Jody Sears named Weber State's interim head football coach

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OGDEN — Weber State University Athletics has named Jody Sears interim head football coach. Sears will coach the Wildcats for the 2012 season.

“I’m extremely honored by the opportunity to be in a position to be named interim head coach at Weber State,” Sears said. “We have some great things in place here at Weber State, and I look forward to working with our team this season.”

Sears, 44, joined Weber State during the spring of 2012 and has been working as the defensive coordinator. In addition to his role as interim head coach, he will continue to be the defensive coordinator.

“We are excited to welcome Jody as our interim head coach and are looking forward to the 2012 season under his leadership,” said Weber State director of athletics Jerry Bovee. “Since Jody has been here, he has stepped in and been a great leader for our program. I’m confident that with his experience we will continue the stability of our program.”

Sears brings nearly 20 years of coaching experience to Weber State. Before coming to Weber State, he spent three seasons at Washington State as the co-defensive coordinator under head coach Paul Wulff, a former college teammate at Washington State. He also coached the cornerbacks at his alma mater.

He is no stranger to the Big Sky Conference, as he spent five seasons (2003-07) as the defensive coordinator at Eastern Washington, also under Paul Wulff. During his time with the Eagles, he coached safeties, linebackers and defensive backs, aiding seven players to Big Sky All- Conference honors.

Prior to his time at Eastern Washington, Sears spent three seasons (2000-02) as an assistant coach at Army, where he coached cornerbacks and the defensive line.

In 1998, he was the defensive coordinator at St. Ambrose University, an NAIA school in Davenport, Iowa. He began his collegiate coaching career at Iowa State in 1994, where he spent three seasons as a graduate assistant with the Cyclones, helping coach the defensive backs and wide receivers.

Sears played football at Washington State where he was a two-year letterwinner after walking on as a wide receiver. He played under head coaches Jim Walden, Dennis Erickson and former Weber State head coach Mike Price. He graduated from Washington State in 1991 and received his master’s degree from Iowa State in 1996.

Sears is a native of Pullman, Wash. He and his wife Molly are the parents of five children: Weston, Hannah Jo, J.T., Kylee Ann and Charlie Ray.

Weber State will begin the 2012 season on Sept. 1 when the Wildcats play at Fresno State. The following week the ‘Cats will play at BYU before the home opener on Sept. 15 against McNeese State. WSU will begin Big Sky Conference action on Sept. 2 hosting Eastern Washington.

Paul Grua is the Athletics Media Relations director at Weber State University.