Career
He was previously the starting quarterback for the University of California, Los Angeles Bruins football team after starter Ben Olson was injured in the middle of the 2006 season. Cowan was a redshirt sophomore. His best game came when he went 12/21 for 124 yards when the Bruins upset the #2 University of Southern California Trojans on December 2, 2006.
Cowan was 15/26 for 240 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions in the loss to Florida State.
Cowan and University of Southern California linebacker Rey Maualuga will be remembered in the tradition-filled University of California, Los Angeles- University of Southern California football rivalry for a violent sideline collision-tackle of Cowan in the 2nd Quarter of the 2007 game which was televised to a national audience. To Cowan"s cr, after the collision he walked to his sideline unassisted, and returned to play the remainder of the contest.
In the post-game day Entertainment and Sports Programming Network telecast, legendary college football coach Lou Holtz observed that the Maualuga tackle of Cowan was "the most violent tackle I have ever seen on a college football field". Cowan ended his University of California, Los Angeles football career when he had a knee injury during the 2008 Spring practices.
He served as an undergraduate assistant coach on the football team in 2008.
He was eligible for the 2009 NFL draft, but was not selected. Following the draft he was signed and later released by the New Orleans Saints. Cowan attended Saint John Bosco High School in Bellflower, California.
Patrick also served with the Peace Corps in Kenya.
Pat Cowan is currently employed at his alma mater, Saint John Bosco High School, as the Director of Admissions.