Tulsa's East Central Names New Football Coach

Tulsa Public Schools on Monday announced the hiring of Ben Bowling as the head coach of East Central High School's football team.

"We are pleased to have Ben Bowling lead the football program at East Central High School," TPS interim athletic director Gil Cloud said. "We look forward to the continued success of that program under his leadership."

Under former coach Travis Hill in 2011, East Central went 10-2 overall, 6-1 District 5A-4, losing to Guthrie in the state quarterfinals. The Cardinals were the Class 5A state runners-up to Booker T. Washington in 2010.

Bowling was the Cardinals' offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach since 2009. He previously coached quarterbacks and receivers at Muskogee High School and served on the Jenks High School football staff in 2005 and 2006.

In 2011, Bowling also helped Tulsa's Arena Football League team, the Talons, as quarterbacks and receivers coach. His career started as assistant coach at Mounds High School.

Bowling was a Parade All-American QB at Jenks and was a member of the Oklahoma State University football team. He played in the Arena Football League from 2003-2008.

Hill, the former athletic director and head football coach at East Central, resigned in December 2011 amid a TPS investigation.

Cloud is heading the TPS athletic department after embattled athletic director Stephanie Spring resigned when the district began investigating alleged actions that may violate the Oklahoma Computer Crimes Act.