Autumn Owen’s time with North Carolina’s softball program will continue a while longer.
Tar Heels head coach Megan Smith Lyon announced Monday that Owen, a member of the 2024 Carolina softball team and former Polk County standout, will be staying in Chapel Hill as part of the Tar Heels’ coaching staff.
Owen will serve as the team’s performance analyst next season.
“I am so excited that we are able to keep Autumn in Chapel Hill,” Smith said. “Her passion for the game, her incredible work ethic and her commitment to serving others is going to continue to make a big impact on this program.”
Owen, a 2024 All-ACC second team selection, started in all 43 games she played in, both at catcher and as the designated player.
She ranked second on the team in home runs (11), RBIs (39) and third in slugging percentage (.622) and led the Tar Heels with 28 walks and had 36 hits, 24 runs, three doubles, a triple and three hit by pitch in her graduate season.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity to work alongside Coach Smith and the staff at UNC,” Owen said. “Words cannot express how excited I am to continue to represent UNC, not just as a player, but now as part of the coaching staff.”
Owen came to Chapel Hill after playing for Coach Smith Lyon at Marshall for two seasons, 2022 and2023, leading the Sun Belt in batting average (.444), RBI (71), home runs (19), slugging percentage (.887), on-base percentage (.557), OPS (1.444) and walks (40) in 2023.
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