Former Wisconsin Badgers standout Freddie Owens named Kimberly boys basketball coach

KIMBERLY − Former University of Wisconsin basketball standout Freddie Owens is the new head coach of the Kimberly boys basketball team.

The school announced the hiring in a press release this morning as Owens takes over for Jon Murphy, who retired last month as head coach of the Papermakers after three seasons.

Kimberly was 17-9 last season and has won or shared nine Fox Valley Association titles. The Papermakers won WIAA Division 2 state titles in 1994 and 1995 and were runners-up in 2021 in Division 1.

Owens was a two-year starter for the Badgers where he helped lead Wisconsin to the 2004 Big Ten Tournament championship. He also spent two years playing pro basketball overseas.

He has had an 18-year career as an assistant coach at UW-Green Bay, Oregon State, College of the Holy Cross, Utah Valley State University, University of Montana and Adams State College. He was also a graduate coaching assistant at Iowa State and a student assistant coach at Wisconsin.

“My family and I are ecstatic to be joining the Kimberly athletic family,” Owen said in the press release. “I look forward to building relationships within the community and working with the student-athletes to achieve their goals both on and off the court. I would like to thank athletic director Ryan McGinnis and principal Jackie DePeau for this wonderful opportunity. Our teams will work relentlessly to continue the winning tradition at Kimberly.”

Owens and his wife, Carmen, live in the Fox Valley and have a 1-year-old son, Quentin.

"Freddie is grounded in the values and principles that we firmly believe in at Kimberly,” McGinnis said. “His background and perspective will add tremendous value to our program and community. His basketball background, in particular, is extremely impressive, and the communication skills and passion he brings will benefit ourkids and community."

This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Freddie Owens hired as boys basketball coach at Kimberly High School