Cottey College is excited to announce the hiring of Jay Osborne as the new Head Coach of its Flag Football program. With more than two decades of experience as a player and coach, Osborne brings a wealth of knowledge, leadership, and a proven track record of success to the Comets.
"I am very excited to lead Cottey's flag football program in this next stage," said Osborne. "There is a shared vision at Cottey to have extremely competitive and successful athletic programs. Flag Football will play a large role in executing that vision. I am looking forward to having the team back on campus so that we may begin the journey."
Osborne served as Head Coach at the University of St. Mary from 2014 to 2019, and as offensive coordinator from 2010-2014. His offensive expertise—particularly with quarterbacks and wide receivers—was central to the program's competitive edge during that time. This included multiple Top 15 finishes in yards per game nationally at the NAIA level. He also served as Offensive Coordinator at Independence Community College in 2020-2021. In 2016, Osborne was named the KCAC Coach of the Year, a testament to both his strategic regime and leadership on and off the field. Most recently, Osborne has been the Staffing Director for Sports International Football Camps.
Under his guidance, Osborne's teams earned multiple Champions of Character awards at both the conference and national levels. His program also produced over 50 Academic All-Americans, highlighting his commitment to excellence in both athletics and academics. On the field, he coached 4 All-Americans, including a league Offensive Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year. Off the field, excellence continues to be a trademark for Coach Osborne, with his teams completing over 2000 hours of service and volunteer efforts each season.
"We're thrilled to welcome Coach Osborne to Cottey," said Athletic Director Maryann Mitts. "His experience, especially his deep and holistic coaching background at the collegiate level, is a perfect fit for our growing program. He is a proven leader who builds teams that compete with integrity and perform at a high level in the classroom and on the field."