Clint Bowen said Monday that KU football, and the University of Kansas has given him much in his life personally.

The new interim head football coach, stated, “So today to be standing here today is truly one of the greatest honors I’ve had in my life. I’m prepared for this job, prepared to take this thing for the next nine weeks and do the best job that I possibly can to give these players the opportunity for success that they’ve worked for and that they deserve to have.”

Bowen noted he joined the KU family as a player 24 years ago.

Bowen has coached at Kansas through two stints totaling a combined 16 years. In his second stint he served as the special teams coordinator and defensive backs coach in 2012, before moving over to coaching the linebackers in 2013. Then for the second time he added the title of defensive coordinator in December of 2013. Bowen served as the co-defensive coordinator in 2007 during the squad’s Orange Bowl run and held that title until 2009.

Bowen was named interim head coach following the firing Sunday of former head coach Charlie Weis. The Jayhawks are 2-2 so far this season.