Statesville Owls Name Coaching Staff

Statesville Owls baseball advisor Tom Worrell and General Manager Hugh McBride announced today that Jamie Lowe and Chris Johnson will lead the Owls into their inaugural season. Worrell stated, “After an exhausting search, we believe that we have brought together two of the most talented young coaches to not just lead the Owls but also identify and sign the most talented collection of colligate players from around the country”.

When asked about being appointed as head coach Lowe explain that he was very excited about the opportunity and had already begun his player evaluations in preparation for extending offers to players to join the Owls team for the 2010 season. Jamie added, “What attracted me to the Statesville Owls was the real sense of community, being part of an organization with a rich history in a city that is ready for the return of baseball”.

The Owls will play at Statesville Senior High School hosting 14 home dates starting June 1, 2010 and running through July 17, 2010.

Coaches Bio’s

Head Coach Jamie Lowe comes to the Owls following his first season at the helm of the Surry Knights following an outstanding career at North Forsyth. During his five year tenure, Lowe guided the Vikings to a 109-29 (.790) record while capturing five consecutive Metro 4A titles. In both 2003 and 2006, the Vikings reached the NCHSAA Western Regional Finals. The 2006 team finished with a national ranking of 12th by Sports Illustrated and Baseball America while winning 30 consecutive games.

Lowe has coached numerous players that have advanced to both college and professional baseball including 2007 National Freshman of the Year, Dustin Ackley. For his accomplishments, Lowe was named the North Carolina Baseball Coach of the Year Runner-up in 2003 as well as earning Coach of the Year in Region 5 for 2006. Lowe also captured five consecutive Metro Coach of the Year awards from 2002-2006. A member of the American Baseball Coaches Association, Lowe has also coached American Legion Baseball as well as directing and assisting with numerous baseball camps. Lowe graduated from Lenoir-Rhyne College in 1992 with a Bachelor of Science degree. He was a four-year member of the baseball team helping lead the Bears to a school record for wins in 1991. In addition, Lowe received his teaching certification in physical education from Winston-Salem State University in 1999. Lowe currently resides in Dobson.

Assistant Coach Chris Johnson joins the Owls staff after his first season with the Montreat Cavaliers' baseball program where he served as the pitching coach and assisted with recruiting. Johnson spent last season as the head coach at Monacan High School in Richmond, Virginia and as an instructor at the Richmond Baseball Academy South. Johnson has served as an assistant coach at Guilford College 2007-2008 and Wilkes Community College 2004-2005.

Johnson has coached at two top ranked high school programs. In 2002 Bartow H.S. in Florida won a district championship, regional championship, and played for the 3A state championship finishing state runner-up. In 2006 North Forsyth H.S. in North Carolina won a Metro conference championship finishing with a 30-2 record and a state final four appearance. The Vikings were also ranked nationally in Baseball America, Collegiate Baseball Magazine, and Sports Illustrated. Johnson has also served as a head coach for the Winston-Salem Post 128 Jr. American legion team.

Johnson played collegiately for one season 1992 at Lenoir Community College. Johnson sat out the next two seasons recovering from shoulder surgery and finished his career lettering two years 1995-1996 at Southeastern College in Lakeland, Florida. Johnson graduated with a B.S. degree in Psychology from Southeastern College in 2002 were he was a volunteer assistant coach during the 2001 season. Johnson resides in Winston-Salem with his wife Rachel and their son Landon-Kai who is 5 years old.