Travis Bowen’s journey as a professional soccer player has taken him around the world, from Los Angeles to Brazil, Egypt, Macedonia and more.
These experiences didn’t just influence his skills on the field, they brought him a passion for languages and cultures. Fluent in Portuguese, Spanish, German, and Jamaican Patois, Travis Bowen believes that learning languages is a way to connect with people.
“I just really fell in love with other people’s cultures. Learning their languages was my way of connecting with them,” Travis Bowen said.
His time playing soccer in places like Brazil and Egypt have taught him humility, curiosity and the importance of meeting new people. These values continue to inspire his coaching at San Domenico. For Travis Bowen, soccer is more than just a sport, it’s a way to grow as a person, identify personal interests and understand the world.
Captain of the men’s soccer team, 12th grader James Cunningham, deeply respects and admires how his coach focuses on improving a little every day by staying humble.
“He always talks about getting 1% better every day and emphasizes consistent, hard work because he knows it’ll pay off in the long run,” Cunningham said.
Travis Bowen views humility as the foundation of growth, a belief he’s held throughout his soccer career and into coaching.
“No matter what level you get to, remain humble,” Travis Bowen said. “If you’re humble, you always have room to learn, and you always know you have room to work harder.”
This mindset has shaped his career as a player by pushing him to work hard and compete internationally, and it continues to guide his coaching today.
Coach Travis Bowen’s journey as a professional soccer player has also sparked a love for fashion off of the field. His time spent playing around the world has presented him with countless diverse and unique cultures, which has ultimately influenced his interest in style.
“I had teammates from all over the world—France, Germany, Brazil—and I loved how they dressed. I started to mix their styles and make it my own,” Travis Bowen shared.
Beyond soccer and fashion, Travis Bowen has also developed an interest in finance, a topic that became particularly important during his playing career, as managing money wisely is something many athletes struggle with after retirement or even during their career. Therefore, Travis Bowen was determined to learn early.
“It was really just about understanding how important it is to manage your money well, especially in sports, because if you don’t, you’re gonna lose it all,” Travis Bowen said. “I’ve seen a lot of players go through that, and I didn’t want that to be me.”
His brother, Tristan Bowen, who also coaches soccer here at San Domenico admires his brother’s dedication to learning finance.
“He reads a lot. He’s always giving me all of his old finance books,” Tristan Bowen revealed.
Not only has Travis Bowen dedicated himself to acquiring knowledge and skills regarding finance, but he has also begun to attend conferences and give talks, one of which earned him recognition as one of the top three speakers in Nashville, Tennessee.
Nonetheless, Travis Bowen also viewed soccer as an opportunity towards a better future for him and his family. Growing up, he realized that accomplishments in the sport was a way to improve his life and help those around him.
“Soccer opened up doors for me and gave me opportunities that I wouldn’t have had otherwise,” Travis Bowen said.
However, he didn’t just view soccer as a gateway to success, he was truly dedicated to improving and expressing his love for the sport.
Travis and Tristan Bowen’s dedication to soccer is truly impressive. When they were in high school, they would take a 45-minute bus ride to Los Angeles just to be able to practice the sport.
“That’s something I think a lot of people here don’t realize—we’re so lucky to have a field right here at school, but Travis and his brother had to work a lot harder just to get the chance to play,” Cunningham said.
Travis Bowen’s journey in soccer goes beyond the game. His experiences around the world have sparked his passion for languages, fashion, and finance, each influencing his life and coaching deeply. He believes that staying humble and working hard leads to success, both on and off the field. Now, as a coach, he passes these lessons on to his students, showing them that soccer isn’t about just playing, it’s about knowing who you are and becoming who you want to be.
