MC alumni Jamie Owen coaching at Carson-Newman

Jamie Owen, 2013 Maryville College graduate, had a stellar career on the Fighting Scots’ football team as a defensive end. Owen is tackling life after MC in the same stellar fashion, now as a member of the Carson-Newman University football coaching staff, where he happily contributes to the lives of many student-athletes.

Owen was named Defensive MVP of the Great South Athletic Conference for the 2011 season. After tearing a ligament in his right elbow and undergoing season-ending surgery in 2012, Owen was named a USA South preseason breakout player in 2013. He was named to the all-conference team that year, giving him two all-conference honors in his career. In addition to these accolades, Owen was named one of the Scots’ captains in both the 2012 and 2013 seasons. In his senior season, Owen helped the Scots win eight of their eleven games, clinch a second conference championship, and make their first ever appearance in the NCAA Division III playoffs.

Owen and his fellow 2013 captains Dylan Wolfenbarger, Travis Felder, Evan Pittenger and Zach Capehart were honored at MC’s homecoming football game against LaGrange College. As an MC tradition, a brick was placed in the Captain’s Walk before the game, engraved with the captains’ names and the years they served as captains. All five players were highly spoken of by head coach Mike Rader during the ceremony.

Owen is grateful for his time at Maryville College. “It was a great experience,” Owen said. “I’m very happy I went to MC; it helped me grow as a man and as an individual.”
He also explained that the academics and the rigorous balance of school and football prepared him to pursue his career:

“It really helped me be successful in the real world once I got into coaching, because you have to be up at a certain time and be prepared to work late nights and long hours… Going through the stress load of academics and football really makes you prioritize your time, and that’s been a great asset of mine.”

Owen is now coaching defensive ends at Carson-Newman University as a graduate assistant. He speaks very highly of his fellow coaches, especially head coach Ken Sparks, who is one win behind Paul “Bear” Bryant for sixth-most wins as a head coach in NCAA football history. “I’m glad I have a great influence [at CNU] with coach Sparks; he’s a great mentor to lead me off on my career.”

Owen seemed very excited about the opportunity to coach at Carson-Newman, not to mention the road ahead. His hard work and experience at MC has given him the opportunity to do what he loves. “I get to wake up every morning and coach football… I’m very grateful to be able to stay around the sport I love and to impact young lives.”