SPORTS RELEASEAustin Peay names McCray as new football coach
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
W-03 BK/bk 1/20/017
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. ? Carroll McCray, a longtime Division I-A and Division I-AA football assistant who served
as centers and offensive guards coach at Mississippi State the past two seasons, has been named the new head
football coach at Austin Peay State University.
McCray becomes Austin Peay's 16th head coach and second in the non-scholarship era. He replaces Bill Schmitz,
whose contract was not renewed after the 2002 season.
"Carroll McCray is a very knowledgeable football coach who we think will continue the success achieved this
year in our football program," APSU athletics director
Dave Loos said. "He is a man of great integrity who will have the
best interests of our student-athletes at heart.
"Carroll is someone who will have a strong presence in the community and quickly build additional interest in this
program."
McCray brings 19 seasons of coaching experience to Clarksville. Most recently, he was brought to Starkville by
then offensive coordinator Sparky Woods. McCray previously served five seasons (1988-93) under Woods when the
latter was head coach at South Carolina. He coached the offensive line, tight ends, h-backs and special teams during
that tenure in helping the Gamecocks in their transition to the Southeastern Conference. He coached offensive tackle
Ernest Dye, the school's first all-SEC performer.
He also helped tutor three players who earned spots in the Senior Bowl and two in the Blue-Gray and East/West
Shrine games.
In between the recent two stints working with Woods, McCray worked seven seasons (1994-00) as the offensive
line coach under Pete Hurt at Samford University.
While with the Bulldogs, McCray's offensive lines ranked among I-AA's best. In 2000, McCray's unit paved the
way to a school-record 3,439 yards rushing and 41 touchdowns. Just one year prior, Samford averaged more than
300 yards rushing per game, the fourth highest total in Division I-AA.
During his seven-year stint in Birmingham, McCray's offensive lines helped lead the way for 11 Samford running
backs to gain more than 500 single-season rushing yards.
McCray began his coaching career with Woods at Appalachian State, where he served two years as a graduate
assistant, working with the tight ends and tackles, and three years in charge of the inside linebackers. While at
Appalachian State, the Mountaineers compiled a 38-19-2 record. Appalachian State advanced to the NCAA Division I-
AA playoffs in 1986 and again in 1987, advancing to the semifinals the latter year after eliminating defending national
champion Georgia Southern.
McCray enjoyed a stellar playing career for Gardner-Webb College, an NAIA powerhouse, as an offensive
lineman, earning three letters. Coincidentally, Gardner-Webb also produced Morehead State football coach Matt
Ballard, a soon-to-be Pionner Football League coaching opponent. Prior to beginning his career at Gardner-Webb,
McCray was a standout lineman for Parkwood High School in Monroe, N.C.
Loos admits the football coaching search was a difficult one. APSU screened some 80 applicants and Loos and
APSU Assistant Athletics Director Chuck Kimmel screened some 20 of them, narrowing the interview list to six.
"I want to thank the constituencies that were represented in this process, especially our search committee,"
Loos said. "People gave up a lot of their time and focus. All of us at Austin Peay are appreciative. I especially want to
thank Chuck Kimmel who was very helpful throughout the process.
"We had a strong pool of candidates, which we narrowed down to six being brought on campus. They all made
impressive presentations, making the decision that much more difficult.
"But in the end, we found the right man who we strongly believe is the right fit for our football program and this
University."
