Valparaiso University Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Vincent Walker has announced the addition of Elijah Owen, who has joined the staff as an assistant coach.
 
An alum who competed for the program from 2012 to 2016, Owen graduated from Valpo with a bachelor's degree in theology and minor in physics in May 2016 and went on to earn a master's in theology from Augustine Institute in May 2019.
 
"It's always special when you get to bring back an alum who is passionate about Valpo Track and Field," Walker said. "Coach Owen was an incredible student-athlete during his time at Valpo, winning a conference title and leaving his mark all over our school record books. He knows what it takes to thrive in this program and his energy and knowledge will be a great asset as he continues to grow and develop our jumpers, throwers and combined event student-athletes!  I am eager to get the season rolling and to see him work with our student-athletes."
 
Owen's name still appears in multiple locations in the program record book. His outdoor javelin throw of 187-4 still ranks fifth in program history and was third at the time of his graduation. His heptathlon score of 4,413 from 2015 stood as the program record for a decade before AJ Walsh broke that mark in 2025. Owen's decathlon score of 5,680 still ranks fifth in the program record book and was second at that time.
 
Owen's newfound assistant coaching responsibilities add to his role in the campus community that also includes serving as an adjunct instructor, teaching sections of introductory religion, REL 100.
 
"As a former Valparaiso University student-athlete in track and field and current member of the faculty in the Department of Religious Studies, I am excited and full of gratitude for the opportunity to now also serve as assistant coach for the track and field team," Owen said. "I received the blessing of excellent coaching for four years as a multi-event athlete (decathlon and heptathlon), jumper and javelin thrower, and I will do my best to provide guidance to Valparaiso University student-athletes focusing on similar events. Ultimately, I hope that any dedicated student-athlete will not only improve on the track and in the fields, but as I experienced through the sport, will become more fully who they are called to be as a person. Go Valpo!"