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Jim Owens
File:Jim Owens.jpg
Owens from 1960 UW yearbook
Sport(s)Football
Biographical details
Born(1927-03-06)March 6, 1927
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
DiedJune 6, 2009(2009-06-06) (aged 82)
Bigfork, Montana[1]
Playing career
1946–1949
1950
Oklahoma
Baltimore Colts
Position(s)End
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1951–1953
1954–1956
1957–1974
Kentucky (assistant)
Texas A&M (assistant)
Washington
Head coaching record
Overall99–82–6
Bowls2–1
Statistics
College Football Data Warehouse
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
3 AAWU (1959, 1960, 1963)
College Football Hall of Fame
Inducted in 1982 (profile)

James Donald "Jim" Owens (March 6, 1927 – June 6, 2009) was an American football player and coach. He was the head coach at the University of Washington from 1957 to 1974, compiling a record of 99–82–6 (.545) in 18 seasons.

Owens played college football at the University of Oklahoma from 1946 to 1949, under head coach Bud Wilkinson.[2] He played a year of pro football in 1950 and then was a college assistant coach for six years under the legendary Bear Bryant at the University of Kentucky and Texas A&M University.[3] According to legend, after the 1956 season, when the Washington Huskies were looking for a head coach, Bryant indicated to reporters that Owens "will make a great coach for somebody some day."[4]

In 1959 and 1960, he led the Washington to back-to-back ten-win seasons and consecutive Rose Bowl wins. He also coached the Huskies to the 1964 Rose Bowl. Owens concurrently served as the athletic director at Washington from 1960 to 1969. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame as a player in 1982.

Owens resigned as head coach of the Huskies following the 1974 season at the end of his last contract, a three-year deal at $33,000 per year.[5] He was succeeded by Don James, who would also coach the Huskies for 18 seasons.

Head coaching record[]

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs Coaches# AP°
Washington Huskies (Pacific Coast) (1957–1958)
1957 Washington 3–6–1 3–4 7th
1958 Washington 3–7 1–6 8th
Washington Huskies (AAWU/Pac-8) (1959–1974)
1959 Washington 10–1 6–1 T–1st W Rose 7 8
1960 Washington 10–1 7–0 1st W Rose 5 6
1961 Washington 5–4–1 2–1–1 T–2nd
1962 Washington 7–1–2 4–1 2nd 14
1963 Washington 6–5 4–1 1st L Rose 15
1964 Washington 6–4 5–2 3rd
1965 Washington 5–5 4–3 4th
1966 Washington 6–4 4–3 4th
1967 Washington 5–5 3–4 T–3rd
1968 Washington 3–5–2 1–5–1 8th
1969 Washington 1–9 1–7 7th
1970 Washington 6–4 4–3 T–2nd
1971 Washington 8–3 4–3 T–3rd 19
1972 Washington 8–3 4–3 T–3rd
1973 Washington 2–9 0–7 8th
1974 Washington 5–6 3–4 T–5th
Washington: 99–82–6 60–58–2
Total: 99–82–6
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title
#Rankings from final Coaches' Poll.
°Rankings from final AP Poll.

References[]

  1. The New York Times - Jim Owens, former Washington football coach, dies at 82 - Associated Press - 2009-06-08
  2. USA Today - Former Washington football coach Jim Owens dies at 82 - Associated Press - 2009-06-06
  3. Withers, Bud (June 6, 2009). "Jim Owens, coaching legend of UW football, dies at 82". Seattle Times. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/collegesports/2009308687_webjimowens06.html.
  4. "Sarkisian has ‘it’ factor UW needs". http://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/columnists/mcgrath/story/559355.html.
  5. Lewiston Morning Tribune - Huskies' Owens quits - Associated Press - 1974-11-27 - p.B1

External links[]


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