Report: Jerry Gray [NOT GOING] to Memphis Tigers?

[GenMgr]

Per Ryan O'Halloran - Washington Times

Memphis insider: #Redskins asst. Gray "far and away" favorite. FedEx Fred Smith carries big-time weight (re:$$$) within athletic dept.

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UPDATE

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=4687627

Sources: Gray to be hired at Memphis

Memphis is expected to announce Washington Redskins secondary coach Jerry Gray as its new head coach, multiple people familiar with the process said Tuesday.

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UPDATE [11/28/09]

Source: Memphis to tap LSU's Porter
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By Joe Schad
ESPN
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Memphis will have a new coach in LSU assistant Larry Porter, a source with direct knowledge of the search said Saturday.

Porter, in his fifth year as running backs coach at LSU, is also assistant head coach and chief recruiter on Les Miles' staff in Baton Rouge.

Washington Redskins secondary coach Jerry Gray had been a favorite for the job, but Memphis apparently chose to go in another direction.

Saturday, Gray said "one day it will be the right opportunity" to be a head coach.

Porter, a former Memphis player, was considered the lead candidate to replace Tommy West early in the process. Memphis (2-10, 1-7 Conference USA) fired West on Nov. 9.

Gray emerged as a favorite largely on the support of Memphis booster Fred Smith, the founder of Memphis-based Federal Express. Former Redskins coach Joe Gibbs recommended Gray and it was expected he would be Memphis' choice.

An official announcement has not been scheduled.

LSU plays Arkansas on Saturday night.

Joe Schad covers college football for ESPN

Gray interviewed this week and was a finalist for the position along with LSU running backs coach Larry Porter.

The announcement, assuming there are no unforeseen developments, is not expected to come until after Memphis has played its final game under outgoing coach Tommy West.

Porter played for Memphis and was long considered a favorite for the position.

But Gray was recommended to Memphis by Joe Gibbs, one source said, and had a connection to Fred Smith, the key Memphis booster and founder of FedEx, who is also tied in to the Redskins organization.

Joe Schad is a college football reporter for ESPN.com. Senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen contributed to this report.

[akhhorus]

Yikes: Gray would rather take a 3rd tier college(in a 3rd tier conference) head coaching job than stick around to see if he could move up the chain in DC.

[BurgundyNGold]

Originally Posted by akhhorus

Yikes: Gray would rather take a 3rd tier college(in a 3rd tier conference) head coaching job than stick around to see if he could move up the chain in DC.

Probably a smart move. Get away from Danny's leper colony as quickly and as quietly as possible.

[joethefan]

wouldn't be mad at him...I wish blache were that smart...

[BigTex]

Poor Jerry...I remember he turned down being the DC at his alma mater, the University of Texas, because he wanted to continue moving up the ladder in the NFL. Hopefully he succeeds if he takes the job at Memphis.

[shally]

i think the decision was made for him when Vinny announced that Zorn would be retained through the end of the year

[Patrick]

Good for Jerry ....... Nothing wrong with taking the HC at a D1 school and Memphis is not a bad place to start.

[Skaggsrules]

Originally Posted by Patrick

Good for Jerry ....... Nothing wrong with taking the HC at a D1 school and Memphis is not a bad place to start.

According to the last Memphis coach, it's not that good of a place to start

[shally]

Originally Posted by Skaggsrules

According to the last Memphis coach, it's not that good of a place to start

traditional Basketball power

[Patrick]

Originally Posted by Skaggsrules

According to the last Memphis coach, it's not that good of a place to start

I don't know .... 5 bowl appearances since 2003. Doesn't seem like they have a problem getting the players ...... AND Tommy West was fired, what's going to say - the place was great. ... Anyway I guess it what you make it and I think Jerry could be successful.

[skin4ever]

Originally Posted by joethefan

wouldn't be mad at him...I wish blache were that smart...

for our teams sake. lol

[GenMgr]

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=4687627

Sources: Gray to be hired at Memphis

Memphis is expected to announce Washington Redskins secondary coach Jerry Gray as its new head coach, multiple people familiar with the process said Tuesday.

Gray interviewed this week and was a finalist for the position along with LSU running backs coach Larry Porter.

The announcement, assuming there are no unforeseen developments, is not expected to come until after Memphis has played its final game under outgoing coach Tommy West.

Porter played for Memphis and was long considered a favorite for the position.

But Gray was recommended to Memphis by Joe Gibbs, one source said, and had a connection to Fred Smith, the key Memphis booster and founder of FedEx, who is also tied in to the Redskins organization.

Joe Schad is a college football reporter for ESPN.com. Senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen contributed to this report.

[Skaggsrules]

Originally Posted by Patrick

I don't know .... 5 bowl appearances since 2003. Doesn't seem like they have a problem getting the players ...... AND Tommy West was fired, what's going to say - the place was great. ... Anyway I guess it what you make it and I think Jerry could be successful.

Said no one was supporting the team (students, boosters, media), but Gray's a good guy, let's see what he does

[shally]

Originally Posted by Skaggsrules

Said no one was supporting the team (students, boosters, media), but Gray's a good guy, let's see what he does

agree. best of luck

again, once it became apparent that he wasnt going to be named interim HC because of an in-season firing of Zorn, why would he want to hang around ?

[BurgundyNGold]

Awesome. Now if we can just Stan Hixon to get hired on as HC at SW Louisiana State, we might be onto something.