Jody Owens was named the Interim Head Coach for the Falcons on October 13, 2023.
Owens came to Saint Augustine’s University as Defensive Coordinator after serving as an Offensive Assistant for the Carolina Panthers working under Offensive Coordinator Ben McAdoo. Owens responsibility included being the Assistant Running Backs coach working with Pro Bowl running back Christian McCaffrey and D'Onta Foreman who had a career year with his time with the Panthers. Owens other responsibilities included breaking down opposing defenses pressure packages and presenting them to the coaching staff and offensive unit.
Prior to joining the NFL, Owens help lead Pittsburg State (KS) as the Defensive Coordinator to one of the best defensive units in the MIAA, allowing just 19.5 points per game. They were one of only two teams in the conference to hold teams to fewer than 20 points per contest. The Gorillas were also #2 in the MIAA in both total defense and rush defense. Coach Owens also coached a linebacker group that produced its first All-American in eight years, with PJ Sarwinski earning All-America recognition.
He helped guide a Briar Cliff University defense for the 2019 season that ranked in the top 25 nationally in total defense (11th, 292.0 ypg), pass efficiency defense (14th, 103.2 rating), opponent fourth down conversions (16th, .360), rushing defense (19th, 119.4 ypg), scoring defense (21st, 20.1 ppg) and passing defense (21st, 172.8 ypg) during the 2019 campaign. Owens coached Briar Cliff’s first ever football All-American, linebacker Robert Robinson, a 2019 finalist for the Cliff Harris Award. He also participated in the Bill Wash Internship program with the Chicago Bears during their 2019 training camp.
Owens spent the 2017 and 2018 seasons primarily working with the University of Washington linebackers. The Huskies won the Pac 12 championship in 2018 and achieved back-to-back New Year’s Six bowl game appearances (Fiesta and Rose Bowl). During his time as a Husky, Owens assisted in the mentorship of NFL draft picks, Keishawn Bierria and Azeem Victor. Another highlighted performer mentored by Owens, Ben Burr-Kirven, was named first-team All-America by numerous outlets and won the Pat Tillman Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year award. Owens contributed to nationally ranked defenses and the Pac 12’s leader in total defense and scoring defense over his two seasons with the team.
Owens worked as a graduate assistant at the University of Nevada during the 2016 season. He also participated in the Bill Walsh Internship program with the Kansas City Chiefs during their 2016 training camp. In 2015, Owens helped coach linebackers at his alma mater, Montana State University.
While a player in Bozeman, Owens was named the 2012 Big Sky Conference Defensive Player of the Year and was a two-time All-America selection. After redshirting in 2008, he was an honorable mention All-Big Sky selection as a freshman in 2009 and again in 2010, when the Bobcats won the conference championship.
As a junior, he was a unanimous first-team All-Big Sky honoree and earned second-team All-American status. In 2012, as team captain, he was a consensus All-American, leading the Bobcats with 97 tackles, including 17 for a loss.
Owens began coaching as an assistant at Community High School in Nevada, Texas in 2013 and then as a strength & conditioning and assistant football coach at L.D. Bell High School in Hurst, Texas in 2014.
A native of Mesquite, Texas, Owens earned his bachelor’s degree in secondary education from MSU in 2012. While at University of Nevada-Reno and University of Washington, Owens achieved master’s degrees in educational leadership (2017) and intercollegiate athletic leadership in coaching (2019), respectively.
He and his wife Maricia have two sons, Jody Owens II and Jax Davis Owens.
