MOBILE, Ala. — South Alabama has hired Richard Owens, who spent the past three seasons on the UAB football staff, to fill an opening on the Jaguars’ offensive coaching staff.
The university has not specified Owens’ position title. He coached tight ends at UAB in two of his three seasons there.
Three Seasons at UAB
Owens joined UAB in 2012 as tight ends coach. In 2013 he moved to wide receivers and also served as the Blazers’ offensive coordinator. In 2014, under first-year UAB head coach Bill Clark, Owens returned to coaching tight ends while Bryant Vincent took over as offensive coordinator.
Before UAB, Owens spent two years as a graduate assistant at the University of Arkansas, where he also worked with the tight ends.
Playing Career
Owens played college football at Louisville. As a redshirt freshman, he appeared in all 12 games with three starts at tight end and was named to the Conference USA All-Freshman team.
He went on to a five-year NFL career with the St. Louis Rams, Minnesota Vikings and New York Jets, appearing in 53 games with seven starts between 2004 and 2009.
Owens is a native of Middleburg, Fla.
Staff Changes Continue
The hire is the latest move as head coach Joey Jones fills positions on his offensive staff this offseason. South Alabama competes in the Sun Belt Conference and plays its home games at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile.
