VMI Athletics

Ingram announces offensive staff 1/23/2026

Ray brings a strong pedigree to VMI, as he was a three-time All-American, three-time winner of the South Atlantic Conference's (SAC) Jacobs Blocking Trophy – a feat only Ray has accomplished - and a two-time finalist for the Gene Upshaw Award for the best lineman in Division II football during his playing career at Lenoir-Rhyne (L-R). With Ray in the lineup, L-R averaged 386 rushing yards per game and in 2013, L-R broke the all-time rushing record for yards in a season (5,563) which would be held until it was broken in 2023. In 2014, Ray's junior season, the team's average of 416.2 rushing yards per game set a new NCAA Division II record.  

After his playing career, in which L-R named a blocking award after him, Ray started his coaching career at Carson-Newman (C-N), where he would spend a total of six seasons, including the 2024 and 2025 seasons under Ingram. Beginning as a graduate assistant, Ray earned promotions of offensive quality control, offensive line and ultimately recruiting coordinator. At C-N, Ray coached All-SAC linemen Christian Jones and Mike Peppin in 2022, as the duo helped the Eagles finish in the top 25 nationally in rushing yards per game (203.6). During Ingram's first year (2024), Ray coached Turk Daniels to All-SAC honors, with Daniels becoming the first offensive lineman in SAC history to win the league's Offensive Freshman of the Year award. After helping Jones to three All-SAC selections, this season (2025) Ray also coached Jay'Den Williams to Second Team All-Region honors. A 2016 graduate of L-R, Ray is married to the former Katie Gash.