Jamey McClendon was named to the University at Albany coaching staff in January 2026, bringing a wealth of defensive experience from across the NCAA landscape.
McClendon joined the Great Danes following a highly successful tenure at Utica University, where he served as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. Under his leadership, the Pioneers fielded one of the Empire 8’s top-ranked scoring defenses. In addition to his coordinator duties at Utica, he served as the program's academic coordinator, emphasizing the holistic development of the student-athletes under his watch.
Prior to his time at Utica, McClendon spent two seasons at the University of Massachusetts (UMass), where he quickly rose through the ranks. After joining the Minutemen as a defensive analyst in 2020, he was promoted to defensive ends coach for the 2021 season. His tenure at UMass was preceded by four seasons at the University of South Florida (USF) from 2016 to 2019. During his time with the Bulls, McClendon contributed to a defensive staff that reached three consecutive bowl games—including back-to-back victories in the Birmingham Bowl—and maintained a winning record in every season of his stay. He also held analytical and scouting responsibilities at Coastal Carolina during the 2014 and 2015 seasons, assisting the program during its critical transition to the FBS level.
A native of Chantilly, Virginia, McClendon enjoyed a decorated playing career at Salisbury University from 2009 to 2012. As a standout linebacker for the Sea Gulls, he was a two-time All-Conference selection and an All-ECAC honoree, helping the program to a 32–12 record and two NCAA Tournament appearances. He finished his playing career with 170 tackles and 9.5 sacks, notably recording 17 tackles in a single game against St. John Fisher in 2011. McClendon began his coaching journey at his alma mater as the defensive line coach, where he helped lead the team to an NCAA playoff berth in 2012.
McClendon earned his Bachelor’s degree in physical education from Salisbury University in 2012 and a Master’s in post-secondary education from the same institution in 2014. He furthered his education with a Master’s degree in physical education from the University of South Florida in 2018. Throughout his career, McClendon has been recognized for his commitment to excellence, earning several academic accolades and scholar-athlete awards during his time as a student-athlete.
