Bobby Jay

Bobby Jay

 The Jay File

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Twitter: @CoachBobbyJay
Year in Coaching: 15th
Year at USD: 12th
Hometown: Boise, ID
Spouse: Katy
Children: Jackson, Luke, Tripp, Charlee

EDUCATION

University of Redlands (2006)
Bachelor's in History
Minor: Physical Education

University of Redlands (2009)
Master's in Higher Education

PLAYING EXPERIENCE

University of Redlands, Safety (2002-05)

COACHING EXPERIENCE

San Diego
2018-Current: Defensive Coordinator
2014-17: Defensive Backs
2012-13: Linebackers
2011: Defensive Assistant/Administrative Assistant
2010: Administrative Assistant

University of Redlands
2008-09: Graduate Assistant/Safeties

Capital HS (Boise, ID)
2006-07: Coach

Bobby Jay enters his 12th season with the Torero football program in 2021 and fourth as the defensive coordinator. He has helped the Toreros win a pair of PFL championships in his first two years as the defensive coordinator and eight conference titles overall in his stint at USD.

A coach with 15 years of experience, Jay has risen through the ranks of position coach to defensive coordinator for the Toreros.

The spring 2021 season was highlighted by PFL Defensive Player of the Year, Kevin Glajchen, who also earned All-America recognition. The Toreros ranked nationally in third down percentage defense (3rd), rushing defense (7th), total defense (9th) and scoring defense (11th).

The 2019 season saw Jay’s Torero defense be amongst the best in the PFL. USD ranked first in scoring defense in the conference, allowing 17.6 points per game. The team also finished first or second in several other categories, including total defense (No. 2), rush defense (No. 2) and pass defense efficiency (No. 1). 

Nationally, the Torero defense ranked highly in the FCS in two key categories in 2019: No. 3 in passes intercepted (19) and No. 10 in turnovers gained (27). 

The Toreros’ defensive success under Jay in 2019 was fueled by three first-team all-conference players: defensive lineman Nick Friedel, linebacker Kama Kamaka, and cornerback David Tolbert earned All-PFL first team honors while defensive lineman Jacob Bergstrom and cornerback Cassius Johnson were named to the all-conference second team. 

Over the final seven games of the 2019 season, the Torero defense was downright stingy, forcing a total of 19 turnovers and allowing an average of 320 yards. In the first round of the FCS Playoffs, USD held No. 6 UNI to only one offensive touchdown and 268 yards of total offense.

In 2018, the Toreros held five teams to 14 points or less which helped lift them to a conference championship, a trip to the FCS playoffs and a No. 25 ranking in the final coaches poll.
Jay rose to the role of defensive coordinator after four years coaching the Torero secondary as the defensive backs coach. In his second season, the USD defense ranked 10th in the FCS in scoring defense (18.0) while in his first year, he was an integral part in cornerback and NFL player Jamal Agnew’s ranking of No. 1 among all FCS players in passes defended (2.1 per contest).

Before coaching the secondary, Jay was the team’s linebackers coach from 2012 to 2013 and a defensive assistant in 2011. He also served as an administrative assistant in 2011 and 2010 and was in charge of most of the day-to-day operations of the program. 

From 2015 to 2017, Jay served as the Toreros’ recruiting coordinator. Those classes included more than 20 All-PFL performers, All-American Michael Bandy, national player of the year finalist Reid Sinnett, and Academic All-American Jake Michaels.

Prior to USD, Jay spent two seasons as a graduate assistant at the University of Redlands where he coached safeties. The 2009 squad finished 7-2 and ranked fifth in total defense for NCAA Division III. In 2008, the Bulldogs went 7-2 and ranked 2nd in total defense.

Jay played four years as safety at Redlands from 2002 to 2005. He participated on two teams that won Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) titles in 2002 and 2003.

In 2006 and 2007, he coached at Capital High School in Boise, Idaho.

The Boise native graduated from Redlands with a bachelor’s degree in history and minor in physical education in 2006 and a master’s degree in higher education in December 2009.

He and his wife, Katy, have three sons (Jackson, Luke and Tripp) and one daughter (Charlee).