Jay Oostendorp’s life of hard work shows as a vital part of Coe defense

CEDAR RAPIDS — Jay Oostendorp pulled himself out of bed before 6 a.m. three times a week during the summer.

He fueled up with breakfast before heading to a CrossFit training. The session was followed by a shift at his 40-hour per week job at Ogden & Adams. A glutton for punishment, he returned back to Coe for sprint workouts with the Kohawks’ strength and conditioning coach.

“It’s a lot of hard work, but I’ve been working hard my whole life,” Oostendorp said. “It’s nothing I can’t handle. It’s nothing that I don’t accept and enjoy. It’s just the lifestyle that I live. I love it.”

Oostendorp has reaped the rewards of his offseason labor, becoming a versatile and vital contributor to the Coe defense. He ranks among the defensive leaders in multiple categories before the Kohawks’ game against Simpson Saturday at Clark Field, starting at 1 p.m.

“I’m just happy to see all the training I’ve done this summer and this offseason pay off,” Oostendorp said. “I feel a lot stronger and a lot faster. Knowledge of the game is the highest it’s ever been, so I’m feeling very confident on the field.”

The junior linebacker had six tackles with four solo and an assist for loss in a 14-3 road victory over Buena Vista. Oostendorp ranks in the top four in everything from sacks to passes defended.

“He’s been a splash player for us on defense,” Coe Coach Tyler Staker said. “A lot of our takeaways are a result of Jay, where he’s gotten pressure on the quarterback coming off the edge. He has an interception. He’s forced two fumbles.

“He’s a really explosive player for us on defense. We are able to move him around and do a lot of different things, so offenses can’t get a beat on where he’s at.”

Staker saw Oostendorp’s work ethic at a young age, coming to Coe to work out with his dad, John, the former University of Iowa All-America wrestler and current Kohawks wrestling coach. His drive powered him through those hot, long summer days, focusing on the vision by staying dedicated on the daily mission.

“You’ll always have those days where you’re not feeling great or tired and this and that hurts,” Oostendorp said. “At the end of the day, you either get your work done or you don’t. Your performance later on is going to reflect that. It will help you in the long run, even off the field.”

The younger Oostendorp said his dad has been a huge supporter. He has balanced recruiting with football road trips to watch his son play. Oostendorp said it was hard to find the right words to describe his impact.

“He’s been there for me my entire life,” Oostendorp said. “He’s taught me countless life lessons I remember and think about every day. He’s got me to where I am.”

The offseason toils have helped him mentally, providing confidence to sustain his aggressive style of play throughout games. He runs at full throttle, which allows him to disrupt offenses, playing multiple positions from the middle in the box to the outside on the edge.

Through three games, Oostendorp has 13 total tackles with seven solo. He also has 2.5 tackles for loss, a sack, interception, pass breakup and quarterback hurry.

“Jay is a high-energy guy,” Staker said. “All gas. No brakes. When he steps on the field, he plays like his hair is on fire. He gets after it.

“He’s selfless, too. We ask him to go play defensive tackle and he would be like, ‘Yeah, I can get that done’ if it helps the team. He’s humble and quiet but when he’s out there he lights it up.”

A team-first mentality provides motivation to do whatever defensive coordinator Cody Baethke asks any way he can. Oostendorp has a passion for rushing the quarterback and is willing to drop into pass coverage the next play.

“I just like doing my job and what my teammates need me to do,” Oostendorp said. “I love flying around and being all over the field.”

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