Spencer Crace, the second head coach in George Fox football's modern era, enters his second season at the helm of the program after beginning in 2025.
Crace's first season with the Bruins ended on an incredibly strong note; Fox finished the year with a 4-1 record on the back half of the schedule, recording a four-game winning streak, the second-longest in program history. Following the season, nine players were named on the All-NWC roster, with defensive end Jacob Erickson earning the school's third NWC Defensive Player of the Year honor and wide receiver Karsen Denault picking up NWC Rookie of the Year honors. Erickson would go on to be named Third Team All-America by D3football.com after breaking the GFU single-season and career sacks record. In addition, the Bruins got things done in the classroom as well, putting seven athletes on the CSC Acadmic All-District team.
Prior to his time in Newberg, he served as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for Pacific Lutheran since 2018. In his final season with the Lutes, a year in which he was named Assistant Head Coach, the team finished 7-3 with a 5-2 mark in conference play.
The Lutes’ offense averaged 27.9 points per game in 2024 and put up 30 points per game in 2023 as the team finished third overall in the conference each season. In the past two seasons, the Lutes have scored more than 40 points four times, more than 50 twice, and put up 62 points in 2023. In 2024, the Lutes were second in the NWC in rushing offense and put seven offensive players on All-NWC teams.
In addition to his prowess on the field, Crace has served as the academic success coordinator for the Lutes; in the past three seasons, PLU has put 16 players on the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District team. Crace also heads a branch of the PNW Football chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), having served as the director since April 2022.
Prior to his time at Pacific Lutheran, Crace spent the previous three seasons as the assistant head coach and offensive coordinator at Sumner High School. While with the Spartans, Crace helped the team compile a 32-5 record on the gridiron, winning two league championships and making two state semifinal appearances. Crace also had stops at Stadium High School and Horizon Christian High School before spending time at Sumner.
Originally from Wilsonville, Ore., Crace played football and baseball at the University of Puget. He went on to earn a master's degree in Christian studies and leadership from Grand Canyon University in 2012. Crace is married to his wife Joelle, and together, the two have three children: Barrett, Hayden, and Ridger.
