Owens Announces Retirement As Ashland University Head Football Coach

Ashland University's football program hasn't seen a lot of turnover at the top in the last six-plus decades.
 
Lee Owens, one of only three head football coaches Ashland College/University has had since 1959, announced his retirement on Friday (Dec. 2) afternoon at a press conference in the VIP Room in the Robert Troop Center. Owens recently completed his 19^th year and 18^th season at the Eagle helm in 2022, guiding Ashland to a 10-2 record, the program's first outright Great Midwest Athletic Conference championship and to the second round of the NCAA Division II postseason.

"Hunting, fishing and golfing has always gotten in the way of football, but lately, it seems like football has gotten in the way of hunting, fishing and golfing," Owens said during his press conference on Friday at the VIP Room in the Robert Troop Center. "I have waited 40 years to use that line.

"This week has been tough. Meeting with the players and staff on Tuesday...making a ton of calls. In 45 years, I have been blessed, our family's been blessed."
 
"Lee Owens took one of the best Division II programs in the nation to a higher level, and his legacy at Ashland University will be long remembered for its commitment to excellence," said Carlos Campo, Ashland University President. "His winning attitude and extraordinary coaching skills have left an indelible mark on our campus, and we are grateful to Lee for shaping the lives of young men for good over these years here at AU."
 
Said Al King, Ashland Director of Athletics, "Lee Owens came to Ashland and provided us with a blueprint for a successful football program. By successful, I mean in every aspect – academic performance, athletic excellence, facilities, fundraising, a long-range vision and so much more.
 
"When he arrived, the program got an instant shot of credibility, our competitors realized what kind of commitment we were making. Throughout his career his teams went toe to toe with some of the best teams in the country. He lifted the football program, the campus and the community to a new level."
 
Associate head coach Doug Geiser has been named the program's interim head coach.
 
Owens, 66, ushered in a new era of winning Eagles football since the announcement of his hire on Dec. 3, 2003 – a 137-61 overall record (.692 winning percentage), six D-II playoff appearances, the program's first three D-II postseason wins (all at home), and four conference championships – three in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and the 2022 Great Midwest title.
 
It didn't take long for Owens to put his stamp on the program, as, in his first game at Ashland on Aug. 28, 2004 at Community Stadium, the Eagles topped St. Joseph's, 48-7. In his second season in 2005, Ashland went 9-2 thanks to a season-ending six-game winning streak, then two years later in 2007, was the first of consecutive NCAA playoff appearances.
 
On Nov. 15, 2008, in the Eagles' final game at Community Stadium, Owens led AU to its first NCAA playoff victory, a 27-16 decision over Minnesota State-Mankato.
 
Ashland football finally got its on-campus stadium – Jack Miller Stadium/Martinelli Field – starting in 2009, and that era has brought even more success for Owens and the Eagles. The 2012 season resulted in an undefeated regular season and a home playoff game, as did the 2015 campaign.
 
Then, in 2017, the Eagles broke through for their first NCAA win on Broad Street, and did it against the two-time defending D-II champions in Northwest Missouri State, 21-18, on Nov. 18. Having to work through missing an entire season in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, then an injury-filled 2021, Ashland returned to the NCAA postseason in 2022, and Owens had his fourth double-digit-win season with the Eagles.
 
Owens is the only Ashland head football coach to lead his team to multiple NCAA postseason appearances, as well as the only one to win an NCAA playoff game.
 
And where the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Top 25 poll is concerned, Owens led AU to its highest all-time ranking of No. 3 in two consecutive weeks in 2015.
 
The AFCA president in 2016, Owens was a three-time AFCA Division II Region 3 Coach of the Year (2012, 2015, 2017), and a five-time conference Coach of the Year (GLIAC in 2005, 2012, 2015 and 2017; Great Midwest in 2022) while at Ashland.
 
During Owens' tenure with the Eagles, the program won its 400^th game all-time (24-17 at Northern Michigan on Oct. 14, 2006) and its 500^th game all-time (31-28 at Northwood on Sept. 28, 2019).
 
Owens' players also earned their fair share of honors in his time with the Eagles, as he has coached 25 All-Americans, 10 Academic All-Americans, three members of the AFCA Good Works Team, and four conference Players of the Year.
 
Owens' offenses set new program standards that will stand the test of time, including, but not limited to, 87 points in one game against Lake Erie in 2010, 718 yards of offense vs. Quincy in 2021, and 490 points and 5,843 yards of offense in a season in 2012.
 
Three of Owens' players have added to the list of Eagles to go on to play in the National Football League in the regular season – tight end Adam Shaheen (2017-current) and defensive linemen Jamie Meder (2014-19) and Jeris Pendleton (2012-15).
 
Prior to coming to Ashland as the 14^th head coach in program history, Owens was the head coach at the University of Akron when future Pro Football Hall of Famer Jason Taylor was there, he was an assistant at The Ohio State University and mentored another Hall of Famer, Orlando Pace, and guided Galion High School to an Ohio high school state championship in 1985.
 
Whomever takes the reigns of the Eagle football program will become just the fourth head coach since 1959, following Dr. Fred Martinelli (1959-93), Gary Keller (1994-2003) and Owens.
 
Geiser, also the Eagles' offensive line coach, run game coordinator and pro liaison, has been on Owens' staff for all 19 years at Ashland, as well as all nine of Owens' campaigns at Akron. At Ashland, he has coached seven All-American offensive linemen, four of his O-line pupils have played in the Cactus Bowl, and there have been 12 1,000-yard rushing seasons during Geiser's tenure.
 
"I was ecstatic with the way the season went, so he deserves to go out that way. It's kind of the culmination of all the good he's brought to the university and the program," Geiser said. "I was happy to be a part of that and to contribute to that. Obviously, he's been a big influence in my coaching career, having been around him for so long.
 
"I'm extremely honored," Geiser continued about being interim head coach. "Time is of the essence. We're hot and heavy in recruiting, which we were doing during the season, but we need to get kids on campus. The season doesn't stop. The whole thing doesn't stop because there's a change at the top. What you can expect from us is business as normal."
 

YEAR	W	L	NOTES
2004	5	6
2005	9	2
2006	4	6
2007	8	2	NCAA
2008	9	4	NCAA
2009	6	5
2010	8	3
2011	6	5
2012	11	1	NCAA, GLIAC
2013	5	5
2014	8	2
2015	10	1	NCAA, GLIAC
2016	9	2
2017	11	2	NCAA, GLIAC
2018	6	4
2019	7	4
2020	0	0	COVID-19 PANDEMIC
2021	5	5
2022	10	2	NCAA, GREAT MIDWEST
19 YEARS	137	61

 

TIME	TEAM	LEVEL	W	L	T
2 YEARS	Ashland Crestview	OHSAA	14	5	1
4 YEARS	Galion	OHSAA	33	11	1
1 YEAR	Lancaster	OHSAA	7	3	0
4 YEARS	Massillon Washington	OHSAA	35	13	0
9 YEARS	Akron	NCAA	40	61	0
19 YEARS	ASHLAND	NCAA	137	61	0
39 YEARS	ALL LEVELS		266	154	2

  "There are people you can talk about and do it for 30 minutes and not do them justice, and Lee certainly is one of those. It's not just the way they carry themselves, it's what they do. Anyone who ends up on the (AFCA) board of trustees…they have to be people of high integrity. They have to be great role models for the rest of our profession. Then for them to make it to president…because of the role it plays in our organization, for that year, they are the face of our profession. It's an unbelievable accomplishment. It's reaching the pinnacle of coaching. It carries significant weight, and Lee's contributions to our board have been great. There's people that are on the board…that when they talk, you notice that everybody stops and listens. Every time he talked, everybody stopped. That's pretty incredible. He symbolized everything that is great about our profession, always will. He is that role model that every coach should aspire to be. I'm happy for him, but sorry he's leaving our profession, because our profession needs him." – Todd Berry, executive director of the American Football Coaches Association
 
"So much of it was the winning culture, the program that just has such a great culture that he has built over the last 18, 19 years…that was just attractive to me coming in. I was the quarterback here through the course of COVID, and then last year('s injury), just the way he's been there for me off the field. Just the way that he cares about me, the program, the players…that trust and the faith that we share in Jesus, and the faith that we have in each other as well, carries over from off the field to on the field." – Austin Brenner, Ashland University senior quarterback
 
"My relationship with Lee Owens was almost like father-son-ish. When we first met, I was a very young coach, and he was this bigger-than-life guy who was grounded, humble and down-to-earth. I was like, 'I wanted to be like that guy.' Lee just helped me see that, No. 1, be yourself. No. 2, more than anything else, make sure your family and players are taken care of. And then, go find a way to win. Lee's always been a winner. I've learned a lot from him. I still consult with Lee before I take a job. If anyone inquires about me, I call Lee Owens. It's well-deserved. He's left it a better place. He's a legendary guy in my eyes." – Steve Clinkscale, University of Michigan co-defensive coordinator/defensive passing game coordinator/defensive backs and former Ashland University assistant coach and player
 
"I coached here for 13 years, and I had a lot of good assistant coaches. I would put him in the top five coaches, easily. He's a good football coach, a very good recruiter and an even better person. Lee knew exactly what we stood for, and we recruited good people. He and his family, I love them all, and he did a very good job for me. He's an excellent recruiter. He made them better once he got them in his program." – John Cooper, former Ohio State head football coach
 
"Coach has helped shape my life and many other kids, coaches, supporters, and fans alike that have come through the program over the years. When I really think about it, one thing that really sticks out to me is how he knows how to lead in a number of different ways. There are many examples just in my time alone. On the personal side, Coach O has been a great mentor, coach, and friend. Additionally, Coach O is always there for me when I need him, and because of that whenever he calls for something, such as speaking to the team or giving my advice on something I am more than happy to do so. It's easy to forget about players as they move on from the program, but he makes sure to reach out when he can while also juggling his duties as a coach. I am sad to see him go as the coach of AU, but know he has been the spearhead in laying the foundation to what will be many more years of success for the program." – Bill Cundiff, former Ashland University quarterback and Ashland University Hall of Famer
 
"I've always been indebted to coach Owens for giving me my start in coaching. He was willing to take a chance on a GA with no coaching experience, and help mold me into a coach. He has always been successful at every level, not only in wins and losses, but in changing the lives of young men. He has left an impact everywhere he has been, and I'm sure he will be missed at Ashland University." – Luke Fickell, just-named head football coach at Wisconsin, former defensive lineman at Ohio State and defensive line coach at Akron under Owens
 
"He's been doing it for so long. He's impacted a lot of his players along his journey. That's one of the main things I take away from him. He really poured into his players, invested in them. We had a special relationship, still have a special relationship. I've known Coach O since 2000. We still go out on the boat and fish. It's a lot deeper than throwing a ball or calling a play. He's definitely had a big impact on my life, going back to my days in college. One of the most fun years I had was the year back in Ashland (coaching), seeing him from a different light, still see that passion, that burn, that love of the game." – Charlie Frye, former Ashland University assistant coach and quarterback for Owens at Akron
 
"Coach Owens has had such an impact on so many people in his life. Honor and legacy. By honor, I mean, every place I was at with Lee, we left it in a much better place than when we got there. Every place. He always made a point of that. His character has come through with how he's treated people where he's worked. He's related to not just the players and parents and university officials and the community. He's going to leave a very, very compassionate legacy in the Ashland community. He's still revered in all of those communities, just because of the way he treated others. Lee always has tried to provide opportunities for growth, and he's always looked for ways to put his coaches in a position to succeed. For Lee, it's never been about getting to the top of the mountain, but rather how many people he could bring with him on the climb." – Greg Gillum, football chief of staff at the University of Cincinnati and former assistant coach for Owens at both Ashland and Akron
 
"First thing is, Lee has given us 19 years of wonderful leadership. When you think about in his tenure all the improvements that we've had…it's just unbelievable. He's certainly earned the respect of the entire football Eagle Nation. He and Ralph (Tomassi) basically spawned the whole idea of developing the Gridiron Club, and they chose me to provide the leadership of that club. I wish him the best, and an enjoyable retirement." – Don Graham, president of the Ashland University Gridiron Club and Ashland University Hall of Famer
 
"Coach Owens did so much for my personal development, which has helped me as a coach today. He has built an impressive football program at Ashland over the years, and leaves a lasting legacy. Congratulations to him on his retirement." – Justin Hood, Green Bay Packers defensive quality control coach and former Ashland University safety
 
"Ultimately, he gave me a great opportunity as a player, and he built that program from where it was when he left Akron, and we were close to the No. 1 team in the country. Just an unbelievable human being, unbelievable head coach. As a coach, just leading young men. Seeing it from the coaching side was pretty unique in 2016 and 2017. Ultimately, he's a leader of men and a leader of young men trying to be adults. That's what makes him so great. He's had a great impact on my life. He got my coaching career started. I can't thank him enough." – Taylor Housewright, Montana State offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach and former Ashland University quarterback and assistant coach
 
"Coach Owens has meant the world to me, from the second I became his starting QB in 2014. He immediately instilled confidence in me by believing in me and trusting me. He was the perfect leader and coach for what my football class was trying to accomplish. We share so many special memories together that I will cherish forever, but I think my favorite one has to be at Northwood my senior year (2017). We were able to share some major career accomplishments together when I threw for my 100th career touchdown and 10,000 career passing yards all on the way to bringing him his 100th win at Ashland. I still love that he shares that photo of us with that game ball right on his desk. He continues to be a role model for me and answer my texts or phone calls whenever I contacted him. It didn't matter what I was calling for, he was happy to talk to me for 10 minutes or two hours. It could have been about the team, work, or just life, I always loved our talks. The relationship we have had for the past 10 years is near and dear to me, and I can't thank him enough for everything he has done for me. Ashland will miss him, and I'll miss watching him coach, but I know he's going to enjoy retirement." – Travis Tarnowski, former Ashland University quarterback
 
"Lee Owens is truly one of the finest collegiate coaches in Ohio history. A winner, a teacher, a servant-leader, a difference-maker, and a friend. Coach Owens is absolutely one of the best ever…and he could not have done it without (his wife) Dianne." – Jim Tressel, Youngstown State University President and former Ohio State head football coach
 
"I worked for him for nine years, and he's one of most intelligent, caring men I've ever met. Absolutely love him. Owe so much to him for everything that he's done for me. It saddens me to hear he's not going to be doing it anymore. He's one of the best I've ever been around. It's the absolute worst experience (to coach against him), because you want to win. I want to prove to him that I was paying attention. I don't necessarily want to see him lose, so it's hard. And I know he felt the same way, because he's family." – Paul Winters, Wayne State head football coach and former Owens assistant at the University of Akron