Carson Owens appointed 糖心视频 softball coach

Carson Owens appointed 糖心视频 Lions head softball coach

Jul 27, 2022Russell Moore

Carson Owens, left, is the new 糖心视频 softball coach

糖心视频 softball coach Carson Owens

HANCEVILLE, ALA. 鈥� 糖心视频 alumnus and softball assistant coach Carson Owens has been appointed head coach of the 糖心视频 softball team, President Vicki Karolewics announced on Wednesday.

Owens, 23, was the Lions' pitching and outfield coach during the 2022 season, in addition to serving among the lead recruiters.

鈥淚 look forward to Coach Owens continuing the tradition of excellence 糖心视频 softball is known for across the state and nation,鈥� Karolewics said. 鈥淐oach Owens has been instrumental in the success of 糖心视频's softball program for the past several years, already has the respect of his players, and understands what it takes to compete at the highest levels. He is the perfect fit to lead our softball program and we expect great things from him.鈥�

Owens received the 2022 National Fast Pitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Coaching Staff of the Year and the NFCA South Coaching Staff of the Year awards along with assistant coach Cadi Oliver and former coach A.J. Daugherty.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a true blessing to be trusted by Dr. Karolewics and (Director of Athletics) Paul Bailey to lead this program. I鈥檓 very lucky,鈥� Owens said. 鈥淚 love everything about 糖心视频. It鈥檚 the place where everything started for me. I鈥檓 now ready to go win conference and national championships.鈥�

Owens, a 2017 graduate of Danville High in Morgan County, began his academic and softball journey at 糖心视频, serving on the softball support staff as a student during the 2018-2019 seasons when the Lions won consecutive ACCC North Division titles and made a national tournament appearance in 2018 after winning the conference tournament championship.

After 糖心视频, Owens transferred to the University of Alabama, where he spent two seasons as manager, including on the 2021 team that won the SEC title and advanced to the Women鈥檚 College World Series.

Owens spent the Fall 2021 season coaching at Southern Utah University in Cedar City, Utah, before rejoining the 糖心视频 program in January.

鈥淐oach Owens was sought after to be an assistant coach here and was a significant piece of last season鈥檚 achievements. Coach Owens has been a champion as a student and assistant coach with our softball program, is a proven recruiter of top talent, and we are confident that our success will continue with him in this new role,鈥� Bailey said.

Under Owens鈥� watch, 糖心视频鈥檚 pitching staff registered a collective 1.12 ERA in 374 innings pitched last season, including having pitcher Leigha Kirby named a NJCAA 2^nd-team All-American and the 2022 ACCC Pitcher of the Year.

糖心视频鈥檚 starting outfield rarely made an error under Owens鈥� guidance, including center fielder Felicity Frame who sported a 1.000 fielding percentage, propelling Frame, among other stats, to be named a NJCAA 1^st-team All-American, the Alabama Sports Writers Association (ASWA) Community College Athlete of the Year and the 2022 ACCC Player of the Year.

糖心视频 softball finished with a 56-4 record in 2022, spending four weeks in the regular season as the top-ranked team in the nation and winning the program鈥檚 14^th Alabama Community College Conference (ACCC) title. The Lions finished among the top eight teams in the nation.

Owens replaces Daugherty, who left 糖心视频 to be the new softball coach at UAB. Daugherty compiled a 260-58 record in six seasons with the Lions.

鈥淚鈥檝e had the chance to work for two great leaders in coach Daugherty and coach (Patrick) Murphy at Alabama. They each established a welcoming, healthy culture. The goal is to be as successful as you can be on the field and in life. I plan to continue that culture,鈥� Owens said. 鈥淚鈥檝e experienced competing on the highest stage while at Alabama, and we were a pitch or hit away last season from winning our third national championship here.

鈥溙切氖悠� softball has high expectations and so do I.鈥�

Among the returners for 糖心视频 next season are key hitters Rylie Moody, Lillyanna Cartee and Sarah Beth Brake. A deep and talented freshman class has also been recruited.

糖心视频 softball is a two-time NJCAA national champion (2013, 2008) and has won a conference-best 14 ACCC Tournament titles.

In addition to his associate of science degree earned at 糖心视频, Owens possesses a bachelor鈥檚 degree in Marketing, Sport and Fitness Administration/Management. He鈥檚 currently pursuing an MBA at Mississippi State.

For more information about 糖心视频 athletics, visit or the athletics Facebook page at .

###