Eric Owens joined the Ferrum staff as Head Baseball Coach in July 2024. Owens' experience at the highest levels of the game includes stops at A, AA, AAA and the major leagues. Owens played baseball three years at Ferrum from 1989-92, as well as football in 1990 and 1991. A two-time All-America first team selection in baseball, Owens was the 1992 NCAA Division III Player of the Year. He is Ferrum's first and only NCAA Player of the Year, in any sport.
Owens was chosen in the fourth round of the 1992 MLB Amateur Draft by the Cincinnati Reds, initially being assigned to the Billings Mustangs of the Pioneer League. He spent the 1993 season with the Class A Winston-Salem Spirits in the Carolina League. Owens moved up in 1994 to the Class AA Chattanooga Lookouts of the Southern League. In 1995 with the AAA Indianapolis Indians, he was named American Association Most Valuable Player. Owens made his MLB debut with the Reds June 1995, spending three seasons in Ohio before moving to the Milwaukee Brewers in 1998. He then played for the San Diego Padres from 1999-2000, Florida Marlins in 2001-02 and Anaheim Angels in 2003. For his MLB career, Owens batted .264 with 26 home runs and 214 RBI.
During his time as the Assistant Hitting Coach with the Toronto Blue Jays, Owens helped the club making back-to-back American League Championship appearances. He coached 2015 American League Most Valuable Player Josh Donaldson, who also won the AL Hank Aaron Award, and a two time AL Silver Slugger (2015, 2016).
At Ferrum, Owens' 1991 honors include first team All-America, first team All-Region and first team All-Conference. His 1992 honors include first team All-America, first team All-Region, first team All-Conference, Dixie Conference Player of the Year and NCAA Div. III Player of the Year. Owens helped the Panthers reach the NCAA Div. III playoffs in 1990, 1991 and 1992, including South Regional runner-up finishes in 1991 and 1992. Ferrum's overall win-loss record during the three years at Ferrum was an impressive 94-22. During his final year in 1992, Ferrum opened the season with a 25-0 mark, reaching #2 in the national poll, before finishing with a 34-5 overall record. Owens left Ferrum with seven school records, including career marks for batting average (.430), stolen bases (68) and triples (18).
