After 10 years at the helm of the football program, head coach Robert Padilla, a Bowie graduated from the class of 1992, announced this month he would be stepping down.

During his time, the program made the playoffs six times, one bi-district title and a district title in 2016 that ended a 44-year drought. When he announced his move on Facebook, he was thankful for his time here but most proud of his players that “moved on to become engineers, service men, political activists, social reformers, teachers, coaches, accountants and much, much more.”

The following is his letter he sent to the Growler to wish his alma mater and the community, one last good bye.

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Dear Bowie Bears,

          I would like to take this opportunity to thank every single teacher, administrator, custodian, clerk, support staffer, and of course student, that has made my last ten years at Bowie a wonderful life experience for me and my family.  As you may have heard, read, or been told, I am no longer the head football coach for Bowie High.  Along with everyone that has accompanied me throughout this ten-year journey, I have made some wonderful memories that will last me a lifetime as I move on to a new position.  I am looking for opportunities to further my career to help me and my family now and in the future by looking for a position in administration or at central office.

          If there is one last thing I could share with every single Bowie Bear before I move on is that without my education, I would not be able to look for these opportunities and actually have a choice about where I end up.  I made the choice and sacrificed to get my Bachelor’s degree when I was young, and with a ton of support from my family, I decided to get my Master’s degree just last year as well.

        Therefore, because of those difficult choices I made in the past, I am afforded the opportunity to now choose what my next career step is as well.  As some of you have heard me say in the past, education is undefeated, and I hope every single one of you takes the time to continue your education so that you can make decisions for yourself and your career in the future.  Get your degree in any way that works for you and your family so that every opportunity you want to pursue is achievable.

          I am sad to leave my position at this time, but I am happy to have had this opportunity in the first place.  I will always look back at my time as the coach at Bowie as some of the happiest of my life.  Thank you all!

Roberto Padilla Jr.

Bowie High School Class of 1992

New Mexico State University Bachelor’s Degree 1998

Lamar University Master’s Degree 2017