Miami (OH) hires Jack Owens as head basketball coach

Purdue associate head coach Jack Owens has been hired as the new head coach at Miami (OH). Owens has been on Matt Painter‘s staff for a total of ten seasons, nine at Purdue and one more at Southern Illinois.

This is the first head coaching opportunity for Owens, an Indianapolis-native and graduate of Eastern Illinois. Familiarity with the area and past recruiting successes in the state of Ohio were two important factors in his hiring.

“Character, work ethic, recruiting successes, player development and a winning pedigree were all traits that made Jack stand out,” AD David Sayler said in a statement, later adding that he is “excited to have him as our head coach.”

Despite a recent lack of success, the Miami program boasts more MAC regular season titles than any other. Previous head coach John Cooper was fired after five seasons and a 59-100 overall record. The RedHawks have not been to the NCAA Tournament since 2007, something Owens will look to change right away.

“I definitely think we can we win here,” he said on Wednesday. “For a student-athlete who values education and a good league like the MAC, there’s a good opportunity for someone here in the Midwest.”