Harland Bower - Assistant Coach/Defensive Ends - Football Coaches

Harland Bower

Title:
Assistant Coach/Defensive Ends
Phone:
(919) 684-2635

Harland Bower joined the Blue Devil gridiron program in December 2021 and serves as an assistant coach, working primarily with the defensive ends.

Bower’s third season with the Blue Devils produced some of his finest work as Duke’s defense finished 2024 ranked second nationally in tackles for loss per game (8.9), second in fumbles recovered (14), fourth in sacks per game (3.3), seventh in turnovers gained (27) and 24th in turnover margin (+0.62). Within the ACC, the Blue Devils led the league in tackles for loss per game, sacks per game, fumbles recovered and turnovers gained.

Bower’s work with starting ends Vincent Anthony Jr. and Wesley Williams was evident in 2024 as the duo combined for 73 tackles, 23.0 tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks and 22 quarterback pressures. Williams capped his season with honorable mention All-ACC accolades after recording 48 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks and nine quarterback pressures. Anthony Jr. ended his year with 25 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 5.0 sacks and 13 quarterback pressures. Williams’ 7.5 sacks are the eighth most in a year in program history while Anthony Jr.’s 13 quarterback pressures rank as the seventh most in a Duke campaign. Of Bower’s top four defensive ends in the rotation in 2024, each booked at least 20 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks.

In 2023, Bower helped guide Duke’s defensive unit rank 10th nationally in red zone defense (.744) and 16th in scoring defense (19.0). The scoring defense marked the Blue Devils’ best finish since 1974, when the defense surrendered just 18.9 points per game. Additionally, three of the Blue Devils’ five losses were by seven points or less, and four came against nationally-ranked opponents. Duke held nine-of-12 opponents to under 25 points, including four to less than 10 points.

Bower aided in the early development of Williams, who finished his redshirt freshman campaign in 2023 with 39 tackles and 6.5 tackles for loss to lead the unit. In addition, redshirt senior defensive end R.J. Oben tied for the team lead in sacks and finished fourth in tackles for loss with 5.0 and 6.0, respectively, on the year.

In his first year in Durham in 2022, Bower mentored a trio of defensive ends in Anthony Jr. (28), Oben (20) and Michael Reese (28), who all finished with 20-plus tackles on the year. In addition, Oben was third and fourth on the team in sacks (4.5) and tackles for loss (6.5), respectively, while leading the team in quarterback pressures with 10.

As a unit, Bower’s group helped Duke rank first nationally in fumbles recovered (16), second in turnover margin (+1.23), ninth in turnovers gained (26) and 23rd in sacks (2.8). In addition, Duke’s defensive unit ranked fourth in the ACC in rushing defense, allowing just 121.1 yards per outing, and held five-of-12 opponents to under 100 yards rushing for an average of just 3.7 yards per carry with eight rushing scores. Under Bower’s guidance, Duke became the seventh team in program history to hold its opponents to less than 15 rushing scores in a single-season after allowing just 10 in 2022.

Bower served on the defensive staff at Texas A&M University for the 2021 season, where he was a defensive analyst for the Aggies during their 8-4 season, which included an invitation to the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl.

Prior to his time in College Station, Bower spent three seasons (2018-19-20) as the defensive line coach at the University of South Alabama. While there, he mentored five to All-Sun Belt honors.

In 2020, the Jaguars finished first in the Sun Belt in fourth down defense, holding opponents to just a 38.5 percent (10-for-26) conversation rate. Bower mentored senior defensive lineman and All-Sun Belt selection Jeremiah Littles that season to sixth on the team with 32 tackles, including 5.5 tackles for loss and a team-best 3.0 sacks.

The previous season, he coached Jeffrey Whatley and Sean Brown to all-conference honors. Whatley ranked second in the league with 1.21 tackles for loss per game and finished with 14.5 on the year, which was the third-highest season total in school history. He also tied with teammate Rocel McWilliams for a team-high 4.5 sacks. Brown ended up with career-high figures in 2019 after posting 28 tackles and three tackles behind the line of scrimmage.

During his first year at South Alabama, Bower helped a trio of players in Tyree Turner, Jordan Beaton and Littles combine to register 20 tackles for loss, including 8.5 sacks, as the Jaguars finished among the top half of the Sun Belt in both categories. For those efforts both Turner and Beaton earned All-Sun Belt honors.

Bower joined the Jaguars after a two-year stint (2016-17) as a defensive graduate assistant at Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish went 14-11 during his two seasons in South Bend, including a 21-17 win over LSU in the 2017 Citrus Bowl. In his second year, Notre Dame finished 11th in both national polls and improved at least 20 spots in the national rankings in rushing defense (72nd to 51st), pass efficiency defense (79th to 46th), scoring defense (62nd to 31st), third down defense (60th to 37th), turnovers gained (104th to 50th), sacks (117th to 82nd) and tackles for loss (102nd to 58th).

Prior to his stop in South Bend, Bower served two years (2014-15) as the outside linebackers coach at the University of Central Arkansas. In his second season, he helped the Bears finish with a record of 7-4, including a 7-2 mark in the Southland Conference. During his time there, he mentored future All-American and First-Team All-Southland Conference selection George Odum and aided in the development of future first-team all-league honoree Chris Chambers.

Bower also made one-year stops at Troy University (graduate assistant/defense) in 2013, Rutgers University (defensive quality control) in 2012, and Murray State University (assistant defensive line and assistant strength and conditioning) in 2011. His coaching career started at Georgia Military College in 2010, where he coached the outside linebackers and was an assistant strength and conditioning coach.

A 2009 graduate of Georgia Southern University with a bachelor’s degree in general studies, Bower was a four-year letterman along the defensive line and was credited with 56 tackles. He began his collegiate playing career at Central Michigan University in 2005 but transferred to Georgia Southern and was elected a team captain as a senior.

Bower is married to the former Lauren Leigh Haines of Duluth, Ga., and they are the parents of daughters Savannah and Harper.

THE HARLAND BOWER FILE
Hometown: Edison, N.J.
Education: Georgia Southern, 2009 (general studies)
Wife: Lauren Leigh
Children: Savannah and Harper
Birthday: April 4, 1988

BOWER'S COACHING CAREER

2022-pres. – Duke (Defensive Ends)
2021 – Texas A&M (Defensive Analyst)
2018-20 – South Alabama (Defensive Line)
2016-17 – Notre Dame (Graduate Assistant/Defensive Line)
2014-15 – Central Arkansas (Outside Linebackers)
2013 – Troy (Graduate Assistant/Defense)
2012 – Rutgers (Defensive Quality Control Coach)
2011 – Murray State (Defensive Line/Assistant Strength & Conditioning)
2010 – Georgia Military College (Outside Linebackers/Assistant Strength & Conditioning)