Oct. 28, 2003
By Zach Dail – Host Communications
At one point in his football career, Michael Gray was known as the “Gray ghost.” Those were the days when he was a junior college All-American at West Hills College in Coa-linga, Calif.
That also was the time when he was introduced to Coach Rich Brooks and recruited by Oregon, earning rank as a two-year letterman at defensive tackle in ’81 and ’82. From there, the Gray ghost pounded the gridiron for eight years in the Canadian Football League, where he was named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Rookie in 1985 and was a part of three Grey Cup championships – including the defensive MVP of the ’88 championship game and a two-year pick on the CFL all-league team. These days, things have changed slightly for Gray. Today, they call him “coach.”
Coach Gray, who is the leader of the defensive line, came to Kentucky with vast experience and high hopes. He came ready for a challenge. To him, that’s what football is all about.
“I’ve always loved that underdog role,” Gray said. “It started at Oregon when I was there – the most games we ever won was two. I’ve always been the underdog. I wasn’t drafted and I’ve always battled that underdog [mentality].”
To Gray, Kentucky’s current status as the underdog is perfect.
“When Coach Brooks gave me the opportunity to come here and coach, it was a good challenge. I wanted to get this program turned around.”
And after giving Florida and South Carolina a run for their money, he is only more motivated to help UK break through.
“The next step,” he said, “is to beat those teams on a consistent basis.”
The Baltimore, Md., native has brought the Wildcat’s D-Line full swing with his extensive knowledge of the defensive line as both a veteran player and coach. Immediately following the conclusion of his playing career, Gray took a coaching position with the British Columbia Lions, earning his fourth Grey Cup title, this time on the sidelines.
According to Gray, the thought of coaching had not crossed his mind.
“I remember my eighth and ninth year when I finished playing and coaching was the farthest thing from my mind,” he said. “All my years playing I had a lot of coaches and I realized how much they have to deal with.
“I didn’t pursue coaching, it just kind of fell into my lap. I was living in Vancouver, British Columbia, at the time. The BC (British Columbia) Lions had just hired a new coach, and he called me to coach the defensive line. It was perfect, right near my family and I didn’t have to travel.”
After two years with British Columbia, Gray returned to the states and took control of Weber State’s defensive line in ’95 and then left to join forces under Coach Brooks again in ’96 with the St. Louis Rams. For Gray, coaching at the professional level was completely different than at the collegiate level.
“At that level, they are grown men. When I was there coaching, we [players and coaches] saw it as more of a job,” Gray said. “You really have to be among the top of the guys in the defensive line position. You can’t take it lightly.
“The joke is always how the pro guys say, ‘Oh you’re on scholarship.’ Well, in the pros you’re not. You’ve really got to perform at a higher level because if you don’t, they hand you your pink slip and there you go,” Gray said.
Not only is the level of intensity increased in the pros, the motivators for the players are different also.
“Most guys, when they get to that level, they feel like they’ve made it,” he said. “You have to find other ways to motivate them besides just money and pro bowls.”
Coaching at Weber State, Oregon and now Kentucky has taught Gray a great deal about the differences in the coaching of college players. Motivators shift gears, and the chance to “make it” is the prime encouragement.
“At the collegiate level you still have the innocence of the young man – he’s almost there but he’s not there. You have to attend to him a little more. You don’t have to motivate them quite as much, though. I think they’re already motivated.”
Following his position with the Rams, six years of coaching Oregon State’s defense under head coaches Mike Riley and Dennis Erikson have left him with three bowl games in his final four seasons, including the winningest team in the school’s history with an 11-1 record.
In addition to his extensive coaching accomplishments, Gray’s experience as a player is adding credibility with the players.
“It gives you a stamp of approval with the players. Especially coaching the defensive line. I have a passion about it. I can understand what they see out there. I tell my guys all the time, ‘I’ve put my hand in the dirt, and I know what you’re going through.’ “
As Gray’s first year at Kentucky begins to wind down from regular-season play, he is already looking forward, preparing for the games to be played in the seasons to come.
“We’re going to have some recruiting. Recruiting is big in college,” Gray said. “You have to go out there and find the right people that will fit the mold of the program. You want a guy that is solid. You have to recruit quality athletes and quality people.”
