Born in Tacoma and raised in Fayetteville, North Carolina, Tyquan Bowie’s love for football began in the heart of Carolina. For Ty, football has always been more than a game—it’s about discipline, brotherhood, and the internal drive to compete at your highest level. That passion now fuels his role as Director of Marketing for the Seattle Sabercats, where he is committed to delivering innovative marketing strategies and bold execution to elevate the Sabercats brand across the region and beyond.

Ty’s football journey spans over two decades—from playing at age five to age 29—and includes the honor of playing under Head Coach Sam Smith and team owner Tony Cowan. That experience, which Ty considers one of the best of his football career, reinforced a shared vision: to grow the game of football and create meaningful opportunities for players to develop, compete, and advance to the next level.

With deep respect for the game and an unrelenting work ethic, Ty is focused on building visibility, fan engagement, and brand loyalty for the Sabercats. His mission is clear: to help shape a powerhouse franchise rooted in community, excellence, and opportunity.

Bryce Williams brings over 15 years of experience in football operations, player development, and organizational leadership to his role as Assistant General Manager.

Williams began his semi-pro career in 2009 with the Tacoma Invaders, earning a starting role at tight end and helping secure a playoff upset and championship appearance. Over the next decade, he became known as a versatile competitor and leader, playing quarterback, receiver, and tight end while also serving as an offensive coordinator. His career included playoff success with the Puget Sound Outlaws and multiple titles with the Northwest Hurricanes and Grit City Knights.

Off the field, Williams founded Northwest Athletics Apparel in 2017, outfitting championship teams across Washington. He also helped build the Hurricanes and Knights, guiding the Knights to back-to-back league titles and the 2025 Pacific National Championship in Las Vegas. That same year, he joined the WCPML Executive Board, overseeing governance, logistics, and competitive integrity for more than 400 athletes.

Today, Williams leverages his championship pedigree, front office expertise, and deep community ties to help build the Pacific Northwest’s next arena football powerhouse.

Coach Sam Smith brings a wealth of experience, a proven track record of success, and a passion for player development to his role as General Manager and Head Coach of the Seattle Sabercats.

Most recently, Coach Smith led his team in the Gridiron Developmental Football League (GDFL) to the 2023 National Championship Game in Washington, D.C., finishing the season with a stellar 10-1 record and earning a No. 4 national ranking. In his debut season with the team, they posted a 10-2 record, capturing their conference championship. As Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator of the Rebels, Coach Smith’s defenses ranked among the best in the nation for two consecutive seasons—top 3 in total defense, top 3 in sacks and interceptions, and top 2 in points allowed, averaging only 8.3 points per game. Over two seasons, his defensive unit produced 13 All-Pro selections.

Prior to his success in the GDFL, Coach Smith built a solid collegiate coaching résumé, including multiple tenures at Avila University in Kansas City, Missouri. At Avila:

• He coached Offensive Line, producing two All-Conference players.
• He served as Linebackers Coach, mentoring three All-Conference selections.
• He then moved to Defensive Line Coach, where he developed an All-American Defensive End and three additional All-Conference players.

In 2015, Coach Smith joined Texas College as the Recruiting Coordinator and Linebackers Coach. There, he helped the program achieve its best record in years and recruited over 35 student-athletes across Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi, Kansas, Missouri, and Tennessee. One of his linebackers earned First-Team All-Conference honors and led the team in sacks.

Coach Smith returned to Avila University in 2016, once again as Recruiting Coordinator and Linebackers Coach. His recruiting success played a pivotal role in Avila’s rise into the NAIA Top 25 national rankings for the first time in school history. He helped guide the team to back-to-back 7–3 seasons, the most successful two-year stretch in the program’s history at the time. Multiple players he recruited earned All-Conference recognition.

Coach Smith began his coaching career at University Academy High School in Kansas City, Missouri. Starting as the Linebackers and Offensive Line Coach, he was quickly promoted to Defensive Coordinator in his second year. Over five seasons as DC, he coached numerous All-Conference athletes and helped lead the team to its first conference championship.

Tony Cowan is a dynamic football executive, entrepreneur, and community leader with a proven track record of building high-performing teams from the ground up. As President of the Seattle Sabercats, Cowan brings hands-on experience in team operations, strategic planning, and talent acquisition — all rooted in a deep commitment to excellence both on and off the field.

In 2021, Tony and his wife founded the West Sound Rebels, building the organization from scratch into one of the top developmental football teams in the country. As President of Football Operations, he was the driving force behind every facet of the organization’s success — including player recruitment, practice and facility logistics, ordering uniforms and equipment, coordinating home games, and building partnerships with local sponsors and vendors.

Tony also spearheaded media and fan engagement by hiring a professional content and livestreaming team, managing social media strategy, and integrating merchandise and food vendors at home games to generate additional revenue. His efforts led to remarkable on-field success:

• Year 1: Finished 10–2, ranked #3 nationally
• Year 2: Finished 10–1 with the team’s only loss in the National Championship Game in Washington, D.C.

Currently, Tony serves as the General Manager of the IFL Washington Rebels, where he manages all roster decisions, recruiting, football operations, and coaching staff coordination. He is responsible for high-level communications with the IFL league office, including annual commissioner updates and official team statements.

As President of the Seattle Sabercats, Tony oversees the strategic vision and day-to-day operations of the franchise, working in close collaboration with the executive team to drive team performance, community outreach, sponsorship development, and long-term organizational growth.

Dr. Lyle Crews, Jr. serves as the Vice President focused on Strategy & Business Operations for the Seattle Sabercats, where he brings a dynamic blend of executive leadership, entrepreneurial acumen, and academic excellence to the team’s front office. With over 20 years of experience in business strategy, real estate, education, and sports development, Dr. Crews is a driving force behind the Sabercats’ operational success and long-term sustainability.

As a founding executive of the Sabercats franchise, Dr. Crews leads the charge in business planning, capital development, sponsorship engagement, and fan experience innovation. He has played a central role in structuring the team’s multi-phase investment strategy, building community partnerships, and aligning the Sabercats with the future of professional indoor football.

Dr. Crews is also the Managing Broker of Aspen NW Real Estate, a property management and investment-focused firm, and a faculty member at North Seattle College, where he teaches in the Real Estate and Property Management BAS program. He holds a Doctorate in Business Administration and specializes in strategic growth, organizational excellence, and financial modeling.

Driven by a deep passion for community impact, mentorship, and economic empowerment, Dr. Crews ensures that the Seattle Sabercats are not only a sports team, but a transformative force in the Puget Sound region.