Once he had graduated, Owens became a player-assistant coach with TSV Kottern, which played in varying levels of West Germany's amateur leagues, for five years before returning to North America.
[2] After two seasons, Owens also took the head coaching position with the Capitols, and under his leadership the team routinely finished in the top half of league standings.
[3] Despite a rocky start that saw his first losing record as a head coach, Owen's tenure in Des Moines was even more successful than his time with the Capitols.
With the departed Don Lucia having revived the moribund program, Owens stepped in and had immediate success, making the NCAA tournament three straight years.
[4] The fourth year culminated with Peter Sejna, a player Owens had coached and recruited in Des Moines, winning the Hobey Baker Award, the first in school history.