Randall McCray is in his third season with the Rockets and first coaching the defensive line. Previously, McCray coached the inside linebackers.
In two seasons as the linebackers coach, McCray made quite an impact.
In his first season, McCray was faced with replacing two first-team All-MAC linebackers, David Gardner and Tom Ward, from the previous season. The two players who stepped in, Anthony Jordan and Brock Dodrill, finished the 2003 season ranked fifth and sixth, respectively, in the MAC in tackles.
In 2004, Jordan and David Thomas finished second and third in tackles on the team, with 107 and 91, respectively. Jordan's total placed him 15th in the league.
Prior to coming to Toledo, McCray was the defensive coordinator at Illinois State for three seasons. In 2002, McCray guided Gateway Defensive Player of the Year Boomer Grigsby to three All-America nods and a third-place finish for the Buch Buchanan Award for top defensive player in I-AA football. McCray also coached two other All-Americans at linebacker, Galen Scott at Illinois State and Ronnie Merritt at Murray State.
McCray won two letters as a player at Appalachian State at outside linebacker and running back. He played on the 1987 Southern Conference championship team and two playoff clubs. He earned his bachelor's degree in communications from Appalachian State in 1991, and later received his master's in higher education from South Carolina.
McCray is a native of Monroe, NC, where he attended Parkwood High School. He and his wife, Michelle, have a son, Matt (3).
Randall McCrayAge: 35 (born 8-19-69)Hometown: Monroe, North CarolinaAlma Mater: Appalachian State (`91)Coaching Experience: 2005- Toledo, Defensive Line 2003-04 Toledo, Linebackers 2003- Linebackers, Toledo 2002 Asst. Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator, Illinois State 2000-01 Inside Linebackers/Defensive Coordinator, Illinois State 1999 Inside Linebackers/Defensive Coordinator, Murray State 1997-98 Inside Linebackers, Murray State 1996 Defensive ends, Bethune-Cookman 1995 Quality Control, Clemson 1993-94 Defensive Line, Tennessee-Chattanooga 1991-92 Graduate assistant, South CarolinaPlaying Experience: Appalachian State (1987-90)Recruiting Areas: Chicago, northwest Indiana, northern and central Florida
