Emory University head softball coach Penny Siqueiros has announced that Larry Ray, one of the preeminent names in college softball, will join the Eagles' staff as an assistant coach for the 2016 season.
Ray owns over 30 years of coaching experience, 21 of which came during a pair of stints at the University of Arizona. His first run with the Wildcats came from 1986 through 1995 as an assistant, where he was part of a program that captured the 1991, 1993 and 1994 NCAA Division I national title. Ray then spent the next five years as the head coach at the University of Florida, guiding the Gators through their inaugural four seasons. Ray fashioned a won-lost ledger of 169-106 while calling the shots at UF, including a 47-22 won-lost ledger in 1998 that included a Southeastern Conference Championship. Ray returned to Arizona in 2002 for a second time as an assistant under head coach Mike Candrea and held that post until 2012. With Candrea serving as the USA Olympic Team Coach, Ray assumed the interim head coaching duties at Arizona in 2004 and 2008, chalking up a 96-25 record and a pair of NCAA Tournament berths. The 2004 unit rolled to a 55-6 overall mark while the 2008 team registered a 41-19 slate and a seventh-place finish in the Women's College World Series. His career record as a head coach stands at 265-131.
A renowned instructor of slap-hitting, Ray's tutoring has coached some of the best slappers in collegiate softball history, including former Arizona standout Caitlin Lowe (2004-07), a four-time first-team All-American and former leadoff hitter for the U.S. Women's National Team. Ray also mentored Autumn Champion (2003-06), a two-time All-American who paced the NCAA in hitting in 2004.
"Without question, Larry will be one of the most talented coaches in the Division III ranks," Siqueiros said. "Coach Ray and I have tried to coach together for a few years, and I'm pleased to see that it is all coming together. He is an extraordinary person, a close friend who I've known for over twenty years, and now we are co-workers. Our future is bright and. I'm absolutely thrilled to have him here with us."
A graduate of Idaho State, Ray lettered as a second baseman in baseball and wide receiver and kicker in football. He lettered two years in football and one year in baseball at West Valley Junior College in Campbell, Calif., (now in Saratoga) in 1968-69 before transferring to ISU. He was the football scoring leader for California junior colleges in 1969.
Ray played in five world tournaments in competitive fastpitch as a middle infielder. He has produced a number of successful instructional videos on coaching techniques for slap hitting and the short game.