The Kimberly Area School District is pleased to announce that Freddie Owens has been named head boys basketball coach at Kimberly High School. Owens takes over the program from WBCA Hall of Fame coach Jon Murphy, who led the Papermakers the past three years.
"Freddie is grounded in the values and principles that we firmly believe in at Kimberly,” said Athletic Director Ryan McGinnis. “His background and perspective will add tremendous value to our program and community. His basketball background, in particular, is extremely impressive, and the communication skills and passion he brings will benefit our kids and community, ”
Owens holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin and a Masters in Arts and Education from Iowa State University. Owens was a two-year starter and four-year letter winner at Wisconsin, where he was co-captain of the Badgers’ 2002 and 2003 Big Ten regular-season and 2004 Big Ten Tournament championship teams. Before beginning his coaching career, Owens spent two years playing professional basketball overseas. For the past 18 years, he coached at the collegiate for various programs including the University of Wisconsin, UWGB, Oregon State, and College of the Holy Cross. Owens and his wife, Carmen, reside in the Fox Valley and have a one-year-old son, Quentin.
“My family and I are ecstatic to be joining the Kimberly athletic family,” said Owens. “I look forward to building relationships within the community and working with the student-athletes to achieve their goals both on and off the court. I would like to thank Athletic Director Ryan McGinnis and Principal Jackie DePeau for this wonderful opportunity. Our teams will work relentlessly to continue the winning tradition at Kimberly.”
Owens joins the Papermakers, who were 17-9 last season. Kimberly has won or shared nine Fox Valley Association championships and were the WIAA D1 State Champions in 1994 and 1995 and Runner-up in 1955 and 2021.
