SUU dumps football coach

By DAVID DeMILLE
UNIVERSITY JOURNAL

Following the worst two-season stretch ever for SUU football, C. Ray Gregory was dismissed as SUU’s head coach, SUU Athletic Director Tom Douple announced last Monday.
It was also decided that the rest of the coaching staff, excluding assistant head coach Kyle Davis, would be removed as well.
“We have decided that it is in the best interest of our football program to move in a new direction of leadership at the head coach position,” Douple said in a general press release. “We thank C. Ray Gregory for his contribution, dedication, hard work and efforts to further the program the past six years.”
Douple was unavailable for further comment.
Gregory, known for his offensive mind coming into SUU, compiled an overall record of 28-39 in six seasons, but after three straight I-AA rushing championships and winning seasons in 1999 and 2000, the Thunderbirds had only three wins in the last two seasons.
This past season was the worst in school history at 1-10, including 10 consecutive losses following a season-opening 7-0 win over Division II Mesa State.
The team was outscored 385-185 on the season, and despite solid performances against top-flite competition like Montana and Western Illinois, was unable to stop the losing streak.
Gregory’s two winning seasons were 1999 (8-3) and 2000 (7-4), the school’s only winning seasons since the program moved to I-AA competition in 1993. With quarterback Matt Cannon leading the way, the SUU program appeared close to a playoff birth and a possible invitation to a conference.
Two seasons later, the team has another climb to make before being considered for a larger step for the program.

During his head coaching tenure at SUU, Gregory coached theteam to a pair of national rushing titles (1998 and 2000) and his teams have finished lower than third in the I-AA rushing ranks just twice — the last two years.
Gregory had little to say about the firing, except to wish the new coach a little more luck.
“I hope the next guy gets more than I had,” he said. “I hope he has the chance to be more successful.”
There was some surprise at the firing, given that SUU still owes Gregory approximately $70,000 next season as part of a three-year deal. It could be taken as a sign that the SUU athletic department is serious about improvement, or as evidence that something had to be done soon.
Gregory had served the 1996 season as the Thunderbirds’ offensive coordinator, coaching the team to another I-AA rushing title along the way.
As of yet, Gregory is uncertain about his future with the university.”
“I’m just going to wait and see where the university assigns me to,” he said.
Gregory will be reassigned within the Athletic Department in the near future.
The search for a new head coach will begin immediately, given the short time frame to recruit and prepare for another tough schedule next season,but considering the current personnel on SUU’s roster, the new coach could have an option background.
As Gregory said during the year, one or two key players can make the difference between winning and losing in Division I-AA.
“There isn’t much different between the top and the bottom in I-AA,” Gregory said. “We aren’t doing the little things to win.”
Davis, a former offensive lineman like Gregory, has been offered a chance to stay on the coaching staff next season, though in what capacity it is currently unknown.
Gregory could look for a coaching job elsewhere, or take his new assignment at SUU.
The move appeared to be in support of the thought that a change, any change, needed to be made.