The Southern Utah University football program and Head Coach DeLane Fitzgerald announced the addition of Shay McClure as the team's linebackers coach and Special Teams Coordinator in June of 2022.
During the 2023 Season McClure once again helped lead the Thunderbird defense to a successful season. The team finished with a mark of 6-5 overall with a 4-2 record against United Athletic Conference opponents. Two of McClure's linebackers earned post-season accolades for their incredible efforts during the season.
In the 2022 season, McClure helped lead the Thunderbirds to a 5-6 overall record with a 2-3 mark in Western Athletic Conference play. Under McClure's guidance, Jake Gerardi made First Team Special Teams as a punter after punting for 2550 yards on 53 attempts. Gerardi was later named an All American for his special teams work during the 2022 campaign.
"Shay McClure was a no-brainer decision for us at our linebacker position," said Fitzgerald. "He is a proven winner everywhere he has gone and one of the best recruiters in Southern Utah and Southern California. Myself and the rest of our staff are excited to have Coach McClure joining our football staff and program."
McClure is a phenomenal addition to the SUU staff, bringing over 25 years of college coaching experience to the Thunderbird football program. He began his coaching career as the defensive backs coach at Southern Oregon, following a strong playing career with the same university.
After two years on the Southern Oregon staff, McClure made the move to the University of San Diego football program, taking over the role of defensive backs and special teams coach for three seasons.
McClure then made the transition to the defensive coordinator role at Occidental College for one season before returning to Southern Oregon to take over the same position. After three seasons at the helm of the Southern Oregon defense, McClure was named the interim head coach for the 2005 season.
Following one season as the interim head coach at SOU, McClure took over as the defensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator at Humboldt State, a position he held from 2006 to 2014. His defensive units at Humboldt State were consistently ranked at the top of the Great Northwest Atlantic Conference. In 2011, McClure helped HSU to a 9-1 overall record and GNAC championship. In 2014, McClure's defense led the entire country in sacks, while ranking eighth in total defense and 17th in scoring defense.
After the conclusion of the 2014 season, McClure accepted an offer to become the defensive coordinator at Dixie State for the 2015 season. McClure was then promoted to Head Coach at Dixie State following his first season on the staff.
From 2016 to 2018 as head coach for the Trailblazers, McClure recorded an 18-15 overall record, including an 18-12 mark in conference play. McClure helped the Dixie State football program break 26 school records while at the helm of the program; and, he led the Trailblazers to their first two winning seasons in the program's history as a four-year school.
After a successful run leading the Dixie State football program, McClure transitioned to defensive coordinator at Southwest Minnesota State in 2019, serving in that role for three seasons before joining the Southern Utah staff this summer.
McClure is eager to begin his new role with the Thunderbird football program. "I'm incredibly excited about this opportunity here at Southern Utah. Having spent five years in the Southern Utah region, I feel like I've had a good opportunity to see Thunderbird football from an outside perspective, and I'm very grateful to now have the chance to be on the staff here and help build this program."
McClure holds a Bachelor's Degree in Physical Education from Southern Oregon University, as well as a Master's Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from the same university.
