George Fox Athletics Sees Coaching Changes
Reported by Jayden Forsyth
Photographed by Allison Martinet
Two of George Fox University’s sports teams, football and esports, have recently undergone coaching changes, both at the head coach level.
The George Fox football team was previously led by Head Coach Chris Casey. At the beginning of his 11-year tenure at George Fox, Casey revived the program after a 46-year hiatus. Over his 43-year coaching career, Casey made a significant impact at GFU, coaching players to eight All-American awards, 12 D3football.com All-Region selections, 129 All-Northwest Conference honors, and 38 NWC Student-Athlete of the Week recognitions.
One of his former players, wide receiver Leon Johnson III, signed with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2024. After a long and respected career, Casey retired to spend more time with his family.
The team recently announced Spencer Crace as its new full-time head coach. Crace, who previously served as an offensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach, and assistant head coach at Pacific Lutheran University, officially joined George Fox football as head coach on Feb. 18.
“Spencer Crace is an incredible culture fit at George Fox University, deeply aligned with our mission to develop young men who will serve the world with passion and integrity through the sport of football,” said George Fox Athletic Director Adam Puckett, according to a George Fox University press release.
George Fox’s esports team is also undergoing a coaching transition. Founding head coach Miles Dean has stepped down, passing leadership to interim coach Bradley Thurber. The reasons for Dean’s departure are not publicly known, but his impact on the program was significant. Under his leadership, the team reached the national bracket in both Rocket League and League of Legends during its first season, with the varsity League of Legends team finishing as national runners-up.
While Thurber is temporarily leading the team, the search for a permanent head coach is underway.
“The head coach of an esports team is obviously a big role, as they’re in charge of the whole program,” said Dylan Flood, a freshman Overwatch 2 competitor. “They create and enforce rules for the arena to keep the culture and general vibes up for everyone in it.”
When asked what qualities he would like to see in a new head coach, Flood emphasized organization, approachability, and dedication.
“A potential head coach would have to be organized, friendly, and hardworking,” he said.
As the esports team continues its search, players look forward to the addition of a coach who can further enhance the program. While the team benefits from strong infrastructure, including high-speed internet and state-of-the-art technology, securing a dedicated leader will be crucial to maintaining its success.