Greg Owen, the current activities director for the Columbia School District, will be the new athletic director for the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District beginning July 1.
Owen will take over for current athletic director Cheyenne Trussell, who is leaving to take the same position at the Meridian Public School District. Trussell’s last day will be June 30.
The SOCSD announced Owen as its incoming athletic director at a press conference Friday afternoon at the Greensboro Center.
“I’m extremely excited to work with the coaches and staff and the student-athletes in both the middle school and the high school here and for the opportunity to compete in 6A, where the best of the best is,” Owen said at the press conference. “I can’t wait.”
He is in his first — and now only — school year as activities director for the Columbia School District after serving as the head baseball and cross country coach and an assistant football coach at Columbia High School since 2002. He also coached baseball and football at Stone and Bay high schools after starting his career as Columbia High’s head softball and girls basketball coach.
SOCSD Superintendent Eddie Peasant dubbed Owen’s experience one of the three “E’s” he brings to the table — alongside energy and expectations for excellence in academics and athletics.
“Those are the things and qualities that we are excited to continue in our athletic program, and we’re excited that we have found the right person to lead us in those endeavors,” Peasant said.
Owen said he knows that he will have to be a part of the communication among administrators at the district level, at the school level and inside the athletic department. He referred to Ecclesiastes 4:12 in describing the three-pronged approach: Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
“When those three are working in unison, that’s when you see schools really jump and take new heights,” Owen said. “That’s what I look forward to doing here and working together.”
Owen said the job with SOCSD was the “No. 1 job” for him, his wife Jami and his daughters Kynlee, 14, and Karsen, 10.
“This is something that my family has been looking at and been hopeful for,” Owen said. “This is the No. 1 city that we want to plant our family in, and we are very excited to be here.”
Owen, who received his master’s in education from William Carey University in 2008, crossed paths in Hattiesburg with Trussell, the man he will replace. Trussell came to Starkville from the Hattiesburg School District in 2017.
“He just kind of mentored me through the years, and then that mentorship developed into a friendship,” Owen said. “I’m greatly honored to call him a friend. I know he’s done great things here, and I have really big shoes to fill.”
Owen said that during his coaching career in Columbia that his constant efforts to win and show how much he knew were misguided. He soon realized developing connections with coaches and athletes was the way to go, and he said that’s what he intends to bring to Starkville.
“For the coaches, I look forward to building our relationships, challenging you and supporting you and being there every step of the way,” Owen said. “For the student-athletes, I look forward to assisting our coaches in developing you fundamentally, athletically, mentally and academically. For the community, I can’t wait to get to meet you face to face and actually shake your hand. Thank you again for welcoming me and my family to the Starkville community.”
Dispatch staff writer Tess Vrbin contributed to this report.
Theo DeRosa reports on Mississippi State sports for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter at @Theo_DeRosa.
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