Carson Owens introduced as new head softball coach

FULTON, Miss. – Carson Owens was introduced Monday as the sixth head coach of the Itawamba Community College softball program.

VIDEO: Dr. Allen talks about announcing Coach Owens as the new softball coach.

Owens, 25, joins ICC after serving as the Coordinator of Player Development for the University of Alabama-Birmingham softball program under Coach A.J. Daugherty. Before his time at UAB, he spent two seasons at Wallace State Community College, including one as head coach.

VIDEO: Coach Owens talks about joining the ICC Family. 

As Wallace State's head coach, Owens led the Lions to a 52-7 record and a berth in the 2023 NJCAA Softball World Series. He was named Alabama Community College Conference (ACCC) and National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) South District Coach of the Year. His team posted a 1.70 ERA with 403 strikeouts in 374 innings. Offensively, the Lions hit .366 with 45 home runs and 380 runs scored on 574 hits in 59 games. They also stole 166 bases on 181 attempts. Emily Simon earned second-team National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-American honors.

Before becoming head coach, Owens served as an assistant under Daugherty, helping Wallace State to a 56-4 record as the pitching and outfield coach. That season, the staff was named 2022 NFCA Coaching Staff of the Year and NFCA South Region Coaching Staff of the Year. Under his guidance, the pitching staff posted a 1.12 ERA over 374 innings, with Leigha Kirby earning NJCAA second-team All-American honors and ACCC Pitcher of the Year.

Owens began his collegiate coaching career as an assistant at Southern Utah University in the fall of 2021.

VIDEO: Dr. Case on hiring Coach Owens on taking over the softball program.

From 2017-19, he was a student manager at Wallace State, where he earned an associate's degree in applied science. During that time, the Lions won back-to-back ACCC North Division championships and advanced to the 2018 national tournament.

He later transferred to the University of Alabama, serving as a student manager under Coach Patrick Murphy from 2019-21. In 2021, the Crimson Tide won the SEC championship and advanced to the Women's College World Series. Owens earned a bachelor's degree in marketing with a focus on sports and fitness administration/management. He later earned a master's degree in business administration from Mississippi State.

Last season, ICC finished 26-28 and advanced to the opening round of the NJCAA Region 23 Tournament.