Husky Trails | The Washington Huskies Lose One Of The Greats

Outside of Washington, most college football fans would recognize Don James as the only great Washington coach. However, Don James benefited somewhat from the legacy pieced together by another man: Jim Owens.

Owens, who coached the Huskies from 1956 to 1974, passed away today at his home in Big Fork, Montana. He was 82.

Owens was a former Oklahoma Sooner, and then an assistant coach under the legendary Paul "Bear" Bryant at Kentucky and Texas A&M. It was Bryant who recommended Owens to the Washington athletic department in 1956.

Not a bad character reference to be able to put on your resume.

Owens most famous moment was the 1960 season, in which the Huskies beat Minnesota in the Rose Bowl to become National Champions.

His overall record at UW was 99-82-6, with many up and down years over the course of his career. He also has three Rose Bowl trips under his belt, with two wins and one lose.

A statue was placed near one of the entrances to Husky stadium in 2003, but was protested because of his poor treatment of some of the African American players on the team.

However, Owens was also responsible for bringing in a young Native American kid named Sonny Sixkiller. Sixkiller, who has to have the coolest name in football, was named the Huskies starting quarterback in 1970 and led the Huskies to a 22-10 record over three seasons.

In 1974 he retired after a difficult 5-6 season. In his place, the Washington Huskies hired a relatively unknown young coach from Kent State named Don James.

The rest is, as they say, history. 

Many people would consider Washington as the house that Don James built. I would say its the house both he and Jim Owens built.

Owens is a true Husky legend.