Jeremy Lloyd
Casey addresses the media after being announced as the new George Fox head football coach.
halls at Aloha, he offers a greeting to everyone “I want to be a part of enhancing the George To Casey, students are who crosses his path. He asks one student how Fox experience,” he says. “It’s already a great like family. Walking the they did on a test. He asks another how his basschool. I’d love our program to be something halls at Aloha, he offers a students can rally around – a source of commuketball season is going. To another, he questions greeting to everyone who nity pride. I’ve just been so impressed with the why they aren’t in class after the bell, because “academics is where it’s at – it’s important,” he school and with [President] Robin [Baker’s] and crosses his path. tells them. Craig [Taylor’s] commitment to this.” “We’re pretty tight-knit around here,” he says in between greetings. “That’s what happens when you go through so much together Hard work: the great equalizer – the tough times and the good times.” “People live in one of two worlds – a world of excuses or a world Casey has recently spoken at two players’ funerals. He makes of answers,” he says. “People who live in the world of excuses are himself available for counseling. He takes late-night calls from disalways finding a rationale for not doing something, for not succeedtressed players. ing. People who live in a world of answers work hard enough to “He obviously wants to win on the field, but winning in life is where they find an answer to overcome, to achieve, to solve probmore important to him,” says his brother Pat, who coached baseball lems. We’re going to live in the world of answers. Hard work is the at George Fox before taking over at Oregon State and winning two great equalizer.” national D-I titles. “Coaching is a big roller-coaster ride. You deal His recruiting criteria? Find players who are teachable, put the with all kinds of things, on and off the field. Chris has made a positive team first and are willing to lead. “Ideally, we want student-athletes impact wherever he’s been, and I’m sure he’ll do the same at George who are looking for a Christian experience and, more so than even Fox. I’m happy for him.” athletic ability, I’m looking for work ethic, attitude, coachability – those things. Looking Ahead “Give me a bunch of guys who do that and we’re going to be Casey admits starting a program from scratch is a monumental chalwinners.” lenge, but he relishes the opportunity.
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