ARL “ SPIKE ” OWNES

Earl Ownes was a central figure in a generation of Freehold Boro football, serving as the head coach of the Colonials for 24 years and then as the school athletic director for another 10 years

He coached one of the Shore Conference’s legendary running backs, Joe “The Jet” Henderson, as well as former Detroit Lions offensive lineman Scott Conover, who helped the Colonials go 10-1 and finish as Monmouth County’s top team in 1985. They won the Class C South title and reached the Central Jersey Group II championship game as part of a stretch where they went a combined 17-3 over two seasons.

Ownes began his coaching career with two seasons as an assistant at Princeton High School before moving on to Freehold Boro in 1969. He was an assistant for five seasons with the Colonials before ascending to the head coaching job.

He played his high school football at

Hamilton West before moving on to play for Trenton State, which is now The College of New Jersey.

Ownes also served as an assistant three times in the All-Shore Gridiron Classic over the years and was a two-time Shore Conference Coach of the Year.

The retired coach and administrator has a pair of sons, Earl Jr. and Daniel, with his wife, Janet, and is a grandfather of four.