Another homecoming for Louisville football? Jeff Brohm adds Richard Owens to staff: Reports

Another homecoming of sorts is reportedly happening for Louisville football. After spending one season at Georgia Southern as the offensive line coach and run game coordinator, former Cardinals tight end Richard Owens is returning to his alma mater to coach the offensive line, according to reports. Brandon Marcello of 247Sports.com was first to report the hiring.

During his time at Louisville, Owens (1999-2003) played alongside former Cardinals like Michael Bush, Deion Branch, Dave Ragone and Stefan Lefors for head coach John L. Smith, and Bobby Petrino in his final season at the U of L.

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Owens then had a five-year career in the NFL that included three seasons with the Minnesota Vikings (2004-06) and time with the Saint Louis Rams (2007) and New York Jets (2009). Following his playing days, Owens reunited with Petrino in 2010 as a graduate assistant working with tight ends at Arkansas for two seasons before becoming the University of Alabama at Birmingham's tight ends coach in 2012. A year later, he was named the program's offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach before switching back to coaching the Blazers' tight ends in 2014.

Owens then spent three seasons at South Alabama coaching tight ends for a year and the offensive line for two before another reunion with Petrino brought him back to Louisville in 2018 as the tight ends coach with some recruiting responsibilities. The next year, the Florida native was back at UAB as the offensive line coach where he spent three seasons before going to Georgia Southern.

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Last season, the Eagles' offensive line, led by Owens, gave up only seven sacks all year and blocked for an offense that totaled 1,778 rushing yards and 4,289 passing yards for an average of 466.7 yards per game and 53 total touchdowns on the year. Georgia Southern finished the season with a 6-7 record after falling to Buffalo 23-21 in the Camellia Bowl.

Owens' second coaching stint at Louisville is just the latest addition to new head coach Jeff Brohm's growing coaching staff. So far, the Cardinals have added Chris Barclay to coach running backs, Garrick McGee, who was UAB's head coach when Owens was hired in 2012, to coach wide receivers, Ron English as a defensive assistant and Ryan Wallace to coach tight ends, all of whom were part of Brohm's coaching staff at Purdue. Defensive line coach Mark Ivey, Branch, who returned to Louisville last year as the director of player development, and director of recruiting Pete Nochta have all been retained from the previous U of L coaching staff under Scott Satterfield.

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Reach Louisville football, women's basketball and baseball beat writer Alexis Cubit at acubit@gannett.com and follow her on Twitter at @Alexis_Cubit.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Louisville football staff: Jeff Brohm reportedly adds Richard Owens