Joe Stowell, the foundational figure of Bradley University basketball who served the program as a player, coach, and broadcaster for seven decades, died Feb. 14, 2026. He was 99.
Stowell first gained prominence as a student-athlete from 1947 to 1950. During this era, he helped the Bradley Braves secure the 1950 Missouri Valley Conference title and reach the championship games of both the NCAA and NIT tournaments. After a brief period coaching high school, he returned to his alma mater as an assistant before taking over as the ninth head coach in program history in 1965.
As a basketball coach, Stowell led the Braves for 13 seasons and recorded 197 victories. This total stands as the second-highest win count in the history of the university. His 1968 squad earned national recognition by leading all major college programs in field goal percentage. Following his departure from the sidelines in 1978, he moved into the broadcast booth.
According to local reports, Stowell served as a radio analyst for Bradley games alongside Dave Snell from 1985 until 2010. He remained a constant presence at university athletic events and served as a global representative for the school well into his nineties. University officials noted that he dedicated more than 70 years to the institution as an administrator and mentor. His presence remained a fixture of the Peoria sports community until the end of his life.