Welcome to another edition of our series where we are introducing you to some of the guys on the support staff that make up our favorite high school football teams. This week we head to Winchester to focus on GRC offensive coordinator/College Recruiting Coordinator Jordan Ray. Coach Ray took some time to answer some questions and help you get to know the guy behind the GRC offense! We hope you enjoy!
First off, how long you been coaching and what is your job title on GRC staff?
Ray: “This will be my 9th season coaching (4 at Paintsville/5th at GRC). Offensive Coordinator / College Recruiting Coordinator.”
What’s something as a coach that you do now, in year 9, that you wish you would have known when you started?
Ray: “One thing that I know now that I wish I would’ve known when I started is that each individual is coached differently. Finding what each child responds best to, in order to get them to play at the highest level possible is the daily task we all have as coaches.”
You all won a playoff game last year, how important was that win going into the offseason & building for this season?
Ray: “The Lafayette win was a vital win for our program, school, and community. The momentum from that win continued into the second round game against Frederick Douglass, getting up 14-0 in the first quarter and then we ran out of gas and fell to a very good Douglass team. It overall raised the expectation for everyone in our program going into 2025. Our team understands that in order to get to a place that we haven’t been to, we have to work harder and hold each other to accountable in all aspects of life.”
What’s something you hope the fans at Cardinal Stadium see out of this year’s team compared to years past?
Ray: “For me, I hope our fan base sees a football team that continues to build on honoring and representing the name on the front of the jersey and plays every snap hard, whistle-to-whistle.”
What’s a piece of advice you’d give young coaches entering their first season this fall?
Ray: “Advice for young coaches, don’t blink! It’ll fly by, enjoy every second of it, include your family and encourage them to come around and have them around your family. I firmly believe the more positive adults that we can get involved in our players lives the better. Get to know your players and let your players know you love them unconditionally. Build a coach to player relationship that is built on trust, honesty, and respect. I coach every kid hard and I’m honest with them but I do it out of love for them and for the game. We’re not coaching in South Georgia or Texas making six figures. Around here coaches coach to give back to this generation, what once was given to us by a coach along the way.”
We appreciate Coach Ray for taking some time to let us get to know him through a few questions this week! GRC opens their season August 22nd @ 7:30 as they travel to Scott County. Make sure you get out and support these coaches and young men this season!
Until next time,
From Corner2Corner Boys
