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May 28, 2004 - Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels March 10, 2004 Raiders' coordinator leaves By Rich Rosenthal For the Tidings Southern Oregon University offensive coordinator Matt Sayre on Tuesday announced he is leaving the Raiders in order to accept the head football coaching position at College of the Siskiyous. Sayre, 33, a nine-year Raider assistant, including the past six as the school's chief offensive play-caller, takes over the Weed, Calif., junior college program in earnest upon conclusion of his teaching duties in SOU's Health and Physical Education department later this month. "My career aspirations are now at the College of the Siskiyous, but my heart will always be with the Raiders," said Sayre, whose coaching career began at COS as a graduate assistant in 1993-94. "It was a tough decision to make." During Sayre's tenure as offensive coordinator, SOU averaged 382 offensive yards and 33 points while compiling a 38-21 record, including NAIA quarterfinal appearances in 2001 and '02. His 2001 group amassed the school's third most prolific offensive season with a 415-yard clip (the NAIA's sixth-highest output) that resulted in an all-time record for scoring (43.1). In 2003, Southern Oregon finished ninth nationally for scoring offense (33.4) and 10th for total offense (414.3). "This is a big loss for our program but I'm thrilled for Matt," Raider head coach Jeff Olson said. "He did a phenomenal job here, and he'll be an outstanding head coach." The Lacey, Wash., native came to Southern Oregon after serving as a player/coach for the Graz Giants in the Austrian League from '93 to '95. He was the team's offensive MVP and led the team to the 1995 national championship. Collegiately, Sayre played two seasons as a quarterback at Eastern Washington before transferring to Western Washington in 1990. He passed for 1,490 yards as a senior and finished sixth on the Viking career passing list, with 2,421 yards. Sayre graduated from Western Washington with an English degree, and he completed his master's in English at SOU in 2001. College of the Siskiyous is coming off a 2-8 campaign. Sayre replaces Dennis Roberts, the school's current Athletics Director. Olson indicated the search for Sayre's successor will begin immediately. DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2004 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams