RELEASE
KENNESAW, Ga. (May 13, 2013) – Jay Bailey, who has spent the previous four seasons as equipment manager at Georgia State, has been named director of football operations at Kennesaw State, head coach
Brian Bohannon announced on Monday.
Bailey becomes the fourth hire for Bohannon who was named the Owls’ first-ever head coach on Mar. 24.
Grant Chesnut was hired as offensive coordinator and offensive line coach on Apr. 16 and
Liam Klein and
Shane Bowen were announced as assistant coaches on Apr. 17 and Apr. 18, respectively.
“Jay has a wealth of experience. He has been at a lot of different places, the majority of his experience has been in the equipment world,” Bohannon said. “But I think the biggest thing is his wealth of knowledge being at Georgia State. He is a highly organized, highly motivated individual who is really excited about being at Kennesaw State.
In his role as director of football operations, Bailey will be involved in every aspect of Kennesaw State football, including scheduling, academics, travel and practice planning.
"My family and I are very excited and feel truly blessed to be part of the Kennesaw State family,” Bailey said. “I would like to thank Coach Bohannon and Vaughn Williams for the opportunity to be part of this historic time at KSU."
Kennesaw State will mark the second start-up program Bailey has joined as he was hired as Georgia State’s first-ever equipment manager in 2009. Among his responsibilities were monitoring and overseeing uniform orders for Panthers sports, designing and implementing a temporary football facility while the primary facility was under construction, managing graduate assistants and student managers for football, overseeing the Letter Awards program for the department and was on the committee for the design of new logos for the athletics department.
Prior to joining the Georgia State program, Bailey spent three years at Illinois State (2006-09) where he held the titles of director of equipment operations and football equipment manager. He also has served as inventory control manager at Kattus Pro Team Sports (2005-06) in Cincinnati, Ohio, athletic equipment supervisor at the University of Cincinnati (1995-05), assistant athletic equipment manager at Georgia Tech (1993-95) and athletic equipment manager and dorm supervisor at Southeast Missouri State (1990-93).
A certified member of the Athletic Equipment Managers Association, Bailey is a 1988 graduate of Auburn where he earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.
Bailey and his wife, Melissa, have two sons, Justin (13) and Travis (11), and live in nearby Canton.
Kennesaw State University is currently celebrating 30 years of intercollegiate athletics during the 2012-13 academic year.
