DeKALB | Walter Owens has coached world-champion athletes and musical giants, including members of The Temptations. He has taught in high school and college, played pro ball in the Negro leagues and befriended every student along the way.

Owens, assistant professor of coaching, has been a fixture at NIU for more than 30 years. Although he was brought in as the assistant basketball coach and later the baseball coach, Owens’ true accomplishments go much further than that.

“I played on four world baseball championships,” Owens said. “I played in the Negro league baseball for three years. I played pro basketball for about three years. The league was the forerunner for the Continental Basketball Association league, like minor league, that they have today. I used to play before the Detroit Pistons games.”

Owens came upon the Negro basketball league when he was not allowed to play college ball; the league had a restriction requiring players to have a roommate and no one would room with him. But he never let it keep him down.

“Whenever they slammed the door in one place, I went to another,” he said. “I believe I was the only black coach who was coaching basketball and baseball at one time. That was thanks to [former NIU athletics director] Robert Brigham, who had the foresight long before it was popular.”

Owens came to NIU in 1973 after teaching in Detroit high schools for 20 years. He coached basketball for several years before becoming the NIU men’s baseball coach until 1982, when the sport was unceremoniously dropped, leaving Owens technically not fired.

“[NIU] claimed that they needed to save money so they dropped some sports ­— baseball, indoor-outdoor track and some others,” Owens said. “I asked them if they would drop soccer in Italy but keep baseball. It was more than just student fees.”

Although Owens has not returned to coaching, he has managed to stay in the game. He is an official observer with the Mid-American Conference, but he hasn’t totally given up playing. Owens recently won an intramural softball championship on campus.

“What was really ironic [about that championship] was that one of the kids in my class who plays on the intramural team, his father played baseball for me,” he said. “He brought his dad out to watch him play and his dad recognized me and his coach. I was probably the oldest person on the field by about 50 years.”

Despite teaching for more than 50 years, Owens has yet to determine a retirement date. He said each day he comes to class he finds one more reason to keep on teaching and helping people.

“I’m in good enough shape,” said Owens. “I could go forever, but I think maybe somebody else needs a job. I’ve taught almost everything in the P.E. department. My dad told me to get a job but he never told me when to retire, so I’m left hanging. I’ve had the privilege of seeing some great athletes.”

Rachel Gorr is a Campus Reporter for the Northern Star.