Contact: Clark Teuscher, Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302
Aug. 1, 2024 - North Central College senior director of athletics Jim Miller '86 has announced the hiring of Rachel Gray as the head coach for the Cardinals' men's and women's golf programs.
A two-time individual national championship qualifier as a collegiate student-athlete, Gray brings coaching experience from each of the NCAA's three divisions to a pair of North Central teams which established new scoring records during the 2023-2024 season.
"We're thrilled to bring in a coach of Rachel's caliber to lead our golf programs," Miller said. "Rachel's experience and perspective as a highly-accomplished player and seasoned coach of successful men's and women's teams will be incredibly valuable as our programs look to build on a promising 2023-2024 season."
Gray most recently served as an assistant coach for the Northern Illinois University men's golf program (2022-2023), during which time the Huskies had multiple First Team All-Mid-American Conference (MAC) honorees for the first time and set a new 18-hole scoring record. Gray was the head men's and women's coach at the College of Saint Scholastica from 2019-2022, leading the women's program to back-to-back Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) championships and an appearance in the NCAA Division III National Championship in 2021.
"I am incredibly excited to join the Cardinal family as the head men's and women's golf coach at North Central College," Gray said. "It's an honor to lead such talented student-athletes, and I look forward to building on the strong foundation of excellence and integrity that defines the Cardinal athletic programs."
A native of Coon Rapids, Minnesota, Gray got started in coaching as a graduate assistant at Lenoir-Rhyne University (North Carolina), helping lead the women's team to a South Atlantic Conference Championship. As a competitor for the women's golf team at Concordia University-St. Paul from 2012 to 2016, Gray earned All-Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) honors three times and qualified as an individual for the 2015 and 2016 NCAA Division II National Championships. Gray graduated as Concordia's all-time leader in career scoring average (80.22), single-season scoring average (77.65), and low scores for rounds of 18 (69), 36 (144), 54 (223) and 72 holes (299).
Gray assumes control of a North Central women's program which broke a 10-year-old team record for 18-hole scoring average (329.53) and established new scoring records for 18 (309), 36 (627) and 54 holes (944) at the 2023 College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Championship. The men's program, meanwhile, posted the second-lowest 18-hole scoring average in its history (310.23) and set a new 36-hole scoring record (598) at Carthage College's Strawberry Creek Classic.
"Together, the teams and I will strive for success off and on the course, fostering a culture of hard work, dedication and sportsmanship," Gray stated. "I want to extend my gratitude to Jim Miller for blessing me with this opportunity, and to (associate athletic director) James Kluckhohn, (assistant athletic director for diversity, equity and inclusion) Brian Johnson '95/M '15 and (senior woman administrator) Venus Taylor for believing in me and my vision."
Gray official begins coaching duties at North Central Aug. 5. The Cardinals' fall schedules will be made public as soon as they are finalized.
