Larry Ray joins the Nicholls softball coaching staff after an 11-year stint at the University of Arizona.
A 30-year veteran in the coaching ranks, which includes 21 years as Arizona’s top assistant, Ray posted an impressive 265-131 (.670) career record in six years as a head coach, leading the Wildcats twice as an interim head coach in 2004 and 2008 while Mike Candrea directed the U.S. National Team in the Olympics. Between stints at Arizona, Ray coached at the University of Florida, leading the Gators to a 169-106 record in his four years.
In 2004, Ray led Arizona to a 55-6 overall record and a Pac-10 Championship. In his second stint as UA interim head coach in 2008, Ray guided the Wildcats a 41-19 record and an appearance in the Women's College World Series.
Before returning to Arizona in 2002, Ray was responsible for establishing the Florida program after being hired as the Gators’ inaugural head coach in 1996. Florida made the postseason tournament and was ranked in the Top 25 in two of the four years during his tenure. In 1998, he led the Gators to a 47-22 season, claiming the Southeastern Conference regular-season title, the SEC Eastern Division title and earning the Gator's first-ever trip to the NCAA Regional Championships. For his efforts, Ray earned SEC Coach of the Year honors.
A renowned instructor of slap-hitting, Ray's tutoring has coached some of the best slappers in collegiate softball history. His guidance of Caitlin Lowe helped the four-time first-team All-American land the role of leadoff hitter for the U.S. Women's National Team. Another one of Ray's acclaimed slappers, Autumn Champion - the 2004 national batting champion - completed her eligibility with the fourth-highest batting average in Arizona history.
Before joining the Arizona coaching staff in 1986, Ray compiled a 70-13 record in four years as softball coach at Boulder City (Nev.) High School from 1982 to 1985. He took over a program that won just one game over the previous two years to a 17-3 mark and the Class AA State Championship his first season. He also coached BCHS to consecutive titles in his last two years with 20-1 and 24-1 marks.
A graduate of Idaho State, Ray lettered as a second baseman in baseball and wide receiver and kicker in football. He lettered two years in football and one year in baseball at West Valley Junior College in Campbell, Calif., (now in Saratoga) in 1968-69 before transferring to ISU. He was the football scoring leader for California junior colleges in 1969.
Ray and his wife, Dawn, have a daughter, Bree, and son, Taylor. Bree graduated from Canyon del Oro High School, where she started for the Dorados' 4A state champion softball team. Ray's son Derek and his wife Melissa have two young girls, Jayden and Lexi.
