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Sandia Prep Athletic Director Willie Owens has earned the elite distinction of becoming a Certified Master Athletic Administrator. 

The National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA) announced the recognition.

To earn the certification, Owens has demonstrated “exemplary knowledge, contribution, and ongoing professional development in the field of interscholastic athletic administration,” according to an NIAAA news release.

The voluntary certification process included a thorough evaluation of Owens’ educational background, experience, NIAAA leadership courses, and professional contributions. It culminated with a practical written or oral presentation project.

This distinction is open to experienced athletic administrators who hold a Certified Athletic Administrator (CAA) designation and are employed or retired from a public or private school setting that serves grades 6-12. 

Owens completed a series of 12 courses, as well as a project on his work around mental health and wellness in athletics. 

He is one of a select group of interscholastic athletic administrators nationwide to attain this level of professionalism.

Owens joined Prep in 1992. Over the years, he has coached boys and girls track, boys soccer, boys basketball, and golf. During his tenure as head boys basketball coach from 1994-2017, Owens developed one of the state’s strongest basketball programs.

In 2022, he became the first African American coach inducted into the New Mexico High School Coaches Hall of Fame.

When he’s not working, Owens is an avid gardener who loves growing tomatoes, peppers, kale, Swiss chard, and watermelons. He also loves visiting family and cooking on the grill.

His favorite thing about Prep? “The relationships between students, faculty and staff is organic and important in developing a great community,” he says.

Owens is married to Debra, and his son Spenser (’11) and daughter Whitney (’15) are both Prep alumni.

Based in Indianapolis, the NIAA’s mission is to provide professional development options for directors of athletics, and to enhance the athletic administration profession. It has more than 12,000 members.