Marcus Ray facts for kids
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 14, 1976 Columbus, Ohio, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| 1994–1998 | Michigan |
| 1999 | Oakland Raiders |
| 2000 | Scottish Claymores |
| Position(s) | Defensive back |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 2001 | Lin-McKin HS (OH) (co-DC/DB) |
| 2002 | Eastmoor Acad. (OH) (AHC/DC) |
| 2003 | Northland HS (OH) (AHC/DC) |
| 2004–2006 | Ohio Dominican (DB) |
| 2007 | Michigan (GA) |
| 2008 | Central Michigan (GA) |
| 2009 | Ohio Dominican (assistant) |
| 2010 | Mifflin HS (OH) (DC) |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
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| Awards | |
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Marcus Kenyon Ray (born August 14, 1976) is an American football coach and former player. He played as a defensive back. In college, he played for the Michigan Wolverines football team. He was part of the 1997 team that won a national championship.
Ray also played professionally in the National Football League (NFL) for the Oakland Raiders. He also played for the Scottish Claymores in NFL Europe. After his playing career, he became a football coach. He has coached at both high school and college levels.
Contents
Early Life and College Football Career
Marcus Ray grew up in Columbus, Ohio. He went to high school at Eastmoor Academy. After high school, he played college football at the University of Michigan. He took a "redshirt" year in 1994. This meant he practiced with the team but did not play in games.
From 1995 to 1998, Ray played in games for Michigan. He wore jersey number 29. In 1995, he started six games as a free safety. The next year, in 1996, he started all 12 games as a strong safety. He earned honors from the Big Ten Conference. That season, Ray caught three interceptions. He also made 100 tackles, which was second-best on the team.
Winning the National Championship in 1997
In 1997, Ray started all 12 games as strong safety for the Michigan Wolverines. This team had an amazing season. They won a national championship. They finished the season with a perfect 12–0 record. They won the Rose Bowl game.
That year, the Wolverines set a record for allowing the fewest yards per pass completion. Ray caught five interceptions, which was second only to Heisman Trophy winner, Charles Woodson. Ray made 71 total tackles. He was again honored by the Big Ten Conference. He was also named a second-team All-American.
Ray was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine in December 1997. The picture showed him during a game against the Ohio State Buckeyes. For the 1998 season, Ray was chosen as a co-captain of the team. However, he was suspended for six games. This was due to rules about players and sports agents. Because of this, he only started three games in 1998.
Marcus Ray finished his college career with ten interceptions. This is still one of the most in Michigan's history. He made 229 total tackles during his time as a Wolverine.
Professional Playing and Coaching Career
After college, Marcus Ray played in the National Football League (NFL). He played in eight games for the Oakland Raiders in 1999. In 2000, he played for the Scottish Claymores in NFL Europe. His team made it to the World Bowl that year.
After his playing days, Ray became a coach. From 2001 to 2003, he was an assistant coach and defensive coordinator for several high schools in Columbus, Ohio. In 2004, he started coaching at Ohio Dominican University. He coached defensive backs there for three years.
In 2007, he went back to his old college, Michigan. He worked as a graduate assistant coach. The next year, he was a graduate assistant for the Central Michigan Chippewas football team. Ray returned to Ohio Dominican as an assistant coach in 2009. In 2010, he became the defensive coordinator at Mifflin High School in Columbus.
Writing and Other Work
In 2010, Marcus Ray wrote a book. It was called Rays of Light, Volume 1 "Let There Be Light". He published it in 2011 through his company, TEAM RAYROC LLC. He is the CEO and president of this company.
