James Owens

James Curtis Owens (born July 9, 1951 in Fairfield; died March 23, 2016 in Auburn) was Baptist minister and former football player and coach, remembered for being the first Black student to play for the Auburn Tigers football team, and for his three-year stint as head coach of the Miles Golden Bears football team.

Owens was recruited to Auburn by Shug Jordan and assistant Jim Hilyer. He accepted a scholarship in 1969 and helped the team to a 28-5 record over three seasons. He was a starter on the 1972 team which went 10-1. Owens was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the 11th round of the 1973 NFL Draft, but was cut after preseason practices. Auburn's "James Owens Courage Award", given annually since 2012, is named in his honor.

After college, Owens pursued a career in coaching, working as an assistant for the Tigers from 1982 to 1985. He was hired in 1986 to succeed Donald Harris as head coach of the Miles Golden Bears.

After retiring from coaching, Owens entered the ministry. He served as the pastor of Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church in Opelika from 2001 to 2013.

Owens had type 2 diabetes and was ruled out as a candidate for a heart transplant due to neuropathy and cardiac amyloidosis. He was beset late in life by heart and renal failure. He died at home in hospice care in March 2016. He was survived by his wife, Gloria.

Preceded by: Donald Harris

Miles Golden Bears Head Football Coach 1986–1989

Succeeded by: Jim Barkum

References

• Green, Tom (March 26, 2016) "James Owens, Auburn football's first African-American player, has died." Auburn-Opelika News