About Lee Owens

Ohio Hall of Fame football coach Lee Owens is a motivational speaker and team culture coach.  His football coaching stops included the legendary Massillon Washington High School, Mid-American Conference member  The University of Akron, and Big Ten Powerhouse The Ohio State University. His resume includes coaching NFL Hall of Fame football players Jason Taylor and Orlando Pace.  Owens had 266 career wins, was recognized 17 times as Coach of the Year, and three times as a finalist for the NCAA  Division II National Coach of the year.  In addition he was selected as the 1985 Ohio High School Coach of the Year at Galion High School and the 2012 Ohio College Coach of the Year at Ashland University. "Lee Owens is one of the finest collegiate coaches in Ohio History. In my 48 years in higher education as a coach and administrator Lee Owens was as accomplished a team builder as any." says Jim Tressel former national championship-winning coach and University president, current Lieutenant Governor of Ohio.

Beyond the gridiron, Owens became one of college football's truly impressive and inspirational speakers.  "Coach Owens is not only an enthusiastic speaker with a positive message, but he is also entertaining and fun." 

Coaches Playbook LLC

Coaches playbook LLC was started by Lee Owens in 2023.  Coaches Playbook is dedicated to advancing team excellence. Owens has developed effective strategies to turn struggling units into successful teams. In 1997 Lee Owens wrote the book, Blood, Sweat, Championship: A Team Guide to Winning. Following the blueprint in that book, Coach Owens led Akron to their first football championship in their one hundred years history during the 2000 season. 

Lee and his wife, Dianne, have four married children and twelve grandchildren.

Those who have worked with Coach Owens, can't help but offer their positive remarks:

"There are people you can talk about and do it for 30 minutes and not do them justice, and Lee Owens is certainly one of those. It's not just the way they carry themselves, it's what they do. Anyone who ends up the on the (AFCA) Board of Trustees and serving as an AFCA President, they have to be people of high integrity"

-Todd Berry, Former Director of the AFCA

"Lee Owens an outstanding football coach and great man [...] He not only prepares you for football, but he prepares you for life as well" -Jason Taylor, Miami Dolphins NFL Hall of Fame

"Just an unbelievable human being, unbelievable head coach. As a coach, just leading young men. [...] Ultimately, he's a leader of men and a leader of young men trying to be adults. That's what makes him so great." 

-Taylor Housewright, All-American Quarterback and College Coach  

"Coaching for Lee Owens was a great opportunity for me.  It was my first chance to be an offensive coordinator. When  I look back at stops along the way that were a positive influence on me, that was definitely one of them." 

-Matt LaFleur, head coach at Green Bay

"He has always been successful at every level, not only in wins and losses, but in changing the lives of young men. He has left an impact everywhere he has been"

-Luke Fickell, head football coach at Wisconsin