Alabama has filled a key spot on its coaching staff, bringing in a familiar face with deep ties to the South and a resume that checks all the right boxes. Richard Owens, most recently Louisville’s offensive line coach, is set to take over as the Crimson Tide’s new tight ends coach.
Owens is no stranger to the position or the region. He’s a former NFL tight end himself, having played from 2004 to 2007 with the Minnesota Vikings and St.
Louis Rams. That firsthand experience at the highest level gives him a valuable lens to coach the position - not just in terms of technique, but in understanding what it takes to succeed beyond college football.
This isn’t Owens’ first time coaching tight ends either. He held that role at Louisville back in 2018, before transitioning to lead the offensive line for the Cardinals over the last three seasons. His coaching journey has taken him across the Southeast, with stops at UAB, South Alabama, and Georgia Southern - and each stop has added another layer to his coaching acumen.
At UAB, Owens coached tight ends in 2012 before being promoted to offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach in 2013. That year, he worked alongside Bryan Ellis - now Alabama’s quarterbacks coach - who was then a graduate assistant.
The two reunited in 2022 at Georgia Southern, where Owens served as run-game coordinator and offensive line coach under Ellis, who was the offensive coordinator. That kind of continuity and shared philosophy can go a long way in building out a cohesive offensive staff in Tuscaloosa.
Owens also spent two seasons as South Alabama’s offensive line coach in 2016 and 2017, working under then-defensive coordinator Kane Wommack - now Alabama’s defensive coordinator. So, there’s already a strong foundation of familiarity and trust between Owens and key members of the Tide’s current staff.
There’s even more Crimson Tide DNA in the mix. Nick Gentry, a two-time national champion at Alabama (2009, 2011) and a member of Nick Saban’s first recruiting class, overlapped with Owens at UAB from 2020 to 2022.
Gentry served as the Blazers’ defensive ends and outside linebackers coach while Owens led the offensive line. Gentry spoke highly of Owens’ football mind and recruiting ability, praising what he brings to the table both on the field and on the trail.
For Alabama, this hire is about more than just plugging a hole - it’s about continuing to build a coaching staff that understands the culture, the expectations, and the grind that comes with wearing the script "A." Owens brings a versatile background, NFL experience, and strong connections to several key members of the current staff. That kind of synergy matters, especially at a program where every detail counts.
With Owens now in place, Alabama’s offensive staff gets another seasoned voice - one who knows what it takes to develop tight ends and understands how to recruit and coach at a championship level.