There’s never much rest for NIU women’s basketball coach Carol Owens.

When she’s not on the court coaching her team to the best conference record in the MAC-West, she’s either on the road recruiting, serving on two national committees, or preparing to coach overseas.

The Northern Star was able to catch up with Owens while she was on the road to talk to her about why she started playing basketball, why she choose to play and coach at NIU and what needs to be done to get more minority coaches in college football.

Northern Star: How did you get into basketball?

Carol Owens: I think I got interested in basketball probably around 12 years old. I had a crush on a boy who played basketball all the time. I started to play in the alleys of Chicago and fell in love with it. First time I played organized basketball was in St. Angela’s grade school in Chicago. I got started and fell in love with it.

NS: Did you have any idea at the time that you were going to play in college, professionally, and then coach?

CO: No, I had no idea. I believe that I was a sophomore, and I got a letter from Northern. But at the time I didn’t understand that you could get a scholarship for four years. My parents were really big into education, so they didn’t really come to see me play till my junior year of high school. They realized I was taking it seriously and that I was interested in getting better, and that I could get my education paid for. My senior year, obviously, I was getting a lot of offers. Jane Albright was very personal, and I really didn’t want to go too far from home. It was the best place for me at that time.

NS: What other schools offered you scholarships?

CO: A lot of Big Ten, Big 12 schools. It was pretty interesting. The rest of the country probably thought I was going to go somewhere technically bigger, but I was able to achieve all my goals at Northern. I was able to play in the NCAA Tournament, I was able to play professionally. I was able to do everything that I wanted to do, so I didn’t have to go to a “BCS” school to do it.

NS: What experiences or memories stand out from your basketball career?

CO: Memories as a player, when we got an at-large bid into the NCAA tournament, and the relationship that I had with my teammates. Being a coach is the ultimate highlight. To have your own program, but not only your own program, but at your alma matar is amazing.

NS: What was it like when you interviewed for the head coaching position at NIU?

CO: We had played Northern in the season, so I had an opportunity to come back and see the arena. Some of my teammates were at the game. Being at Northern was sort of unreal because it was the school that I played at, a lot of memories, a lot of friends that I had here. It was pretty simple for me. I wanted to be here.

NS: You’ve also got to coach for some teams for the USA overseas, what has that been like?

CO: It’s a great experience. I’m proud to represent the USA. To coach that high level of talent, of potential, is great. Although, I did miss my team at Northern. The experience is really good, you’re flying in and out of countries, there’s nothing like it. I really just appreciate the ability to do that.”

NS: What’s the weirdest food you ate while overseas?

CO: I think when I was in Slovakia, we had some food, I can’t even tell you what type of meat it was, I don’t think I even want to know. But I had to try it, it was part of their traditional food. I just kind of ate it and swallowed without tasting it.

NS: You serve on two national committees. What are they and what do you do?

CO: I’m on the Women’s Basketball Coaches’ Board of Directors and I’m on Black Coaches and Administrators Board of Directors. I always felt like I didn’t want to talk about what needed to be changed, but I want to be a part of change. And to be part of change you have to get involved. I think I got that from my family.

NS: There was a lot of talk about the lack of African-American coaches in college football this season. What do you think needs to be done to make sure there is more representation in college sports?

CO: I serve on the committee that makes the hiring report card. The report card is sent out to every Division I school that is in the process of hiring.

We’ve come to the point now that the institutions are making good grades, but in terms of what we want to accomplish we still haven’t accomplished what we’ve wanted to accomplish and that’s to get more minority coaches.

It’s getting discouraging because a lot of minority coaches are going to the NFL to continue to purse their coaching career because there are not a lot of opportunities for them. We have to make it known how many qualified minority coaches there are out there. Let the media know what we’re trying to do.

I know that as a football coach there’s a lot at stake, there’s a lot of money in football, there’s a lot of things that go into a program because there’s a lot of media attention. I can understand what a president or an athletic director wants to make sure that they have the right person for the job. But there’s certainly a lot of qualified minority coaches that can do that job if just given the opportunity.

NS: I agree, it’s defiantly one of the biggest, if not the biggest, blemish in college athletics.

CO: And there is no reason. There are plenty of qualified coordinators. Charlie Strong, who I knew very well, when he was at Notre Dame when he coached there with Lou Holtz. He’s had so much success at Florida and has won a couple national championships. He’s one of the best of the best. It’s amazing that he hasn’t got an opportunity that he deserves.

NS: Last question coach and I’ll take you off the hot seat. How big is the game against Bowling Green this weekend?

CO: Certainly every game is huge. I think what makes this game big is it’s the best team with the best record in our conference. We have to prepare like we always prepare for a game. I don’t think we need to go outside of ourselves to accomplish what we want to accomplish.

They are a tough team and we have to be ready for a fight. They’re where we want to be. Ultimately you just have to come ready to play, you have to come ready to play, and expect it to be a hard-fought game for 40 minutes.