Tanya Ray joined the University of the Incarnate Word women’s basketball program as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator in May 2019.
Ray comes to the Cardinals as an assistant after eight years as the head coach at the University of Arkansas-Monticello.
During Ray’s time at UAM, she coached seven All-Great American Conference selections. She worked with Jordan Goforth, who was the 2012-13 GAC Freshman of the Year, a two-time All-GAC first team selection, and a D2CCA All-American. Ray also finished fifth all-time at UAM and third in GAC history in scoring. Her teams qualified for the GAC postseason tournament five times. Ray also had 12 Academic All-GAC selections to her credit.
Ray came to UAM after serving as an assistant coach at the NCAA Division I level for 11 seasons. She spent nine of those years (2002-11) as the assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Arkansas State in Jonesboro, Arkansas.
During her time at Arkansas State, Ray helped lead the Red Wolves to 155 wins, an average of just over 17 wins per year. ASU posted three 20-win seasons during Ray’s tenure, and, in 2003-04, the Red Wolves captured their first Sun Belt Conference East Division championship. The next year, ASU advanced to the second round of the Women’s National Invitational Tournament (WNIT). In 2006-07, the Red Wolves made their third postseason appearance in four years, advancing to the second round of the WNIT before falling on the road to eventual runner-up Wisconsin.
While with the Red Wolves, Ray coached 14 all-conference selections, two WNBA Pre-Draft Camp participants and four professional contract signees.
In addition to her coaching and recruiting duties at ASU, Ray also handled the team’s travel budget and coordinated the scheduling of opponents, among other duties.
Before joining the staff at ASU, Ray served two seasons (2000-02) as an assistant coach at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
During Ray’s tenure at Oklahoma State, she was the team’s film exchange coordinator, while also helping with on-court coaching, recruiting and travel organization.
Ray entered the coaching ranks as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for one season (1999-2000) at Blinn College in Brenham, Texas. Here, she helped lead the Lady Buccaneers to a 23-8 overall record and an appearance in the regional semifinals, where they lost to eventual national champion, Tyler Junior College.
Ray’s playing career consisted of four years at Brenham (Texas) High School, one-year stints at the University of Texas-San Antonio and South Plains College of Levelland, Texas, and two years at St. Mary’s University in San Antonio.
The Brenham, Texas, native holds a bachelor’s degree in exercise-sport science from St. Mary’s (1999). She also holds an associate’s degree from South Plains College in general studies.
