MEET THE COACHES Chris Owens
Assistant Coach - 17th Season
Entering his 17th year as an assistant coach at Boise State, Chris Owens has played an instrumental role in the Bronco’s recent wrestling success. Since the 1996-97 season, when Owens was named an assistant coach, he has helped Boise State to several individual and team championships as the Broncos continue to boast one of the top wrestling programs in the country. He is also playing a key role in the future success of the team, helping sign some of the nation’s top high school wrestlers to national letters of intent at Boise State. Owens has been a part of Pac-10 Conference Championships in 2000, 2002, 2004, 2008, 2009 and 2011, as well as runner-up finishes in 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005 and 2010, and placing third at the 2006 tournament. Owens has also help direct the Broncos to nine top 25 team finishes at the NCAA National Wrestling Championships in the past 12 years, 32 individual Pac-10 titles, 87 individual appearances at the NCAA National Tournament and two individual national championships. Those national championships included Kirk White’s firstplace finish in the 165-pound weight class at the 1999 NCAA Tournament, and Ben Cherrington’s first-place finish at the 2006 tournament in the 157-pound weight division.
In 2010-11, Owens helped Boise State to one of its best seasons on record, sending a school-best, 10 studentathletes to the NCAA Tournament after winning another Pac-10 title. At the national tournament, the Broncos finished ninth with 57.5 points, a school record. Before becoming an assistant at Boise State, Owens was a member of the Oklahoma State University wrestling team, helping the Cowboys to the 1990 NCAA National Championship. During the 1990 season, Owens was named to the freshman All-American team. He also earned two AllAmerican honors in 1990 and 1992 placing third and second, respectively, at the NCAA Tournament. Entering his senior season at Oklahoma State, Owens was ranked number one in the nation at his weight class of 134 pounds. But a knee injury ended the season early for Owens. Owens finished his career at Oklahoma State with an overall record of 85-6 and helped the Cowboys to the 1992 Big Eight Conference Championship. Owens was named the Outstanding Wrestler at the St. Louis Open in 1990, and was runner-up at in his weight class at the prestigious Espoir National Tournament. A native of Idaho Falls, Idaho, Owens was the State of Idaho’s first four-time high school champion and finished his prep career undefeated with an overall record of 123-0. Owens and his wife Robyn have two children – Taylor (13) and Cade (8).
Bronco - 9 - Wrestling