Hattiesburg, Miss.- After completing his 21^st season as the Head Coach of the Lady Crusaders, Danny Owens has accepted the Head Women's Soccer Coach role at the University of Southern Mississippi. Longtime assistant, Ryan Weir, is set to join Owens at USM.
 
Owens first arrived at William Carey in 1996 as a member of the men's soccer team. During his time as a player, he was voted as a team captain and was named the team's MVP his senior season. He was also named to the All-GCAC team, All-Region-13, and was an NAIA First Team All-American.
 
Before taking over at WCU, Owens won three straight state championships in the high school ranks at Our Lady Academy in Bay St. Louis. He brought that winning tradition with him to Carey and an NAIA women's soccer juggernaut was born. During the last twenty-one seasons the Lady Crusaders have amassed over 350 wins, 13 regular season conference championships, 12 conference tournament championships (including the last six in a row), and 17 trips to the NAIA National Tournament.
 
"I'd like to first thank William Carey University for the opportunity to lead this program," says Owens. "From the administration to the fans, the support has been incredible over the years," he added.
 
With all of the success the Lady Crusaders had, the big one came in 2018. Carey won the NAIA National Championship, marking the first national championship for the school since the baseball team raised the banner in 1969. Owens and the Lady Crusaders came close to achieving the feat on two more occasions but fell short in the championship games.
 
"Good coaches are made by good players, and I can't thank all of the players that have competed for us over the years enough," says Owens. "Their work and dedication to be the best every day has made this opportunity possible. I can never thank the current and past players enough for what they have given to this program. And to my family, thank you for always being there and supporting me during this journey," added Owens. "William Carey will always be home."
 
"We'd like to thank Coach Owens for his many years of dedication to William Carey," says Athletic Director Tracy English. "We wish him well in his new venture and know that he will be successful," he added.
 
Owens' departure comes on the heels of a 20-2 season in which the Lady Crusaders won both the SSAC Regular Season and Tournament Championships. Carey received a bye in the first-round of the NAIA Tournament before winning their second-round match sending them to the NAIA Final Site. Unfortunately, their run at another national championship was cut short in their first-round match in Pensacola. A national search for Owens' replacement is under way.