Ray Greene (American football)

Ray Greene
Biographical details
Born(1938-08-12)August 12, 1938
Akron, Ohio, U.S.
DiedJune 16, 2022(2022-06-16) (aged 83)
Playing career
Football
1959–1961Akron
Position(s)Defensive end
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Football
1964–1965Kenmore HS (OH) (assistant)
1966–1967Dan McCarty HS (FL) (assistant)
1968Miami (OH) (assistant)
1969–1973Iowa State (WR)
1974–1975Jacksonville Sharks/Express (OC)
1976–1977Michigan State (WR)
1978North Carolina Central
1979–1983Alabama A&M
1984Alabama State (OC/AHC)
1985Jackson State (assistant)
1986–1988Alabama A&M
200?Tennessee Valley Vipers (OC/AHC)
Track
1967–1968Dan McCarty HS (FL)
Head coaching record
Overall56–35–5 (college football)
TournamentsFootball
1–1 (NCAA D-II playoffs)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
Football
3 SIAC (1979, 1981, 1987)

Ray Greene (August 12, 1938 – June 17, 2022) was an American football coach. He served as the head football coach at North Carolina Central University for one season, in 1978, and two stints as the head football coach at Alabama A&M University, from 1979 to 1983 and 1986 to 1988, compiling a career college football head coaching record of 56–35–5.

Early life and playing career

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Greene was born August 12, 1938, in Akron, Ohio. He graduated from Akron South High School in 1956.[1] Greene played football and ran track at the University of Akron.[2] In football, he earned All-Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) honors in 1960 and 1961.[1]

Coaching career

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Greene was an assistant football coach at Kenmore High School in Akron under head coach Mick Viland from 1964 to 1965. He moved to Viland in 1966 to Dan McCarty High School, located in Fort Pierce, Florida. Greene was the first African-American to coach at McCarty. He was appointed as the school's head track coach in 1967.[3]

Greene was an assistant football coach in 1968 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. In 1969, he was hired an assistant football coach at Iowa State University by head football coach Johnny Majors, becoming the first African-American hired for a full-time coaching position at the school.[2] Green coached Iowa State's wide receivers for four seasons under Majors. When Majors left Iowa State to become the head football coach at the University of Pittsburgh in December 1972, Greene interviewed to succeed him.[4] The Iowa State head coaching position went to Earle Bruce, who retained Green as wide receivers coach for the 1973 season.[5]

Broadcasting career and death

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After his coaching career, Greene went into sportscasting, working as a color analyst for a number of sports in the Tennessee Valley. He died on June 17, 2022, at the age of 83.[1]

Head coaching record

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College football

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Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
North Carolina Central Eagles (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) (1978)
1978 North Carolina Central 3–8 1–4 7th
North Carolina Central: 3–8 1–4
Alabama A&M Bulldogs (Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) (1979–1983)
1979 Alabama A&M 8–3 4–0 1st L NCAA Division II Semifinal
1980 Alabama A&M 5–4–1 2–1–1
1981 Alabama A&M 8–2 5–0 1st
1982 Alabama A&M 6–4–1
1983 Alabama A&M 7–3–1 6–1
Alabama A&M: 34–16–3
Alabama A&M Bulldogs (Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) (1986–1988)
1986 Alabama A&M 5–4–2 2–3–2
1987 Alabama A&M 7–4 6–1 T–1st
1988 Alabama A&M 7–3 6–1
Alabama A&M: 19–11–2
Total: 56–35–5
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

[6]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Carter, Mo (June 17, 2022). "Ray Greene passes away at 83". rocketcitynow.com. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Iowa State Hires First Black Coach". The Courier. Waterloo, Iowa. Associated Press. March 13, 1969. p. 21. Retrieved August 29, 2024 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  3. ^ "Edwwards School Gets 3 Coaches". St. Lucie News Tribune. Fort Pierce, Florida. May 11, 1967. p. 6. Retrieved August 29, 2024 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  4. ^ Nold, Bob (December 29, 1972). "Iowa St. Grid Post Greene's Goal". Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio. p. 28. Retrieved August 29, 2024 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  5. ^ "Bruce Ready For ISU Challenge". Quad-City Times. Davenport, Iowa. Associated Press. January 4, 1973. p. 23. Retrieved August 29, 2024 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  6. ^ "NCAA Statistics; Head Coaches; Ray Greene". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved August 29, 2024.