LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Spalding University announced today the hiring of Larry Owens as head baseball coach, bringing more than 30 years of baseball experience at the professional and collegiate levels to the Golden Eagles program.
Owens most recently served as assistant coach for the Johnson City Doughboys in the Appalachian League, a summer collegiate baseball league affiliated with Major League Baseball's Prospect Development Pipeline.
From 2013 to 2022, Owens was head baseball coach at Bellarmine University, where he led the Knights to the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament title in 2019 and three consecutive NCAA Division II Tournament appearances from 2017-19. His teams produced five Division II All-Americans and two Major League Baseball draft picks, including Brandon Pfaadt, selected in the fifth round by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2020. His 2018 squad set a program record with 38 wins.
"To say I'm excited is an understatement. The baseball program is in great shape and that is a testament to the hard work that Matt Downs, his coaching staff and all of the student-athletes put into the program," Owens said. "I can't thank Athletics Director Brian Clinard enough for this great opportunity. He has done a tremendous job with the athletics program since taking over, and I look forward to working with him. I want to make the transition as seamless as possible and I do not anticipate changing much of what is already in place. I'm extremely excited to get to know the team and to get the season underway."
Before coaching at Bellarmine, Owens spent seven seasons as a minor league pitching coach in the Chicago White Sox organization and served as pitching coach at Division I programs including the University of Louisville, Austin Peay State University and the University of Memphis.
Owens played collegiate baseball at Bellarmine University, Vincennes University and Armstrong Atlantic State University. He was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 27th round in 1990.
"We are excited to welcome Coach Owens to Spalding University," said Athletic Director Brian Clinard. "His extensive experience at multiple levels of baseball, combined with his proven track record of developing student-athletes, makes him an ideal fit for our program."
Owens and his wife, Kelley, reside in Jeffersonville, Indiana and have four children.
