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90 °F Forecast | Road Cams Wednesday, May 25, 2005 Today's News | Shop Our Valley | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery | Contact Us SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Health Biz Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Real Estate Guide Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley SHOP OUR VALLEY AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Classified Place an ad TOP JOBS EXTRA Ashland News NIE Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People Volunteer Moving here? eSouthernOregon CUSTOMER SERVICE FAQ's Advertise with us Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend May 11, 2005 McClure named SOU interim head football coach Former Raider player, current defensive coordinator assumes post vacated by Olson ASHLAND — Southern Oregon University Interim Director of Athletics Dan Speasl announced Tuesday that current Raider defensive coordinator Shay McClure will serve as interim head football coach for the 2005 season. McClure, 34, supervised the team’s spring practices that culminated with last Saturday’s annual intrasquad scrimmage after longtime Raider coach Jeff Olson announced his resignation on April 8. "I’m really impressed with Shay’s work ethic, professionalism and the way our student-athletes respond to him as a coach," Speasl said. "He did a fantastic job running the program this spring, and it has been a very seamless (head coaching) transition." The 1995 SOU graduate has ascended the coaching ranks since his collegiate playing days as a Raider defensive back in the early 1990s. McClure served as the program’s assistant head coach, defensive coordinator, recruiting coordinator and conditioning coach the past three seasons after starting his professional career as defensive backs coach for former head coach Jim Palazzolo in 1995. His experience also includes stints at the University of San Diego (two seasons as defensive backs coach and special teams coordinator) and at Occidental College (three years as defensive coordinator). McClure helped Occidental win the 2001 Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship with an 8-1 record and crafted the NAIA’s fifth-ranked rush defense during SOU’s 2002 run to the national quarterfinals. Advertisement The McCloud, Calif., native is currently completing a master’s degree from SOU in health and physical education. "I’m thrilled to have this opportunity and it’s an honor to serve my alma mater," McClure said. "Coach Olson did a great job of turning the program into something everyone can be proud of. I hope I can step in and fill his enormous shoes." Southern Oregon is coming off a 3-6 season, but the Raiders looked much-improved in the team’s fourth-annual spring game last Saturday at Spiegelberg Stadium in Medford. The offensive group recorded five touchdown passes, and the defense accounted for two scores. "I think we all felt good about the spring game," McClure said, "and it gives us some momentum heading into the fall." The Raiders open the 2005 season Sept. 10 at the University of San Diego. SOU will begin a national search for a permanent replacement upon conclusion of the season. Speasl indicated the national search for head women’s basketball coach will be launched soon in order to correspond to that sport’s season. Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback Free Music Downloads Conference Calls - $50/Month Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker, Trunk, Footlockers home equity loans helzberg diamonds Distance Education Diamonds Online Poker Auto Insurance Mesothelioma Slippers Student Loans tcg student loan consolidation teleconferencing Website Design & Marketing Memory Foam Mattress w2 forms Mortgage Calculator Free Home-Loan Referrals Payday Loans Advertisement s