Former NFL quarterback named Albany State head coach

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Joe Whitfield
Staff Correspondent

ALBANY – Former Jacksonville Jaguars and Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Quinn Gray was named as the new head football coach at Albany State University Monday afternoon. Gray replaces Gabe Giardina who took the head coaching position at Charleston Southern a few weeks ago. 

He played six seasons as a quarterback in the National Football League for the Jacksonville Jaguars and Kansas City Chiefs and also played for the New York Sentinels in the United Football League.  In addition, Gray played for the Frankfurt Galaxy, whom he led to the 2003 World Bowl Championship in the NFL Europe League.
 
Gray was not in Albany Monday because he is currently working as the senior offensive analyst with the University of Memphis and their preparations for the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl with Memphis Football. An on-campus press conference will be announced in early January.
 
Before joining the staff at the University of Memphis, Gray served as the quarterback’s coach at Alcorn State University from 2020-2022.  He also served as the associate head coach, offensive coordinator, and quarterbacks coach at Florida A&M University (FAMU) from 2011-2014 and spent three seasons as head coach at Lincoln High School in Florida, producing nine Florida Athletic Coaches Association (FACA) All-District Players, including the 2019 Tallahassee Quarterback Club Offensive Player of the Year, Special Teams Player of the Year, and Academic Player of the Year.
 
“Albany State University is excited to welcome Coach Quinn Gray to the Golden Rams family. His experience in coaching and as a National Football League player and student-athlete has provided Coach Gray with the experience and passion to lead the Golden Rams Football team. As a previous admission, academic, and compliance liaison, he is also committed to academic excellence and student success. It’s important that our athletes feel comfortable following a leader that will help them build character and perseverance on and off the field of competition. Coach Gray will ensure that tradition continues. We are looking forward to another winning season under his direction,” said ASU President Marion Ross Fedrick,
 
As a student-athlete at FAMU, Gray became the all-time leader in passing yards (7,378), pass attempts (1,113), pass completions (562), and touchdown passes (57).  He holds the single-game record for most pass attempts (65 vs. North Carolina A&T in ’01).
In 2020, Gray was inducted into the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Hall of Fame for his outstanding accomplishments as the quarterback at FAMU from 1997-2001. In 2020, he was inducted into the FAMU Sports Hall of Fame.

“Quinn Gray’s vision, diverse coaching experience, professional playing career, and distinguished HBCU intercollegiate career make him the perfect fit for ASU Football.  Coach Gray’s knowledge of football and desire to engage our alumni and fans while mentoring the football student-athletes will enable our program to continue its great tradition,” said ASU Athletics Director Tony Duckworth.

 
Gray is a native of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Health and Physical Education (’06) from FAMU. He is married to Shemeka Gray, and they have six children, Quine, Destiny, David, Quinn Jr., Ashton, and Londyn.

“ASU is a great place to be both academically and athletically.  It’s an honor to lead the football program and move the needle.  Coach Gabe did a great job here, and I look forward to taking the tradition here and continuing to move it forward,” said Gray.

 
Gray is a native of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Health and Physical Education (’06) from FAMU. He is married to Shemeka Gray, and they have six children, Quine, Destiny, David, Quinn Jr., Ashton, and Londyn.

 “I would like to personally thank the advisory group for their involvement throughout the search process,” added Duckworth.  The search for the head football coach advisory group included the following individuals:

  • Coach Mike White, Advisory Group Spokesman
  • Mr. Antonio Leroy
  • Dr. Terry Lindsay, VP of Student Affairs
  • Ms. Jean Lynn
  • Dr. Chinenye Ofodile, Faculty Athletics Representative 
  • Mr. Tommy Sharpe
  • Dr. Pastor Daniel Simmons
  • Mr. Ron Wood
 
 

Albany State UniversityJoeWhitfield

Author

Joe Whitfield is the sports editor for the Albany Herald. He graduated from the Henry Grady School of Journalism at the University of Georgia. He is an avid Georgia Bulldog fan and passionate about local sports in Albany. He has two daughters and seven grandchildren.

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