Coaches are important educational leaders in our schools, communities, and universities. The Sport and the Growing Good (SGG) podcast provides embedded, front-line insights on winning and positive development. The SGG podcast can be heard here and on all major podcast platforms.

Freddie Owens is an assistant basketball coach at Loyola University in Maryland. Coach Owens was previously a star player for the University of Wisconsin and, over recent years, he’s gained a reputation as an outstanding coach in his stops at multiple colleges. Even as he has moved around to coaching positions throughout the country, Coach Owens has maintained a deep commitment to his hometown, Milwaukee. Most notably, he started the Milwaukee Coaches Association, who develops and supports coaches in the city. In this episode of SGG, I was joined by Freddie and fellow UW basketball alum, Wquinton Smith, to discuss:

1.  Growing up playing basketball in Milwaukee.

2.  His father’s influence on him on and off the court – including working toward the goal that Freddie set as an 8 year-old boy to be a Division 1 basketball player.

3.  Coach James Gordon, his coach at Milwaukee Washington High School, and the identity that his teams took on.

4.  Coach Curtis Weathers and his everyday support helping to get Freddie prepared for college.

5.  “Taking bits and pieces of each coach I’ve worked with to build my own identity.”

6.  His ongoing commitment to Milwaukee and why he started the Milwaukee Coaches Association.

7.  The impact of the charter school movement on Milwaukee basketball.

8.  Interviewing for coaching positions.