The North Carolina Central University men’s basketball program has announced an addition to the coaching staff, as Andre Gray has joined the program ahead of the 2021-22 season.
Gray has been noted for his recruiting acumen at the collegiate level, and is familiar with the state of North Carolina as NCCU will be his ninth stop within the Tar Heel State. Most recently, he served as the recruiting coordinator at UNC Greensboro from 2018-21. While at UNCG, the Spartans posted a 73-23 record, and won the 2020-21 SoCon regular-season and conference tournament championships. UNCG also made an appearance in the 2019 NIT, and advanced to the second round.
Prior to his time with UNCG, Gray also worked as a recruiting coordinator at UNC Charlotte from 2015-18. Gray briefly wore the colors of an NCCU rival while he served as an assistant coach at Winston-Salem State from 2014-15, and helped the Rams to a CIAA South Division championship.
Gray made his only stop within the CAA from 2011-14 with UNC Wilmington, and served as the recruiting and defensive coordinator for the Seahawks. As the team’s defensive coordinator, he helped to improve the team to second in the conference in defensive points allowed per game against league opponents at 65.2 points per game in the 2013-14 campaign during his time. On the recruiting front, he brought in two top-100 junior college players, and one NCHS top-10 senior.
Gray made his first stops at the Division I level at Gardner-Webb from 2007-08, and Western Carolina from 2008-11. During his time at WCU, the Catamounts averaged 20 wins per season, and won two SoCon North Division championships. Gray also coordinated scheduling for WCU along with recruiting and scouting. At Gardner-Webb, Gray was able to bring in two top-100 junior college players.
Gray was a part of history while he was the recruiting coordinator at Wingate from 2003-07, as the Bulldogs became the first team from the South Atlantic Conference to advance to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight in 2007.
Gray started his career as the head boys’ basketball coach at Clayton Middle School in Clayton, North Carolina, and then was an assistant coach at J.F. Webb High School in Oxford, North Carolina. Gray made his debut at the collegiate level when he served as an assistant coach at his alma mater of Methodist College for two seasons from 2001-03. While at Methodist, he helped the team to a USA South Conference championship, and a 22-6 league record in two seasons.
He is originally from Elizabethtown, North Carolina and he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Education from Methodist College in 1998. Gray played basketball at Methodist from 1995-97. As a senior he helped Methodist advance to the 1997 Division III Elite Eight.
North Carolina Central names Gray Assistant Basketball Coach
Photo Courtesy NCCU Athletics
