The 2015 Owens Community College mens soccer team — the last team before the program was suspended. (Owens CC Athletics)
Owens Community College will expand its intercollegiate sports offerings for the 2024-25 academic year by bringing back the men’s soccer program.
Men’s soccer was introduced at Owens in the 1998 and continued play through the 2015 season. At the end of the 2016 academic year, Owens officials say they “made the difficult decision” to close the men’s soccer program along with women’s soccer and men’s golf programs in a cost-savings measure. The baseball and softball programs also were suspended that year.
Baseball and softball returned in the 2018-19 academic year and women’s soccer resumed play this academic year.
During its previous seasons, the Owens mens soccer team made the NJCAA Region XII tournament 14 times, winning the championship in the 2005-06 season. The Express won its first conference championship in 2012-13.
“We have been able to reintroduce women’s soccer, baseball and softball with success and are excited to offer men’s soccer again for the Express,” said Shelley Whitaker, Athletic Director at Owens CC.
The head coach position will be posted this month.
