Heather M. Owen was hired as Santa Clara's Director of Athletics on September 5, 2024. A former athlete at both the collegiate and professional levels, she joins the Broncos after a successful 15-year stint at Stanford Athletics where she rapidly rose in positions of responsibility, most recently as the Deputy Athletics Director/Senior Woman Administrator (SWA). 
 
Owen, who earned her bachelor's in political science and a minor in sociology from Stanford in 1998, is returning to Santa Clara for the first time since earning her J.D. from Santa Clara University's Law School in 2003. 

"I am a proud Bronco with deep ties to the Bay Area, and am excited by the opportunity to lead Santa Clara Athletics, an outstanding program that, like the University, has been on the rise and recognized nationally for its excellence and growth trajectory," said Owen. "I couldn't be more thrilled to assume this leadership position and work with an incredible Bronco community of coaches, staff, student-athletes, alumni, and the University overall to continue the ascent and help define what an outstanding athletics program can be for the Bronco family."

A native of Moscow, Idaho, Owen joined Stanford Athletics in 2008 and served in a wide range of positions that include leading the department's development efforts, serving as a sport administrator for women's basketball, football, men's golf, women's golf, and field hockey, and overseeing student-athlete support services, such as athletic training, physical therapy, sport psychology, sports nutrition, and sports performance.

As a student-athlete, she was a standout on the hardwood for head coach Tara VanDerveer and the Cardinal. A two-time Pac-10 All-Academic selection, she helped lead Stanford to three NCAA Final Four appearances from 1994-98. Upon graduation, Owen played professionally in the WNBA and abroad in France before switching career paths and heading to Santa Clara to pursue her law degree. She worked for four years as a practicing attorney at DLA Piper before entering athletics administration.

Owen and her wife Maggie are the proud parents of a three-year-old son, Hugh. They reside in Menlo Park, Calif.