Southern Oregon University's 2006 season-opener is still over a month away, but the Raider football program has already had an eventful summer.

Defensive coordinator Shay McClure, offensive coordinator Matt Sayre, receivers coach Nathan Chin and running backs mentor Josh Wolfram have moved on to new jobs, prompting first-year Raider head coach Steve Helminiak to attract four new assistants.

McClure, who served as interim head coach last season, wrapped up his second stint on the SOU coaching staff by accepting the co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coaching role at Humboldt State University.

The former Raider defensive back departs his alma mater after six seasons on the coaching staff, including the past four as the team's defensive mentor.

"I really appreciate the time I've spent at SOU and want to thank everyone for their support," McClure said. "I will always cherish the relationships that I formed with the players and wish them continued success in all their endeavors."

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Southern will face McClure's Lumberjacks twice this fall, but McClure's influence on the Raider program will be seen for years to come due to his efforts as recruiting coordinator the last five years.

"I greatly appreciate Shay's dedication and service to the University and the football program over the years," SOU Director of Athletics Dennis Francois said. "Shay has an unbelievable work ethic and is a great coach. He will be missed." Sayre stepped down after seven seasons as offensive coordinator and 10 overall on the SOU staff in order to become the school's Assistant Director of Athletics and to accept additional teaching duties in the Health and Physical Education department.

Chin, who coached receivers, quarterbacks and tight ends during the past five campaigns, is now the offensive coordinator at Mayville State University, an NAIA school in North Dakota, while Wolfram has accepted a coaching and administrative position at Eagle Point High School.

The newest SOU coaches are B.J. Robertson, Tim Price, Jake Olsen and Jordan Fenner.

Robertson, who joins the Raider staff as assistant head coach and receivers coach, and Olsen, who will guide SOU's quarterback corps, were colleagues of Helminiak on the Rockford (Ill.) College football staff the last three seasons.

A member of 1993 and '94 Frontier Conference playoff teams as a player at Western Montana, Robertson was the position coach for the Regents' all-time leading rusher and passer during his five years at Rockford.

"B.J. is a tireless worker, a great multi-tasker and a very knowledgeable coach," Helminiak said. "He's never complacent. He's always looking for ways to improve the team and as a coach."

Prior to being a graduate assistant at Rockford, Olsen was a three-year starting quarterback at Wartburg College in Iowa, and he led the 2002 squad to the NCAA Div. III playoffs (losing to Linfield in the second round).

Price will serve as defensive line coach after a decade of service to Jefferson High School in Portland, including the last seven as head coach. A key member of Portland State's 1998 run to the NCAA Div. I-AA quarterfinals, Price helped the Democrats qualify for the Class 4A playoffs five consecutive seasons (1998-2002).

Fenner, an offensive assistant, comes to Ashland from East Central University in Ada, Okla., where he served in a similar capacity in 2004 and '05. The 1998 Klamath Union graduate began his coaching career at the NAIA level as a student assistant at Southwestern Assemblies of God University in Waxahachie, Tex.

Helminiak, who became the 14th head coach in SOU history on Jan. 25, expects to fill SOU's defensive coordinator vacancy in the coming days.