John Ray (American football)
Biographical details | |
---|---|
Born | Olivet College (B.A., 1950) | June 4, 1926
Playing career | |
? | Olivet |
1944 | Notre Dame |
Position(s) | Center |
Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
1955–1958 | Detroit (assistant) |
1959–1963 | John Carroll |
1964–1968 | Notre Dame (assistant) |
1969–1972 | Kentucky |
1973–1976 | Buffalo Bills (DC) |
Head coaching record | |
Overall | 39–39 |
Accomplishments and honors | |
Championships | |
3 PAC (1959, 1962–1963) | |
Awards | |
Olivet College Athletic Hall of Fame (1972) | |
John W. Ray (June 4, 1926 – November 14, 2007) was an American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at John Carroll University from 1959 to 1963 and at the University of Kentucky from 1969 to 1972, compiling a career college football record of 39–39.
Ray was a native of
From 1964 to 1968 Ray served as an assistant coach and defensive coordinator at Notre Dame under Ara Parseghian. He oversaw a 4-4-3 defense that gave up a measly 3.8 points a game in 1966, leading Notre Dame to an undefeated national championship that season.
Ray became the head coach at the University of Kentucky in late 1968, replacing
During Ray's tenure, Kentucky's recruitment of African-American players increased, notably with star running back Sonny Collins. Ray brought more African-American players to Kentucky than any previous coach, and did so at a time when African-American players were rare in the Southeastern Conference. Also during Ray's tenure plans were made and construction undertaken for Commonwealth Stadium, the current home of the Wildcats. While at Kentucky Ray coached future NFL players such as Dave Roller and Joe Federspiel.
After leaving Kentucky Ray was an assistant coach in the NFL including as defensive coordinator for the Buffalo Bills.
Ray died at his home in Granger, Indiana at age 81 on November 14, 2007.
Head coaching record
Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
John Carroll Blue Streaks (Presidents' Athletic Conference) (1959–1963) | |||||||||
1959 | John Carroll | 7–0 | 6–0 | 1st | |||||
1960 | John Carroll | 3–4 | 3–2 | T–3rd | |||||
1961 | John Carroll | 5–2 | 4–1 | 2nd | |||||
1962 | John Carroll | 7–0 | 7–0 | 1st | |||||
1963 | John Carroll | 7–0 | 6–0 | 1st | |||||
John Carroll: | 29–6 | 26–3 | |||||||
Kentucky Wildcats (Southeastern Conference) (1969–1972) | |||||||||
1969 | Kentucky | 2–8 | 1–6 | 9th | |||||
1970 | Kentucky | 2–9 | 0–7 | 10th | |||||
1971 | Kentucky | 3–8 | 1–6 | T–8th | |||||
1972 | Kentucky | 3–8 | 2–5 | T–7th | |||||
Kentucky: | 10–33 | 12–30 | |||||||
Total: | 39–39 | ||||||||
National championship Conference title Conference division title or championship game berth |