Mike Owens

Mike Owens, the most successful football coach in Robert E. Lee High School history, is being honored by the Tyler Independent School District.

The Tyler Legacy High School field house will now be called the “Coach Mike Owens Field House,” the Tyler ISD Board of Trustees announced on Monday after an unanimous vote.

Coach Owens led the Red Raiders to the 2004 Class 5A Division I state football championship.

“This is an honor for the coaching staff, me, and the many wonderful players we had over our 15 years in the Tyler ISD,” Coach Owens said. “I am overwhelmed and humbled to have the field house named in my honor. On behalf of myself and the coaching staff, we thank the Tyler ISD for this incredible tribute. Go, Red Raiders!”

Owens played football and graduated from Tulane University.

He began his head coaching career in 1982 at Thomas Jefferson High School in Port Arthur. He stayed there for 14 years, leading the Yellow Jackets to five playoff appearances.

In 1996, Owens came to East Texas, taking over the Tyler Lee program. He built the Red Raiders into a powerhouse, winning five district championships and earning playoff berths in 13 of 15 seasons. Plus, Owens led REL to the first state football championship in school history. He coached the Red Raiders from 1996 to 2010.

At REL, he had a record of 113-67 and leading the Red Raiders to all four double-digit wins totals in school history as well as all the school’s district titles in football.

Coach Owens was inducted into the Tyler ISD Athletics Hall of Fame in 2019.

“I had the privilege of working with Coach Owens for 13 years as his 7 on 7 coach from 1998 until 2011,” Trustee Andy Bergfeld, a former Red Raider and SMU football player, said. “In my opinion, there is no one more deserving of this honor in Red Raiders history. He taught a generation of young men the things it takes to be a responsible member of society and thousands, I’m sure, thank him.”

He retired after the 2010 season in 2011. Owens coached one more season at Frankston High School in 2015, leading the Indians to a 6-4 record.

In 30 years as a head coach, Owens complied a record of 196-137-2. He led his teams to 19 playoff appearances with six district championships.

In 2002, Owens led the Red Raiders to the state semifinals with victories over Mesquite (21-14), Plano East (24-14) and A&M Consolidated (21-17) before falling to Midland (24-14).

The falling season, Tyler Lee reached the quarterfinals with wins over Garland Naaman Forest (57-24) and Plano East (31-3) before dropping a 50-48 contest to The Woodlands.

In the championship season of 2004, the Red Raiders scored wins over Garland (28-10), Richardson Berkner (34-6), Round Rock McNeil (38-13), and Euless Trinity (28-7) before reaching the finals. REL defeated Spring Westfield, 28-21, in the state championship game held at the Alamodome in San Antonio.