[1] He is second in program history with 73 career wins and led the Lions to the 1990 Lone Star Conference championship and appearances in the NCAA Division II playoffs in 1990, 1991, and 1995.
[1] Vowell was hired by Ernest Hawkins in 1983 as East Texas State's defensive coordinator and track and field coach.
[2] In 1985, Hawkins announced his retirement from coaching and transitioned to athletic administration at East Texas State.
In Vowell's first two seasons, the Lions struggled, posting 2–9 records in 1986 and 1987, but the 1988 Lion team finished with an 8–3 record and reached as high as #2 in the national polls before dropping their two final games to lose out on a conference title and playoff bid.
The Lions regressed to 4–6 in 1989, but then posted a 10–3 season in 1990 and won the Lone Star Conference with a perfect 7–0 record.