It would be an understatement to say John Gray and his two sons,Ricky and Barry, have their hearts in coaching basketball. They allhave coached state championship teams during their lengthy careers.The latest accomplishment arrived last Saturday when Barry Graycoached the Brookhaven Academy Lady Cougars to the MAIS OverallTournament title.

The elder Gray and his oldest son, Ricky, will both be coachingin this Saturday’s MAIS All-Star Basketball Games. Barry can relaxand enjoy the atmosphere in Mississippi College’s A.E. WoodColiseum.

It’s a trifecta-type experience for 73-year-old John Gray. Hecame out of retirement last August to coach the Centreville Academygirls to their first winning record in several years. He hadpreviously coached all-star teams during his tenure at BrookhavenAcademy and Adams County Christian School.

We have had the pleasure of knowing the Grays for over 30 years.John Gray was headmaster and coach at Brookhaven Academy for aquarter of a century, bringing stability and respect to theinstitution. In fact the gym is named in his honor.

Always at his side has been his wife, Marie, who often filledthe role of sports information director at the school. She usuallykept a scorebook for her husband during games and she didn’thesitate to share her opinion with the referees.

John was a standout guard at Hinds Community College andMississippi College before launching his coaching career. Those areknown as the good old days.

He said he was looking forward to coaching the South AA-AAAgirls Saturday. “It will be something that’s real enjoyable.There’s no pressure to win. The girls will work hard and make a lotof new friends.”

Coaches and players reported today in Jackson. The Class A girlsgame is at 11 a.m. Saturday in A.E. Wood Coliseum. Class A boysplay at 12:45 p.m., followed by AA-AAA girls at 2:30 and AA-AAAboys at 4:30. The game will feature 20-minute halves.

Representing Brookhaven Academy in the star wars are AnnaKatelyn Mangold and Sidney Chaffin, both standout post players.Kellen Choate will represent the Parklane girls. Representing theColumbia Academy boys are Tanner Pace and Christian Robbins.

Amanda Hatch of Jackson Prep is the AA-AAA South girlsassistant.

John Gray made the daily, 108-mile round trip from Brookhaven toCentreville Academy, starting in August. He didn’t have any seniorson the starting five. It took them a year to learn Gray’s systembut they posted a 14-12 record.

The Lady Tigers had won six games the year before and only twogames the previous year.

“We were on a roll before the winter storm came along,” saidGray, recalling the unusual weather pattern. “We had beatenSilliman (Institute) at their place. The long layoff beforestarting the South State Tournament set us back.”

On the bright side, Gray said, “We are looking forward to a goodyear.” He turns 74 in September.

 

Gray is in remarkably good condition. He had open-heart surgeryseveral years ago and has made a complete recovery.

Ricky Gray is 51 years old and has dealt with heart problems,too. He has had three stent procedures.

Ricky has been coaching the Parklane boys for several years inhis 27-year career. Reid McKay of Columbia Academy will work withhim as they direct the South AA-AAA boys.

Ricky is coaching his eighth all-star game. “It is a big honorfor me. I enjoy the kids.

“We’ve been blessed with good health,” he continued. “I’mthankful. Coaching has been good for my dad, too.”

Obviously, there is a level of stress in most jobs but coachingcan become exhausting, especially if there are teaching andadministrative duties to cope with.

Ricky put it in perspective. “Coaching can be stressful. We bothwere lucky that we both got to the doctor. We could have been deadmen.”

Growing up in a basketball-minded family, it seemed natural forboth Ricky and Barry to follow in the footsteps of theirfather.

“My dad was my hero,” said Ricky. “He was a great player at MCand Hinds.

“It’s just in our blood,” he noted. “We had a lot of doorsopened for us. His name is well known. Coaching is a calling in ourfamily.”

Most of the Gray relatives have come through the Pelahatchie andMorton area of East Central Mississippi.

Ricky is a 1977 BA graduate. John coached his son in theall-star game. Barry was on his dad’s 1981 state championship teamwhen he was a senior.

Last Saturday was special for the whole family as Barry’s LadyCougars battled Jackson Academy for the Overall crown. They had theopportunity to see Barry win an Overall championship. For sure, itwas a great milestone for the entire family.

Looking to the future, Ricky has a talented eighth-grade son,John, who played point guard for the junior high Parklane Pioneersthis season. He also has a daughter, Mary Katherine, in the firstgrade.

Barry, 48, and his wife, Lindy, have two sons. Alan was a 3-yearstarter at BA before graduating. He’s an Ole Miss graduate whoplans to enter nursing school. Alex is a high school sophomore whoexcels in tennis.

Write to sports editor Tom Goetz, c/o The DAILY LEADER, P.O.BOX 551, Brookhaven, MS 39602 or e-mailsports@dailyleader.com