Kara Owens has been hired as The College of Wooster's full-time assistant coach for cross country and track and field. For track and field, Owens will work closely with the jumps, sprints, hurdles, and recruiting. Her start date at the College is Jan. 5.

Owens comes to Wooster from Wittenberg University where she was a graduate assistant for athletic operations and a volunteer assistant track and field coach. Owens gained key experience in the areas of meet management, student-athlete development, academic monitoring, and recruiting.

Owens' coaching career started at Chatham University, where she worked closely with the program's long and triple jumpers. She guided Aurielle Brunner to All-America honors in the outdoor heptathlon, long jump, and triple jump, plus the indoor long jump. Brunner placed as high as fourth nationally. Owens engaged in recruiting efforts for the program and monitored student-athlete academic progress. She developed tailored lifting programs for various event groups.

As a student-athlete, Owens competed in the triple jump and long jump at Wittenberg. She logged collegiate-bests of 31 feet, 7.5 inches in the triple jump and 15 feet, 2.25 inches in the long jump.

Owens graduated with a bachelor's degree in sports management and is working towards a master's in sport administration at Wittenberg.