 1-5. He resigned as coach of Division II North Alabama to take the Akron job.
Akron went 1-11 during each of the last two seasons under Rob Ianello. He was fired Nov. 27.
"I'm so excited to be a Zip," Bowden said. "With the great resources and the commitment to winning by the administration and community, it's just a matter of time until we build a championship program."
Bowden, 54, was an assistant coach at Akron in 1986 under Gerry Faust.
After being out of coaching for a decade, Bowden went to North Alabama in 2009. He led that school to three straight NCAA playoff appearances and a 29-9 record.
