HICKORY, N.C. - Head men's basketball coach Brent Owen has been named one of the Top 50 Most Impactful Division II Head Coaches by Silver Waves Media. Owens joins Catawba's Rob Perron and Lincoln Memorial's Tony Jasick as the South Atlantic Conference representatives on the list.

Brent Owen was named the the Head Men' Basketball Coach at Lenoir-Rhyne prior to the 2024-25 season and has led the Bears to the most successful two-year stretch in program history. During his two seasons at the helm he has a record of 55-15, a SAC Tournament Championship, an NCAA Southeast Regional Championship, and five NCAA Tournament wins. His record breaking 2024-25 season earned Owen SAC Coach of the Year honors and Co-Coach of the Year for the Southeast Region. 

Coach Owen's impact has been felt in the community, as Lenoir-Rhyne boasted the highest attendance in the SAC the previous two seasons, ranking 23rd and 30th in the country, respectively. The Chrisman, Illinois native coaches his sons' basketball teams and is present at not just Lenoir-Rhyne events, but many events throughout Hickory and the UniFour community as well.