Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – Virginia Tech Athletics is deeply saddened to announce the passing of former men’s and women’s tennis head coach Larsen Bowker.
Bowker coached women’s tennis at Virginia Tech from 1979-83 and then returned to Blacksburg to coach the men’s team from 1986-98.
At the helm of the men’s program, Bowker guided the Hokies to three Atlantic 10 Championships, with the Hokies also reaching the finals of the NCAA Region I Tournament in both the 1997 and 1998 seasons.
Bowker was honored as a two-time Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year and garnered NCAA Region I Coach of the Year honors in 1997.
In his tenure, eight players earned All-Metro Conference honors and four others earned All-Atlantic 10 selections. Aaron Marchetti was honored as a three-time Atlantic 10 Player of the Year and Oliver Mayo also garnered Atlantic 10 Player of the Year honors in 1996. Both Marchetti and Mayo were selected as All-Americans and were inducted into the Virginia Tech Sports Hall of Fame.
As the women’s tennis head coach, Bowker and the Hokies won the Mid-Atlantic Tennis Championships in 1982. Tech finished in the top four of the conference in each of Bowker’s final three seasons, and he also coached Andrea Fink to a 1982 Metro Conference singles title.
Bowker posted a career record of 196-81 (.708) as the head coach of both tennis programs.