Three-time Penn State letterman Bill Bowes was announced as part of the National Football Foundation’s College Football Hall of Fame’s 2016 Class. The former University of New Hampshire coach was is one of 16 new members and one of two coaches.

Bowes was a team captain of the 1962 Nittany Lions team that ended the season 9-2 and ranked No. 9 in the nation. He remained a captain of the Nittany Lions until 1964, his senior season, when the team finished 6-4 defeating both Pitt and Ohio State in shutouts. At the end of the 1964 season, the Nittany Lions declined the opportunity to play in the Gator (now known as the TaxSlayer) Bowl.

Upon his graduation in 1964, Bowes joined Rip Engle’s 1965 football staff as a graduate assistant, where he coached with Joe Paterno. Following the 1965 season Bowes, a Lock Haven area native, moved to Durham, New Hampshire where he began his coaching career with the Wildcats as an offensive line coach. Six years later, after a stint as the Boston College offensive line coach, Bowes was hired as the youngest head coach in University of New Hampshire history.

Selected for his storybook career at the University of New Hampshire, he led the Wildcats to a record of 175-106 as head coach from 1972 to 1998, which featured four different Yankee Conference championships, as well as four trips to the NCAA playoffs. He stands as the winningest coach in the Yankee/Atlantic 10 football conferences, which are now divided between the NEC, Patriot League, and CAA.

Bowes’ FCS legacy extended out to developing NFL greats. The Bowes coaching tree included the likes of Brown coach Phil Estes, University of Massachusetts coach Mark Whipple, and even former NFL Europe and Holy Cross coach Peter Vaas. The most notable coach from his coaching tree is Chip Kelly, formerly of the Philadelphia Eagles.

Bowes’ successful career marks him as the 24th Nittany Lion in the Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony is scheduled for December 6, 2016 in New York City.