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Longstanding fans of the University of Southern Indiana remember the days of seeing head coach Rodney Watson lead the Screaming Eagles to victory every year, but they will also remember one familiar face as he returns to Evansville as a head coach of his own team. Brent Owen played for USI from 2006 to 2009. He became a graduate assistant from ’09-’11, and then assistant coach from 2014 to 2020. Owen had been under the tutelage of Rodney Watson for his entire coaching career at USI, so he’s learned a thing or two about the winning culture. In May of 2020 he finally got the chance to be a head coach of his own team, for Eastern New Mexico. A few years later, he was hired as the head coach for Lenoir-Ryne University in Hickory, North Carolina in 2024. In just his first year as the head coach for the Bears, he brought the team to the Elite 8 in Division 2 basketball, right back to Evansville with a record of 29-5. The team is currently shooting over 87 points per game with a .498 field goal percentage. I was able to catch up with Coach Owen today to talk a little about his journey to this point.
For Owen, this means more to him than people understand. He’s asking for all USI fans to come support him and his team tonight at the Ford Center for a chance to win a D2 title in the town that started his coaching career. Lenoir-Rhyne University will play Washburn (29-3) tonight at 8:30pm Central. Once an Eagle, always an Eagle. Good luck, Coach Owen!
-Clay Roth, USI Class of 2016
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