FB: Northwest Conference

[spiritof86]

Unbelievable!!   

I don't know why he would want to deal with all the donkey's but the money is probably at least double!

You have got to be kidding me if you think that Locey left osu for the money. Please say you are kidding.

I am like 11. I feel sick. Sick and shocked.

Coach Smith is a great coach, but I think there are probably a few others who could fill the spot as well.

[spiritof86]

I honestly thought that Locey would be around for a long time. Naive, I guess. And what kind of special position is he getting? Staff restructuring just to give Locey a job??? 3 coaching changes at Linfield in less than 15 years? I do not know what to say. Blegh.

[downtown48]

I'm not kidding at all...why else would he leave? 

Deal with D1 attitudes...NO.
Coach a team that has a shot at the national title every year...NO
Coach a team that has respect nationally...NO

Coach for his alma mater...YES
Coach with his high school friend...YES
Double his salary...YES
Possibly be a D1 head coach and set up his family for a long time...YES

It's a cut throat business at that level and the job security isn't great by any stretch.  But it's a chance to coach in front of 80,000 people and be able to not worry about money ever again...I hope it works out for him!

Linfield will be fine with whoever they choose...

[CamCat]

Life and Linfield football goes on but this is indeed a shock.  He must be getting an awfully sweet deal to cause him to leave. 

It would have to have been the proverbial offer he could not refuse to give up all he had at Linfield.

[RedandPurple]

To paraphrase: "Say it ain't so , Jay!"

I have nothing but respect for Coach Locey. As a coach and as a man.
He epitomizes what a coach should be. I wish him and his family the best.
He will be missed. I know the coaches and players at Linfield will continue to carry on the winning tradition and excellence on the field in the years to come as we have experienced under Coach Locey.

Bring Back the Band!
Bring 'em Back and Turn 'em Loose! 

[spiritof86]

I'm not kidding at all...why else would he leave? 

Deal with D1 attitudes...NO.
Coach a team that has a shot at the national title every year...NO
Coach a team that has respect nationally...NO

Coach for his alma mater...YES
Coach with his high school friend...YES
Double his salary...YES
Possibly be a D1 head coach and set up his family for a long time...YES

It's a cut throat business at that level and the job security isn't great by any stretch.  But it's a chance to coach in front of 80,000 people and be able to not worry about money ever again...I hope it works out for him!

Linfield will be fine with whoever they choose...

I agree with all that you said. Linfield will be fine. I just wonder how much more $$$ osu can pay him as a special assistant than he made at LC. He was not exactly underpaid by the college. I think that the possibility of being a d1 head-coach would be a bigger draw, but then again, money is a part of that. I do not know Locey whatsoever, but if $$$ was his motivating factor I bet he would have left a while ago.

[d-train]

Wow, just six weeks earlier and Coach VanDeZande might not have had to move back to Illinois.

[spiritof86]

I have thought it over and now I am happy. The 'cats always move on. Not much of a drop-off took place when Coach Rutschman or Coach Langsdorf left. Time for Coach Smith!

[Wildcat'64]

Best of Luck to Coach Locey.....he has left a wonderful legacy in his years as Head Coach for the Cats!

Transistion will be difficult, as it always is, and every opponent this year will be "gunning" once again for the Cats. Some will recall that the first year Coach Locey took over the reigns the Cats went 5-4 and the "streak" was almost in jeporady.  Timing is everything and perhaps Jay just thought this was the best time to leave while "on top of Division III football" after two fabulous seasons.

There are some fine football minds on the coaching staff and the Administration does not have to look very far to find a person to take over the responsibilities.  Hopefully it will be one of the very talented folks already on staff that understands the system and the Linfield winning tradition.

A question for a knowledgeable poster?  What is the effective date of the resignation?  Who will guide the High School football camps that are due to commence 12 days from now?

OSU's gain is the Cats loss --- however, I suspect we will now just have one more coach at OSU who will send talented Division I athletes who are not receiving playing time over to show their talents in the Catdome.

[D O.C.]

I am caught being busy and did not check in until 12n PDT and all I had to read was WC11's post and I can guess what happened.
I posted and now I'll look for details.
First major story of the 2006 season?
Perhaps I'll quit worrying about running backs.
When in doubt....defense!

[RedandPurple]

Coach Locey is still at the helm!
Straight from the Linfield Football webpage:

Locey considers job offer

Jay Locey, professor of health, human performance and athletics and head football coach at Linfield Collge, has been in discussion with Oregon State University for a position with its football program, according to Scott Carnahan, Linfield athletic director.

An agreement between OSU and Locey has not been finalized, nor has he signed a contract, Carnahan said.

Should Locey resign from the Linfield program, the college would look at various options in searching for his replacement, Carnahan said, adding that a new head coach would be named as soon as possible.

[Wildcat'64]

Red n' Purple -

Interesting - I just saw the same info on the Linfield website.

I wonder how the Portland Tribune picked up so much detail on the hiring and even named who the potential replacements might be?

I was frankly kind of surprised that the announcement would be given to the Portland Tribune first rather than Norm Maves at the Oregonian who actually traveled with the Cats back to the NCAA Championship game.

Perhaps OSU released the info to the Tribune not Linfield.

[RedandPurple]

Makes you wonder doesn't it?
Don't believe everythng you read.
I sure hope Coach Locey stays at Linfield.
Guess we'll just have to wait and see.

Keep the Coach!
Bring Back the Band!

[rockcat]

A question for a knowledgeable poster?  What is the effective date of the resignation?  Who will guide the High School football camps that are due to commence 12 days from now?

At most colleges the contract year begins July 1 but of course all the story says is that he is considering an offer.  However, the story going public makes me think a decision will be announced soon.  Why else would they share this?  I'm sure this isn't the first time he has been talked to about another job.

[wildcat11]

http://www.portlandtribune.com/archview.cgi?id=P060606

It's a done deal...here is an updated article in the Trib:

"It's a great opportunity for me to work with a guy I greatly respect," Locey says. "We are pretty congruent in our thinking. I'll get to work at my alma mater and in my hometown. I have loved my time at Linfield, but this was a unique opportunity."

now..that tells me he's not considering it but he has decided to take the job at OSU.