Bruce Fowler, a key assistant for more than a decade at Furman, will serve as defensive coordinator at Vanderbilt. Fowler, 43, served as Bobby Johnson’s defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Furman for the past three seasons. Johnson was Fowler’s position coach at Furman in the late 1970s.

Fowler, a Cincinnati native, served 16 seasons on the Furman coaching staff after starting as a graduate assistant in 1984. His coaching responsibilities continuously progressed during his tenure at Furman. For the last three years, Fowler was defensive coordinator and linebackers coach for the Paladins. He mentored Furman All-American Will Bouton, the Southern Conference defensive player-of-the-year in 2000. Since 1999, the Furman defense has played a crucial role in the Paladins’ 30-9 overall record, two conference championships, three consecutive NCAA playoff appearances and an I-AA national runnerup finish last year.

Prior to coaching Paladin linebackers, Fowler directed the Furman secondary for six years, coaching six All-Southern Conference performers, including consensus All-America safety and current 49er John Keith. Fowler moved to the Furman defensive staff after serving several years as an offensive assistant for receivers.

Fowler earned two varsity letters at Furman. He was a member of the Paladins’ first Southern conference championship team in 1978, started in the defensive secondary in 1979, and played on Furman’s 1980 conference champion. He earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education and master’s degree in physical education from Furman.

Fowler is married to the former Lindy Gilman. They are the parents of a son, Jake, 7, and daughter, Madison, 5.