HARRISONBURG, Va. -- Jeff "Peanut" Bowyer, James Madison University's wrestling coach for 14 seasons, resigned his position Tuesday (April 9) to pursue other professional opportunities.    Bowyer, a Phillipsburg, N.J., native and one of the top wrestlers in JMU history as an undergraduate, compiled a 112-101 record while directing the Dukes' program.  His teams won Colonial Athletic Association championships in 1999 and 2000, and he was the conference coach of the year in both of those seasons.    "I have recently been pursuing an opportunity that will further my professional career ambitions," Bowyer said.  "This opportunity is something that I feel is necessary for my future growth, both professionally and personally."    "I would like to thank JMU for helping me develop the skills and necessary tools that have made this opportunity possible," he said. "The last two years have been extremely difficult for me at JMU, but it was these most-trying times that enabled me to gain the notice of outstanding leaders in the athletic community."    Bowyer first came to JMU in 1983, and he holds JMU records for wrestling victories as both a competitor and as a head coach.  He had 125 victories while competing for the Dukes for four seasons (1983-87); he won two Eastern Regional championships; he advanced to the NCAA Championships three times; and he is a member of JMU's sports hall of fame.    Bowyer became JMU's head wrestling coach in 1988-89 and led the Dukes to records of .500 or better nine times, including five times in the last six seasons.  Twenty-one of his wrestlers made a total of 29 appearances in the NCAA Championships, including seven individuals who competed in the national event in 2000.    Bowyer's JMU teams also were successfully academically.  His 1997-78 squad ranked second nationally with a team grade-point average of 3.153 in a survey conducted by the National Wrestling Coaches Association.  The Dukes were third in 1996-97 and 1995-96, fourth in 1994-95 and fifth in 1993-94  and 1998-99.  JMU had the only program in the nation to be ranked among the top five in each of the six seasons from 1993-99.  The Dukes' program ranked 20th academically in 1999-2000 and sixth in 2000-01.