03-19-2005, 07:29 AM
<a href='http://www.dailyherald.com/sports/col_babcock.asp' target='_blank'>Daily Herald</a>
Technically, it's "March Madness." But for Carol Owens, there's going to be some "March Sadness," too.
Her run through the tournament will be her last as a Notre Dame assistant.
After 10 years in South Bend, Ind., as Muffet McGraw's right-hand woman, Owens will be leaving after Notre Dame's last game to take over as the new head coach at her alma mater, Northern Illinois.
The Huskies wasted no time going after Owens, one of the best post players in the school's history.
Just last week, former coach Carol Hammerle announced her retirement from the game after 32 years in the business. By Tuesday of this week, Northern Illinois had a news conference lined up to announce Owens' hiring.
The swiftness of it all has left Owens in somewhat of a whirlwind. But she's still cognizant enough to realize how difficult it will be to leave Notre Dame after a fabulous decade that included 10 straight NCAA appearances and the dream season of 2001 in which the Irish won the NCAA title.
"It will be really hard to leave Notre Dame because of all the great relationships I've developed there over 10 years - and because of all the great relationships I have with the kids on the current team," said Owens, who was made an associate head coach by McGraw in June 2002. "But I've always wanted to be a head coach."
Owens has certainly paid her dues.
Guiding some of the best teams in NIU history, including the 1989-90 squad that received Northern's first NCAA Tournament bid, Owens earned all kinds of national and regional awards. She was a two-time selection to the Kodak District Four All-America team and was the North Star Conference player of the year in 1990.
After a three-year career overseas that included stops in Japan, Spain and Italy, Owens returned to the United States to become an assistant coach at Michigan. After two years, she headed to Notre Dame, where she played an integral role in the development of All-Americans Ruth Riley and Jacqueline Batteast.
"Carol's turned our program around," McGraw said. "I don't know what we'll do to replace her. We're so happy and sad at the same time. We're losing a friend, a big part of the Notre Dame family. But Carol has always thought of Northern Illinois as the place to be."
As much as Owens has wanted to be a head coach in recent years, she has turned down good offers in hopes that the NIU job would open up. When it did and she got the call from athletic director Jim Phillips, there was little hesitation.
"I knew it would be a good fit for me," Owens said. "My parents are still in the area, and as an alum I have a lot of pride in the school. I love the people there. A lot of them are still there from when I was there.
"What better opportunity is there to go back to your school and get the opportunity to do something that you've always wanted to do? It's a very exciting moment for me and I look forward to all the challenges."
Technically, it's "March Madness." But for Carol Owens, there's going to be some "March Sadness," too.
Her run through the tournament will be her last as a Notre Dame assistant.
After 10 years in South Bend, Ind., as Muffet McGraw's right-hand woman, Owens will be leaving after Notre Dame's last game to take over as the new head coach at her alma mater, Northern Illinois.
The Huskies wasted no time going after Owens, one of the best post players in the school's history.
Just last week, former coach Carol Hammerle announced her retirement from the game after 32 years in the business. By Tuesday of this week, Northern Illinois had a news conference lined up to announce Owens' hiring.
The swiftness of it all has left Owens in somewhat of a whirlwind. But she's still cognizant enough to realize how difficult it will be to leave Notre Dame after a fabulous decade that included 10 straight NCAA appearances and the dream season of 2001 in which the Irish won the NCAA title.
"It will be really hard to leave Notre Dame because of all the great relationships I've developed there over 10 years - and because of all the great relationships I have with the kids on the current team," said Owens, who was made an associate head coach by McGraw in June 2002. "But I've always wanted to be a head coach."
Owens has certainly paid her dues.
Guiding some of the best teams in NIU history, including the 1989-90 squad that received Northern's first NCAA Tournament bid, Owens earned all kinds of national and regional awards. She was a two-time selection to the Kodak District Four All-America team and was the North Star Conference player of the year in 1990.
After a three-year career overseas that included stops in Japan, Spain and Italy, Owens returned to the United States to become an assistant coach at Michigan. After two years, she headed to Notre Dame, where she played an integral role in the development of All-Americans Ruth Riley and Jacqueline Batteast.
"Carol's turned our program around," McGraw said. "I don't know what we'll do to replace her. We're so happy and sad at the same time. We're losing a friend, a big part of the Notre Dame family. But Carol has always thought of Northern Illinois as the place to be."
As much as Owens has wanted to be a head coach in recent years, she has turned down good offers in hopes that the NIU job would open up. When it did and she got the call from athletic director Jim Phillips, there was little hesitation.
"I knew it would be a good fit for me," Owens said. "My parents are still in the area, and as an alum I have a lot of pride in the school. I love the people there. A lot of them are still there from when I was there.
"What better opportunity is there to go back to your school and get the opportunity to do something that you've always wanted to do? It's a very exciting moment for me and I look forward to all the challenges."