Jeff Ray steps down as MSU basketball coach
Just a little more than two weeks after leading the Midwestern State men to their fourth Lone Star Conference championship, Jeff Ray announced today that he was stepping down from his position as head basketball coach at his alma mater.
Ray will stay on as director of men’s and women’s golf at MSU and also take over as life skills coordinator, a new position at the school.
He has served as the MSU men’s Golf coach since the program was resurrected in 2007.
Rob McIlhaney, Ray’s long-time assistant coach, said he would not apply for the head coaching job and will also not stay on as an assistant for the next head coach.
"I have known Jeff Ray as a student-athlete, a coach, an athletic director and as a friend," MSU President Jesse W. Rogers said in a news release. "He is a man of deliberate action, a man who knows his own mind."
"Jeff and I have been discussing this direction since last spring, and it has been with mixed emotions that we make this move for him," MSU
Ray takes new role at MSU, continues as Director of Golf
WICHITA FALLS, Texas - Jeff Ray has engraved his mark on Midwestern State Athletics for much of the last 27 years.
He has served the university as a student-athlete, a coach and an athletic director and will continue to leave his indelible impression on the program as the Director of Men's and Women's Golf and will also serve as the Life Skills Coordinator.
Ray will also vacate his post as head men's basketball coach after completing the program's two most successful coaching tenures while leading the Mustangs to four Lone Star Conference championships and four trips to the NCAA Division II national tournament.
"I have known Jeff Ray as a student-athlete, a coach, an athletic director and as a friend," MSU President Jesse W. Rogers said. "He is a man of deliberate action, a man who knows his own mind."
The decision came long before Ray led the Mustangs on an impressive run through the Lone Star Conference this season as the team rattled off winning streaks of 10 and eight games on its way to a 25-7 record before closing its season in the South Central Regional semifinals in Warrensburg, Mo.
"Jeff and I have been discussing this direction since last spring, and it has been with mixed emotions that we make this move for him," MSU Athletics Director Charlie Carr said. "It will be a daunting task to replace Jeff Ray as our basketball coach. In the two seasons I've watched Midwestern basketball, I enjoyed one of the best coaches I've known in his approach to the game, his values, his work ethic and his genuine love for our players."
Complete statement from Dr. Jesse W. Rogers, MSU President
Complete statement from MSU Athletics Director Charlie Carr
Jordan garners 2009 Division II State Farm Coaches' All-America Team Honorable Mention Honors
Texas A&M University-Commerce senior guard Britney Jordan has nabbed another postseason award after earning 2009 Division II State Farm Coaches’ All-America Team Honorable Mention honors on Monday, the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) and State Farm announced.
“I feel happy and blessed to receive the award,” said Jordan.
Jordan topped the nation with 31.3 points per game and added 7.0 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 2.5 steals on her way to notching honorable mention honors for the second straight season in the poll voted on by one representative from each of the eight geographical regions and a chairperson.
The Peoria, Ill., native paced the Lions to an 18-11 overall record and berth into the Lone Star Conference tournament, where they advanced to the second round. Prior to the tournament, Jordan garnered Lone Star Conference North Division Player of the Year and LSC North Division First-Team recognition.
She closed the year with 909 points, which is an A&M-Commerce and LSC single-season record, and was selected to the 2008-09 Division II Daktronics Women’s Basketball All-South Central Region First Team.
Overall, the nine-time LSC North Division Player of the Week finished her career with 2,105 points and holds 21 A&M-Commerce women’s records and four LSC women’s marks.
No comments:
Post a Comment