Fowler gets Bulldogs’ new era rolling
New Spiro football head coach Kyle Fowler had the Bulldogs working through spring football practice this week.
“It’s good to be back home,” he said before practice on Thursday.
Fowler was hired in early April as the new head coach, replacing Brett Davis, who went to coach in Tonopah Valley, Ariz. Spiro had the top passing offense in Oklahoma last year, according to MaxPreps under Davis’ signature 44 Shoot scheme, but missed the playoffs while going 5-5 in his only year at the school.
Fowler brings a different mentality, focusing more on defense.
“If they don’t ever score, we win,” he said. Fowler runs a 4-2-5 formation.
Fowler was an assistant under long-time head coach Chris Bunch from 1990-99, coaching linebackers and defensive backs. Fowler has coached at Vian, Muldrow and, most recently, Salina.
Fowler also coached Spiro’s baseball team from 1991-96, guiding the Bulldogs to a Class 3A state championship in 1991.
Fowler coached Vian to two playoff appearances in the 2000s and Muldrow to three straight playoff runs from 2006-08.
He started his first stint in Salina (2013-15) with a 9-3 season.
In 2021, Fowler’s Salina Wildcats went 5-5.
Two years ago, Fowler was inducted into the Oklahoma Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
Fowler said he did not want to directly follow Bunch as head coach after Bunch retired following the 2020 season. However, Fowler does not mind being the second one after him.
“You don’t ever want to follow a legend. You don’t want to be the first one, but when the opportunity presents itself, it’s hard to pass up,” Fowler said.
Folwler said he wants to retire in Spiro after coaching the Bulldogs as long as he can.
While many in Spiro may be happy to have Fowler leading the program, Fowler feels even more joy within himself at McClain Stadium.
“The pride comes more from me than the town itself,” he said. “I bleed Bulldog red.