WINNIPEG — The Winnipeg Football Club would like to extend its deepest sympathies to the family of former Blue Bomber coach Urban Bowman, who passed away Sunday.

“Everyone in the Blue Bombers family is deeply saddened by this news. Urban was a great ambassador for our game and for Canadian football in Winnipeg and Manitoba. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this time,” said Wade Miller, President and CEO.

Bowman first joined the Bombers coaching ranks in 1985 as the defensive line and special teams coach. He left the Bombers four years later to become the Ottawa Rough Riders’ offensive line coach, but returned to Winnipeg in 1991.

In 1992, Bowman was named the Bombers’ interim head coach after Cal Murphy underwent a heart transplant surgery. He would lead the Winnipeg to an 11-7 record and a first place finish in the Eastern Division. The Bombers defeated the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 59-11 in the division final that year, but lost to the Calgary Stampeders 24-10 in the 80th Grey Cup.

Bowman returned to his prior position as defensive line and special teams coach upon Murphy’s return in 1993, and in 1995, joined the Hamilton Tiger-Cats as assistant head coach.

After a battle with prostate cancer and some time spent in the collegiate coaching ranks, Bowman returned to the CFL in 2000, first with the Toronto Argonauts and then the Bombers in 2004 as special teams coach. In 2009, Bowman was inducted into the Carroll County Sports Hall of Fame.

“Beyond coaching football, Urban was also a teacher and became a Canadian citizen in 1995. He loved the CFL and the people of the league and he will be missed dearly,” said Miller.