Lewis & Clark College has hired Jay Locey, former chief of staff at Oregon State, as its new head football coach, Director of Physical Education and Athletics Shana Levine announced Tuesday.
“I am very excited to announce Jay Locey is joining the Pioneer family as our next head football coach,” said Levine. “Jay’s understanding of Division III and commitment to the student-athlete experience makes him the right coach for Lewis & Clark. He is well-respected across the region with a history of success in the Northwest Conference and I could not be happier to have Jay lead our football program for years to come.”
The 10th head coach in Pioneer history, Locey is no stranger to the Northwest Conference, having served as head coach of the Linfield Wildcats from 1996 to 2006.
“Jay is an impressive and experienced coach. I am pleased to welcome him to Lewis & Clark and can’t wait to see him in action next fall,” said Lewis & Clark President Barry Glassner.
“I am excited about the challenge of rebuilding Lewis & Clark football and being a part of such a strong academic institution,” said Locey.
Considered one of the most successful coaches in small college football, Locey has been named the Northwest Conference Coach of the Year five times, earning an 84-18 overall record with the Wildcats. Under Locey, the Wildcats won the 2004 NCAA Division III National Championship and made the Division III playoffs six times. Locey guided Linfield to 41 consecutive wins, including a 23-game unbeaten streak in the Northwest Conference. In total Locey has coached 16 Division III All-Americans.
Over 23 years, Locey helped the Linfield Wildcats to win three national titles and 12 conference championships. In 2005 The Oregonian named Locey one of the state of Oregon’s top 25 most influential sports people. That same year Locey was named the Division III Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year. After winning the national championship with the Wildcats in 2004, Locey became just the second Northwest Conference Coach to be named the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) National Division III Coach of the Year.
While at Linfield, Locey was also a full professor in the College of Health and Human Performance, teaching anatomical kinesiology and the principles of neuromuscular conditioning.
After leaving Linfield, Locey returned to his alma mater, Oregon State University, where he spent his first two seasons working with the tight ends. Locey then began working with the Beavers wide receivers and was eventually named assistant head coach.
In 2013 the Beavers promoted Locey to chief of staff, a position in which he was responsible for the coordination of critical off-the-field administrative projects. Some of Locey’s duties included career and job placement for football student-athletes, alumni engagement, fundraising, leadership development, team building, and community relations.
In May 2013 Locey was presented the Virtue First Foundation’s Coach of the Year award for his commitment to building the character of America’s youth.
Locey has coached six Pac-10/12 All-Conference players, four Pac-10/12 Academic Team members, and won two bowl championships.
Locey has also coached at both Corvallis and Lakeridge High Schools.
As a player, Locey won a state championship at Corvallis High School in 1970, with his team finishing the season undefeated. Following high school, Locey earned a football scholarship to Oregon State.
At Oregon State, Locey was named to the Pacific-8 Conference First-Team as a defensive back in 1976, while earning second-team honors in 1975. Locey was twice named OSU’s top student-athlete, while winning the outstanding senior award his final season.
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