Brian Ownby

Brian Tyler Ownby (born July 16, 1990) is an American professional coach and former professional soccer player. He is currently interim head coach of the Richmond Kickers.

Early life Personal Ownby was born in Glen Allen, Virginia to parents Steve and Andrea Ownby and has a younger brother named Eric. He attended Deep Run High School where he played soccer and became the school's all-time leading goal scorer. As a Senior in 2008 Ownby led Deep Run to a 22-2-1 record and the Virginia Group AAA state championship. In the Championship match he earned an assist on the lone goal of the match as Deep Run defeated Robinson Secondary School 1–0. After the season he was named Virginia's Soccer Player of the Year and to the All-State First Team.

College and Youth Ownby played four years of college soccer at the University of Virginia between 2008 and 2011. During his Freshman year he scored five goals and added four assists over 19 matches and was named to the ACC All-Freshman and All-Tournament teams. He was also named to the Soccer America All-Freshman and to the NSCAA All-South Atlantic Region second teams. He was limited by injury during his Sophomore year and played in fifteen matches scoring three goals and one assist. Ownby and Virginia went on to win the 2009 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship with Ownby being named to the all tournament team. He scored the golden goal against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons in the NCAA semifinal. As a Junior he appeared in 20 matches scoring seven goals with three assists earning first team All-ACC honors. As a Senior he appeared in 18 matches scoring six goals with two assists earning second team All-ACC honors.

After college, Ownby played one season with Reading United AC of the Premier Development League. He scored four goals in four matches with Reading.

Club career Houston Dynamo 2012 season Ownby was selected by the Houston Dynamo with the 7th pick in the first round of the 2012 MLS Supplemental Draft and signed his first professional contract after a month long trial. He made his professional debut on May 29 in the US Open Cup against San Antonio. He made seven league appearances for Houston as well as one appearance in the US Open Cup. Houston would go on to win the Western Conference playoffs although Ownby didn't participate in any of their MLS Cup matches. He appeared in nineteen of Richmond's league matches scoring seven goals with six assists as well as both of their USL Cup matches. Richmond and Ownby finished the USL Pro regular season with the best overall record; winning the Commissioner's Cup.

Return to Houston After his loan to Richmond, Ownby appeared in three league matches for Houston. He also made his first appearance in a continental club competition when he was used as a substitute in the CONCACAF Champions League against W Connection F.C. on August 20.

2014 season Due to injuries to other players, Ownby began the 2014 season as part of Houston's senior roster and made his season debut March 15 against Montreal. He played in 21 league matches for Houston and made two appearances in the US Open cup.

Loan to Pittsburgh Riverhounds Ownby went on several loan periods with Houston's USL affiliate, Pittsburgh. With Pittsburgh, Ownby made five appearances, scoring one goal. He was released by Houston in November 2014.

Richmond Kickers 2015 season Ownby signed with the Richmond Kickers of the United Soccer League on February 9, 2015 and he made his season debut on April 10 against Wilmington; a match where he scored a goal. He made appearances in twelve of Richmond's 28 league matches, with four goals and one assist, as well as playing and scoring one goal in one of Richmond's US Open Cup matches. Ownby's season was cut short when he sustained a serious injury to his right shoulder in a June 14 match against Montreal. He had season ending surgery eleven days later.

2016 season After an unsuccessful trial with the Colorado Rapids of MLS, Ownby re-signed with Richmond for the 2016 Season. and went on to appear in 26 of Richmond's 30 league matches scoring three goals. Of the four league matches in which he did not participate, two were due to a concussion that he sustained on August 21 against Orlando City B. He also played one match each for Richmond in the US Open Cup and the USL Cup Playoffs without scoring a goal.

Louisville City 2017 season Ownby signed with USL side Louisville City FC on January 18, 2017 and made his season debut March 25 against Saint Louis. He made an appearance in 23 of Louisville's 32 league matches, scoring four goals with four assists. He also appeared in one of Louisville's two US Open Cup matches, going goalless. In the USL Cup Playoffs, he made an appearance in all four of Louisville's matches. Ownby, along with Stefano Bonomo of New York Red Bulls II, was the top goal scorer of the playoffs with three team leading goals. Ownby and Louisville went on to win the USL Cup Final against Swope Park. He missed the first three matches of the season due to illness and made his season debut on April 14 against Richmond. He made appearances in 22 of Louisville's 34 league matches, missing several more matches due to a concussion, and failed to score a goal during league play. He also appeared in all five of Louisville's U.S. Open Cup matches, as Louisville reached the quarter-finals of the competition for the first time in its history. This included a 3–2 victory over the New England Revolution of MLS; Louisville's first victory over an MLS side. He, along with Cameron Lancaster, led the team with two goals scored in the competition, including the decisive goal against New England. Ownby also appeared in all four of Louisville's USL Cup playoff matches, as he and Louisville went on to win the USL Cup Final against Phoenix.

Coaching career

On 12 January 2026, return to the Richmond Kickers as assistant coach.

On 15 June, after the club parted ways with outgoing manager Darren Sawatzky, he officially became the interim manager of the Kickers.

Richmond Kickers USL (Regular Season) (1): 2013 2018