Michael Owens is in his third season on Peter Shinnick's staff. He had previously served 4 seasons as an assistant coach for his brother, Bob Owens, at NCAA Division III member Whittier College.
The mere fact that Shinnick handed the coaching of Cougar quarterbacks to Owens speaks volumes of his skill. In his first season on staff, Owens led a green Luke Winslow to the fourth best season ever by a Cougar QB, passing for over 2,500 yards and 20 TDs in just 10 games in 2000. Last year he made Winslow Azusa Pacific's all-time passing leader.
A celebrated prep quarterback himself at Van Nuys (Calif.) High School, Owens was the 1981 Los Angeles City and San Fernando Valley Player of the Year after leading the Wolf Pack to a share of the city championship.
His prep success parlayed into a letter of intent to the University of Oregon where he was a part-time starter for 3 seasons. Injuries forced him to transfer to Whittier. In 2 seasons there, he set 3 school records and led the Poets to a combined 13-7 record, their best 2-year record in the past 25 seasons.
Owens was also an assistant coach at Pomona High School and served as a youth coach for several years.
For 14 years now, Owens has been employed in the Los Angeles Country Probation Department, and is currently working in Juvenal investigation.
Michael and his wife Lori live in West Covina, Calif., with their 3 daughters, Clairemaire (14), Rachael (12) and Grace (9).
