DEKALB, Ill. – A pillar in the Northern Illinois University community for over 45 years, Walt Owens passed away on Sunday, September 20, at the age of 87. A member of the NIU Athletics Hall of Fame, Owens was the head coach of the NIU baseball program from 1976-82, an assistant men's basketball coach from 1973-78 and a professor at NIU from 1973-2007. 

"Coach O has done so much for NIU, and personally, for me and my family as a friend and mentor," said NIU Associate Vice President/Director of Athletics Sean T. Frazier. "Our hearts go out to [his wife] Janice and his entire family. This loss is personal not just for me, but for thousands of students who he coached, taught and encountered during an amazing career as an educator, and for the faculty, staff and coaches who he met, and offered an encouraging word and supported. He lived an amazing life, from his days as an athlete, playing in the Negro Leagues, to dedicating himself to young people and education – as a coach and as a faculty member. 

"Walt Owens will always be a true Huskie.  We will celebrate his life and we will never forget his legacy."

An outstanding athlete, Owens starred in baseball, basketball and cross country at Detroit Northwestern High School before going on to attend Western Michigan University. While at WMU, Owens played for the Detroit Stars in the Negro Leagues from 1953-55, where he was an outfielder and pitcher. He earned his bachelor's degree from Western Michigan in 1955 where, as a senior, he ran on the Broncos 880-yard relay team that set a Mid-American Conference record. During the 1950s and 1960s, the Detroit Baseball Federation recorded his batting average as .379. Later in life, he became a standout competitive slow-pitch softball player, developing a notorious pitching style.

Owens became a teacher in the Detroit Public Schools system and coached basketball, baseball, cross country and track at multiple high schools in Detroit, winning numerous city and district championships. Owens taught and coached many future celebrities, including Mary Wilson of "The Supremes," Richard Street of "The Temptations," four-time Detroit Tigers All-Star Willie Horton, California Angels 1970 American League batting champion Alex Johnson, former Los Angeles Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti, two-time track and field gold medalist at the 1964 Tokyo Summer Olympics Henry Carr as well as his son, Mel Owens, a first round draft choice by the Los Angeles Rams in the 1981 NFL Draft. 

One of Owens' scholastic coaching stops was as the basketball head coach at Detroit Mumford High School, where in 1962-63 he hired Emory Luck as an assistant coach. Luck went on to become the head coach of the NIU men's basketball program in 1973 and brought Owens to DeKalb as an assistant basketball coach. Owens, who also joined the NIU faculty upon his arrival, spent five years on the basketball staff at NIU under Luck and later John McDougal. 

Owens also took over as head coach of the NIU baseball program prior to the 1976 season, guiding the Huskies to 133 wins in seven seasons. He ranks third in Huskie baseball history in career victories and is fourth in program history in winning percentage. 

"I am greatly saddened by the loss of Coach Owens," said current NIU baseball head coach Mike Kunigonis. "He is one of the leading faces on the 'Mount Rushmore' of Huskieball. His contributions to our program, the NIU Community, DeKalb and the game of baseball have been felt and will continue to be felt for years to come. Coach O and Janice embraced me and my family the very first day we arrived here in DeKalb almost six years ago. I can never repay the kindness they have shown us over the years, I can only hope Coach knew and Janice knows how much they have meant to our program and to me personally. I will miss Coach dearly."

The Huskie baseball program was disbanded following the 1982 season, but Owens remained at NIU as a member of the faculty until his retirement in 2007. Owens impacted countless NIU students and student-athletes during his tenure and was involved with numerous organizations in addition to his teaching duties. 

Owens was a founding member of the National Congress of Black Faculty, he served as the chair of the Presidential Commission on the Status of Minorities and as a member of the Task Force on Racial Discrimination and Sexual Harassment. Owens also served as a member of the Illinois Committee on Black Concerns in Higher Education.

Upon his retirement, Owens was named an emeritus professor in NIU's College of Education in the Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education (KNPE). Each year, the department awards the Walt Owens KNPE Student Award for Excellence, recognizing the academic and professional achievements of students from underrepresented populations who are enrolled in a program of study in KNPE.

"Walt Owens was an incredibly engaged retiree who, during my time as dean, came to literally every event in KNPE and the college," said Laurie Elish-Piper, Ph.D., Dean of NIU's College of Education. "His passion for NIU and our students was clear. He has left an amazing legacy, but he will be sorely missed."

When Major League Baseball conducted a Special Negro Leagues Player Draft in 2008, the Chicago Cubs selected Owens with the fifth overall pick in the first round. 

In 2011, Owens was honored with the E.B. Henderson Award during the annual convention of the National Association for Health and Fitness, which acknowledges those who have made outstanding contributions to the improvement and development of their community. Owens was presented the award for his leadership in fighting racial discrimination in both his profession and society.

Owens was inducted into the NIU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2013, adding to his enshrinements in the Negro Baseball League Hall of Fame (2000), the United States Specialty Sports Association Hall of Fame (2003) and the Detroit Negro Slow-Pitch Softball League Hall of Fame (2010).

Additional Quotes on Walt Owens

"Coach Owens was a true leader who inspired those around him to be their best. He cared about Huskie student-athletes, wanting them to 'win at life' not just in athletic competition. He will be missed by many. It was my honor to know him."

 - Dr. Lisa C. Freeman
NIU President

"On behalf of the Office of Academic Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, I want to extend our deepest condolences to the Owens family. We are forever grateful to Coach Owens for his leadership not only as a coach, but as a respected trailblazer in the NIU and DeKalb community. His passion for creating affirming and inclusive spaces for NIU faculty, staff and graduates of color and friends continues to be a tradition we value and will carry on. Your legacy will continue through those you have touched." 

- Vernese Edghill-Walden, Ph.D.
NIU Vice president for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer

"Walt's legacy with Kinesiology and Physical Education is steeped in his passion to help students. Always being available and willing to help, Walt built a reputation as someone students could turn to for advice, mentoring and support."

- Todd Gilson, PhD, CSCS, FAASP
Professor and Chair, Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education

"Walt 'Coach O' Owens was a very good and well-loved man by thousands of students, faculty, staff, friends and professional colleagues. As my best friend and fraternity brother, he constantly challenged me and NIU students to make NIU the best university to be a part of. Coach O generously shared his knowledge, wealth and success with numerous students striving to become highly successful college-educated men and women. Students often depended on his help and kindness, those with troubles beyond his abilities to solve, he used me and others in his massive universe to help solve their problems when there was nowhere else to go. Both of us had one goal in life and it is to make a difference in life and the world a better place."

- Dr. Larry D. Bolles
Former NIU Director of the Office of Community Standards and Student Conduct

"Coach Owens always made everyone feel welcome. He took time to stop by practice, to mentor our student-athletes and to show support for all our athletic programs. He touched a lot of people's lives and hearts, and that is an unbelievable legacy. He always had time to visit and would always offer encouragement. He always had a story that would make you smile and laugh, and sometimes he would give coaching points too. I know he touched a lot of lives, he touched my life, he made me a better person, a better coach and helped me to open my eyes to a lot of other things in life."

- Mark Montgomery
NIU Men's Basketball Head Coach

"Coach O was a coach for thousands of individuals around the globe. Whether it was on the basketball court, baseball diamond, in the classroom, or just in life. He was always willing to share his experiences with those that were new to the NIU community. He had such a gentle spirit that really loved NIU. The DeKalb community lost a legend and a true NIU Athletics Hall of Famer in Walt Owens"

- Rodney A. Davis
NIU Athletics Hall of Fame Committee Chair