Carl Owens
Inducted 2001
Hometown: Oceanport, N.J.
Best Known for: Coaching – Basketball
Owens’ first Harlingen High School team posted a program record for wins, and he never backed up too much from that standard of excellence on the court.
A native of Oceanport, N.J., he attended Dallas Hillcrest High School and graduated in 1963. After college and serving as an assistant coach, he got his opportunity at Kennard High School.
After winning a Class A state championship at Kennard in 1973, Owens arrived in Harlingen in 1978 and quickly led the Cardinal basketball team to a place among the Valley's elites. That first squad won 29 games and seven times more did Owens-led Redbird teams triumph at least 28 times in a year, including 33 in 1993.
Meticulous and hard-driving, the winner of more than 800 career contests was a steady contributor at conferences, writing articles, and developing a handful of assistants who went on to become head coaches in the area.
A five-time Coach of the Year with eight district titles, Owens demanded excellence from his teams, and is recalled as one of the dominant coaches of any era in Valley basketball.