One of the best

It's a storied career filled with a litany of accomplishments.
And it's a story well known to the many people whose lives he's touched.

So it should come to no surprise to anyone to learn that long-time head Coach Shirley Gray has been selected by the Virginia High School Coaches Association (VHSCA) as the state's nominee for the 2008 National High School Athletic Coaches Association (NHSACA) Coach of the Year in his current sport: golf.

He received the official word by letter from the Association dated October 15, 2007.

Born in Charles Town, West Virginia, Gray came to Culpeper in 1966 and has been here ever since.

He's been the head coach of Culpeper's golf team for 29 years.
A member of the VHSCA for twelve years, he is ranked No. 6 among all active golf coaches in the state of Virginia for number of wins (292).

Blue Devil teams under him have claimed 11 district championships, two regional crowns (1985 and 1987) and one state title in 1985.

Still, the news of his selection did come as a surprise to one person: himself.

Known in all circles as a man who doesn't boast and even shies away from the limelight, Coach Gray, in predictably humble fashion, may not have even announced his selection had he not followed the advice of some close associates.

"I was a little on the shocked side that they had selected me," he said. "It's quite an honor to be selected by the state coaches association and to represent your state in national competition."

With his selection, Gray will represent Virginia and compete against representatives from the rest of the 49 states. That's 49 other golf coaches.

The NHSACA will announce its selections during the summer of 2008.

All Coach Gray can do right now is to wait on the results.
If he is selected at a national level, he and selected winners from each sport will be honored at the banquet and awards ceremony in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Before any national award is bestowed upon him, he will receive a plaque at the Annual VHSCA Coaching Clinic Banquet to be held in Hampton, Virginia next July.

State and national selections are announced annually, yet Coach Gray knows that recognition doesn't come easy.
"They don't come every day," he said.

One did come his way back in 1981.

That honor came to him in his other beloved sport: wrestling.
Former and current wrestlers know full well what teams under Coach Gray accomplished.

The heyday of the program came in the mid 1970s and culminated with a Group AA state wrestling title in 1975.

Before and after that, Coach Gray trained and coached a number of individual champions.

He stepped down from the post following the 1992 season and is No. 6 on Virginia's all-time victory milestones among retired or deceased coaches with 257 wins, just two behind Granby great Billy Martin (259).

Contact Mark O'Connell at

The Gray file

Who: Shirley Gray, CCHS golf coach
 
Fast facts: Gray has coached golf at CCHS for 29 years, during which time his teams have won 11 district, two regional, and one state title. 
On the mat: Gray also coached CCHS wrestling for 28 years, stepping down after the 1992 season.