Jerry Gray Named Assistant Head Coach, DBs Coach
Former Texas All-American defensive back and NFL coach Jerry Gray will return to the Forty Acres as assistant head coach and defensive backs coach, Texas announced Monday afternoon.
"This is truly an exciting opportunity for me and my family," Gray said in an official statement. "Not very many guys get the chance to come back and coach where they played and to do that at a place that is as special as Texas. It's just an unbelievable opportunity. I've enjoyed getting to know Coach Brown, and I've been so proud watching everything they've been accomplishing since he took over, and to have a chance to be a part of that is a dream come true." Gray originally played for the Longhorns from 1981 to 1984. At Texas Gray was a two-time All-American and was a two-time Southwest Conference Defensive Player of the Year as well. He's also a member of Texas' All-Time Team and All-Decade Team for the 1980s."We're excited to bring back one of our own in Jerry Gray," Head Coach Mack Brown said. "He is a member of the Texas High School Hall of Fame, the Longhorn Hall of Honor and is one of the great defensive backs and players to come out of The University of Texas and this state. He went on to be a Pro Bowl player for many years in the NFL and then to becoming one of the leagues best defensive coaches. Jerry brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to our program having spent 14 years coaching in the NFL, including five as a defensive coordinator, and helping develop our own Earl Thomas this past year in Seattle. We've all had a chance to get to know Jerry over the years on his visits back to Austin and really look forward to him joining our staff. I know our guys will be excited to move forward with such a great Longhorn." Gray played for the Los Angeles Rams from 1985-1991 after being selected in the first round of the '85 draft. While playing for the Rams he was voted to Pro Bowl four times and even received Pro Bowl MVP honors in 1989. In 1992 Gray left the Rams and had a brief stint in both Houston and Tampa Bay. During his nine year career in the NFL Gray was known for his physical style and hard hitting ability. He finished with 28 interceptions and three touchdowns. Gray's coaching career began in 1995 when he joined SMU to coach the defensive backs. After coaching at SMU for two years, he left to join the Tennessee Titans as a defensive assistant. With the Titans he helped them finish with the No. 1 overall pass defense in the NFL in 2000. In 2001 he became the defensive coordinator for the Buffalo Bills. His defenses there were some of the best in the league and in 2003-2004 the Bills ranked 2nd in total defense. He left Buffalo for the Washington Redskins in 2006 to become the defensive backs coach. In 2010 Pete Carroll and the Seattle Seahawks hired him for the same position. Once Texas defensive backs coach Duane Akina left the Longhorn program, Mack Brown called Gray in for an interview shortly after. It was officially announced on Monday afternoon."I'm really looking forward to getting back on campus and working with the guys," Gray said. "I enjoy the teaching part of the game and am excited to be able to pass down to the young guys everything I've learned being in the NFL for a long time as a player and coach. The things I like to focus on are technique and helping them better understand the game. Effort and the mental part of the game is the difference in the great players in the NFL, and I think I can help them see that. If they understand what to do and why they're doing it, they'll develop as a player and play faster for our defense. When you're dealing with young people, it's important to understand that they all learn differently. I've always prided myself in being a players' coach and working with each individual. I need to be smart about how I coach each of these young guys and prepare them to be the best player they can be."
"This is truly an exciting opportunity for me and my family," Gray said in an official statement. "Not very many guys get the chance to come back and coach where they played and to do that at a place that is as special as Texas. It's just an unbelievable opportunity. I've enjoyed getting to know Coach Brown, and I've been so proud watching everything they've been accomplishing since he took over, and to have a chance to be a part of that is a dream come true." Gray originally played for the Longhorns from 1981 to 1984. At Texas Gray was a two-time All-American and was a two-time Southwest Conference Defensive Player of the Year as well. He's also a member of Texas' All-Time Team and All-Decade Team for the 1980s."We're excited to bring back one of our own in Jerry Gray," Head Coach Mack Brown said. "He is a member of the Texas High School Hall of Fame, the Longhorn Hall of Honor and is one of the great defensive backs and players to come out of The University of Texas and this state. He went on to be a Pro Bowl player for many years in the NFL and then to becoming one of the leagues best defensive coaches. Jerry brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to our program having spent 14 years coaching in the NFL, including five as a defensive coordinator, and helping develop our own Earl Thomas this past year in Seattle. We've all had a chance to get to know Jerry over the years on his visits back to Austin and really look forward to him joining our staff. I know our guys will be excited to move forward with such a great Longhorn." Gray played for the Los Angeles Rams from 1985-1991 after being selected in the first round of the '85 draft. While playing for the Rams he was voted to Pro Bowl four times and even received Pro Bowl MVP honors in 1989. In 1992 Gray left the Rams and had a brief stint in both Houston and Tampa Bay. During his nine year career in the NFL Gray was known for his physical style and hard hitting ability. He finished with 28 interceptions and three touchdowns. Gray's coaching career began in 1995 when he joined SMU to coach the defensive backs. After coaching at SMU for two years, he left to join the Tennessee Titans as a defensive assistant. With the Titans he helped them finish with the No. 1 overall pass defense in the NFL in 2000. In 2001 he became the defensive coordinator for the Buffalo Bills. His defenses there were some of the best in the league and in 2003-2004 the Bills ranked 2nd in total defense. He left Buffalo for the Washington Redskins in 2006 to become the defensive backs coach. In 2010 Pete Carroll and the Seattle Seahawks hired him for the same position. Once Texas defensive backs coach Duane Akina left the Longhorn program, Mack Brown called Gray in for an interview shortly after. It was officially announced on Monday afternoon."I'm really looking forward to getting back on campus and working with the guys," Gray said. "I enjoy the teaching part of the game and am excited to be able to pass down to the young guys everything I've learned being in the NFL for a long time as a player and coach. The things I like to focus on are technique and helping them better understand the game. Effort and the mental part of the game is the difference in the great players in the NFL, and I think I can help them see that. If they understand what to do and why they're doing it, they'll develop as a player and play faster for our defense. When you're dealing with young people, it's important to understand that they all learn differently. I've always prided myself in being a players' coach and working with each individual. I need to be smart about how I coach each of these young guys and prepare them to be the best player they can be."
