TEMPE- The team is back together! After serving as a volunteer assistant in the 2020-21 season for Arizona State, Ryan Ray will be returning to Sun Devil Cross Country and Track & Field as an assistant coach alongside newly hired cross country and distance coach Ryun Godfrey.
"I'm excited to be back at ASU. It's one of the best universities in the world with a championship history in track & field and cross country," Ray said. "The student-athletes, coaching staff and support staff are as good as anyone in the nation, and with the tools and resources here, I know we can achieve some very special things. I can't wait to start coaching this team and to build a great team culture that wins. I would like to thank Coach Dion Miller, Coach Ryun Godfrey, and Associate Athletic Director Marcus Williams for this amazing opportunity. O2V!"
"I'm really excited to have Ryan joining the staff," coach Godfrey said. "I know he has history here and I'm ready to get him on board. I feel very fortunate that we're going to have him here helping the program and I'm excited to get started."
Prior to his return to Tempe, Ray spent the 2021-22 season as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for University of Arizona's cross country and track program. In his lone season with the Wildcats, he coached Grace Driskill to a school record in the 3000m steeplechase and a qualifying bid to the first round of the NCAA championships, leading to a nod on the All-Pac-12 Conference first team. He also successfully recruited one of the best classes in the nation, signing several student-athletes ranked in the national top-10, top-20 and top-50. These signees included the Arizona and Washington state champions along with the California CIF champions in the 800m, 1600m, 3200m and in cross country.
Ray joined ASU XCTF in December 2020 as a volunteer assistant cross country and distance and certified USA Track and Field level coach under Patrick Henner. With the Sun Devils, Ray coached Lena Lebrun to qualify for the first round of the NCAA Championships in the 3000m steeplechase. He also helped then-freshman Vincent Mauri to recognition on the All-Pac-12 first team after becoming a national qualifier in the 1500m. Also acting as the recruitment coordinator for the program, Ray successfully recruited Dayton Carlson who came to campus for the 2021-22 season and capped off year one by breaking the Sun Devils' outdoor 800m program record en route to All-America honors (sixth place finish).
Prior to ASU, Ray coached at Boise State for one year where he was a volunteer assistant for the Broncos. He was a part of a successful coaching staff that coached several athletes to All-Mountain West Conference, All-West Region, and All-America honors. Their men's and women's programs also both claimed national titles. Ray worked with 2020 Mountain West indoor mile and 5K champions Ahmed Muhumed and Yukino Parle, respectively. Ray also acted as the assistant meet manager for BSU's indoor track and field meets and was the lead recruiter, his efforts leading to the Broncos landing several top recruits from the 2021 class.
Ray is the son of former USA middle-distance national coach and UC Riverside director of cross country and track & field Irv Ray. His father coached several national championship teams, All-Americans, and Olympians during his 30-year career. Ryan Ray earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from North Park University in Chicago, Ill., where he ran track and played football.
"I'm excited to be back at ASU. It's one of the best universities in the world with a championship history in track & field and cross country," Ray said. "The student-athletes, coaching staff and support staff are as good as anyone in the nation, and with the tools and resources here, I know we can achieve some very special things. I can't wait to start coaching this team and to build a great team culture that wins. I would like to thank Coach Dion Miller, Coach Ryun Godfrey, and Associate Athletic Director Marcus Williams for this amazing opportunity. O2V!"
"I'm really excited to have Ryan joining the staff," coach Godfrey said. "I know he has history here and I'm ready to get him on board. I feel very fortunate that we're going to have him here helping the program and I'm excited to get started."
Prior to his return to Tempe, Ray spent the 2021-22 season as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for University of Arizona's cross country and track program. In his lone season with the Wildcats, he coached Grace Driskill to a school record in the 3000m steeplechase and a qualifying bid to the first round of the NCAA championships, leading to a nod on the All-Pac-12 Conference first team. He also successfully recruited one of the best classes in the nation, signing several student-athletes ranked in the national top-10, top-20 and top-50. These signees included the Arizona and Washington state champions along with the California CIF champions in the 800m, 1600m, 3200m and in cross country.
Ray joined ASU XCTF in December 2020 as a volunteer assistant cross country and distance and certified USA Track and Field level coach under Patrick Henner. With the Sun Devils, Ray coached Lena Lebrun to qualify for the first round of the NCAA Championships in the 3000m steeplechase. He also helped then-freshman Vincent Mauri to recognition on the All-Pac-12 first team after becoming a national qualifier in the 1500m. Also acting as the recruitment coordinator for the program, Ray successfully recruited Dayton Carlson who came to campus for the 2021-22 season and capped off year one by breaking the Sun Devils' outdoor 800m program record en route to All-America honors (sixth place finish).
Prior to ASU, Ray coached at Boise State for one year where he was a volunteer assistant for the Broncos. He was a part of a successful coaching staff that coached several athletes to All-Mountain West Conference, All-West Region, and All-America honors. Their men's and women's programs also both claimed national titles. Ray worked with 2020 Mountain West indoor mile and 5K champions Ahmed Muhumed and Yukino Parle, respectively. Ray also acted as the assistant meet manager for BSU's indoor track and field meets and was the lead recruiter, his efforts leading to the Broncos landing several top recruits from the 2021 class.
Ray is the son of former USA middle-distance national coach and UC Riverside director of cross country and track & field Irv Ray. His father coached several national championship teams, All-Americans, and Olympians during his 30-year career. Ryan Ray earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from North Park University in Chicago, Ill., where he ran track and played football.