C. Ray Gregory - Assistant Coach - A-Backs
1/16/2010 9:28:00 PM | General
With a resume that includes expertise on both sides of the ball and at every level, C. Ray Gregory returned to Georgia Southern in January 2010 with coaching responsibilities for the slotbacks. One of his slotbacks, sophomore J.J. Wilcox transitioned well to his new position as the Eagles' top target with 22 catches and three touchdowns. He set the single-season record for average yards per reception with 25.0 per catch and his 551 receiving yards took over the seventh spot on GSU's single-season chart in that category.
Gregory joined the current Eagle coaching staff after spending three years at Bethune-Cookman as the slotbacks and special teams coach in addition to serving as director of football operations. In his first stop at Georgia Southern, Gregory was the graduate assistant coach for the Eagles, working with the offensive line for the 1987 season and the receivers in 1988. He continued his coaching career at the University of Hawai'i under offensive coordinator Paul Johnson, serving as a graduate assistant coach alongside Monken with responsibilities for the Warriors running backs in 1989 and 1990. Hawai'i played in its first bowl game in 1989 and posted a 16-9 record over those two seasons. Those squads produced three NFL and two CFL players.
After completing his coaching assignment at Hawai'i, Gregory joined Itawamba Community College in Mississippi in 1991 as an assistant coach for quarterbacks, running backs and receivers. An NFL first-round draft pick and three other NFL players would develop from that Indians squad. Gregory then coached receivers for one year at Lees McRae College in 1992 before heading to the University of Buffalo as the quarterbacks coach. In two years at Buffalo, Gregory recruited one of the four players who would play in the NFL and signed one of the top high school players in the nation.
Gregory's experience as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Southern Utah for the 1996 season helped the Thunderbirds reach a 24th ranking nationally in total offense and claim the NCAA rushing title that year. He came to Georgia Southern as an assistant coach in spring 1997 to join Johnson's staff, but returned to Southern Utah to become head coach, a position he held until 2002.
The Thunderbirds posted wins over Montana, McNeese State, Northern Arizona and Arkansas State in addition to key rivalry wins over Weber State during Gregory's tenure. The 1999 season saw Southern Utah post one of its best records with an 8-3 mark and a ranking of 24th in the FCS polls.
In 2000, the Thunderbirds racked up more 5,391 total yards of offense, including more than 4,300 yards on the ground. With an average of 394.2 yards per game, Southern Utah claimed the annual rushing offense title and had the highest number of rushing touchdowns (49), in the FCS that year. Just two years before, in 1998, the Thunderbirds recorded 386.0 yards per game, then relinquished the rushing offense title to Georgia Southern in 1999.
Thunderbird quarterback Matt Cannon (1997-2000) still holds the NCAA record for career rushing yards by a quarterback, but his single-season record of 1,602 yards (2000) was broken by GSU's own Jayson Foster in 2007. Cannon is among five other players who achieved more than 3,000 yards rushing and 3,000 yards passing in his career, including former Eagle Greg Hill. He had more than 1,000 yards rushing and 1,000 yards passing in a single season (1999), also accomplished by former Georgia Southern greats Tracy Ham, Greg Hill (1999 and 1998), Jayson Foster and Chaz Williams.
As secondary coach at Hinds Community College in Mississippi, Gregory was part of a program that was third in the nation in defense and was the top defensive unit in the state. The Bulldogs finished the 2004 season as runner-up for the MJCC National Championship. In 2003, Gregory was the offensive coordinator and coached the offensive line at Millsaps College.
Gregory also spent two seasons as head coach at Abingdon High School in Virginia where his team won a county championship and posted 1,500 total yards passing. He was also an assistant coach at Morton High School in Illinois, serving as offensive coordinator and offensive line coach.
Gregory earned his master's degree in sports coaching in 1990 at the U.S. Sports Academy. His bachelor's degree in science, health and physical education was awarded in 1986 by Emory & Henry College in Virginia. Following graduation, he served as the assistant coach for receivers at Bridgewater State College in Massachusetts, helping the Bears to a 6-1-2 record and first-ever state conference championship in the school's history.
Gregory and his wife, Kristen, are parents of a son, A.J. (21), who is currently stationed with the U.S. Army in Louisville, Ky.
