Head Coach Kristi Gray

Kristi Gray, who built a nationally contending volleyball program at Odessa College, was selected to serve as the 13th head coach of the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Volleyball program on Monday, April 26, 2021.

Gray helped the Odessa College Wranglers vault to the highest ranks of the national junior college landscape during her five seasons (2016-21) leading the school’s volleyball program, which included an outstanding 125-37 (.772) overall record. Her run with the Wranglers culminated in a sixth-place finish at the 2021 National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division I Volleyball Championship and her being named the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Two-Year College Southwest Region Coach of the Year.

In only took two seasons in Louisiana for Gray to quickly elevate the profile of the Ragin' Cajuns Volleyball program. Her high-energy style of play attracted a single-season total attendance record (6,446) to Earl K. Long Gym during the 2022 season. Then the crowning achievement to date came in December 2022 when Louisiana competed in a national postseason event for the first time ever, taking part in the National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC) in Edinburg, Texas.

Much like the success she experienced in her tenure at Odessa College, Gray orchestrated instant success in her debut season with the Ragin' Cajuns in 2021 (15-11, 9-7 Sun Belt). Her up-tempo system introduced an exciting, and efficient, brand of volleyball to Louisiana and the Sun Belt Conference. The team led the SBC in hitting percentage through Oct. 23, remaining in the Top 5 through season's end and finishing at .230 which is the program's rally era record.

Boosted by a clean sweep of the first round of SBC West Division play, which included the program's first-ever win over Texas State in San Marcos, Louisiana was in contention for the division title entering the month of November. Kelsey Bennett and Coco Gillett were named to the All-Sun Belt Team, marking the first all-conference honorees under Gray's mentorship.

In the 2022 season, Louisiana posted a 15-13 mark which was the second consecutive season with a winning record under Gray's guidance. The Ragin' Cajuns picked up their signature non-conference win of Gray's tenure with a straight sets sweep of the SEC's Alabama at the TCU Horned Frog Invitational in September and later closed the regular season strong winning five of their last eight outings before advancing into the quarterfinals at the Sun Belt Conference Tournament.

Gray was successful in significantly improving the team's RPI in her second season, staying in the Top 150 throughout the season and standing at No. 127 entering the postseason. The boost factored into the Ragin' Cajuns landing on the radar of the NIVC committee and ultimately receiving the historic invite to compete in the tournament and play in the month of December for the first time in program history.

On the court, Year 2 was highlighted by senior Kelsey Bennett eclipsing both 1,000 career kills and digs, the team ranking Top 100 nationally in blocking at over two blocks per set (252 total, 2.3/set) and Cami Hicks earning All-Sun Belt Conference recognition after a 100-plus blocks campaign. Off the court, an extensive renovation to Earl K. Long Gym - which included a state-of-the-art Taraflex court and Daktronics videoboard - was completed turning the Ragin' Cajuns' home into one of the premier volleyball-specific venues in the country.

UL posted its highest win total of Gray's tenure, totaling 19 victories, and claimed an SBC Tournament win for the third consecutive season in the fall of 2023. The excitement surrounding the program continued to grow as the Cajuns set the total attendance mark for a single season once again drawing 7,219 over the 11-match home slate at E.K. Long Gym.

Along the way to recording a third consecutive winning record under her leadership - marking the longest stretch for the program since 2000 through 2002 - Gray's squad claimed a road win at No. 18 Rice and was the only SBC West team to defeat Texas State in San Marcos in conference play.

The recruitment of JUCO All-American Mio Yamamoto resulted in the first Cajuns player to win Sun Belt Conference Libero of the Year award. Yamamoto led the SBC in total digs during conference play in landing the Cajuns' first major award since 2019 and a first team selection on the All-Sun Belt Team which marked the highest honor for a libero in UL Volleyball history since the NCAA introduced the position in 2002.

Another of Gray's key recruits to Louisiana raised the bar and received All-SBC honors as Siena DeCambra was named to the second team after recording the first 1,000-assists season of her collegiate career and ranking Top 3 in the SBC in total assists and per set. DeCambra was one of only two setters in the Sun Belt to reach 1,100 assists, overall, in the regular season and in mid-September was ranked No. 1 in the nation in total assists before finishing the season in the Top 15.

Prior to arriving in Louisiana, Gray led an Odessa program that dominated the WJCAC during her time at the helm, with the Wranglers posting a 43-9 (.827) record against league foes. Her final 2021 squad went undefeated (10-0) in WJCAC action for her third conference championship.

Odessa College’s 2019 season was one of the record books, with the squad winning a school record 33 matches. The Wranglers claimed the WJCAC title and finished 10th at the NJCAA Division I Volleyball Championship in the school’s first-ever appearance in the tournament field. The 2019 squad featured Luisa Silva Dos Santos, who received Second Team NJCAA All-America status, as well as Third Team AVCA All-America recognition.

Success started immediately for Odessa College under Gray’s leadership in 2016, with the Wranglers winning the conference championship amid a stellar 25-6 (9-1) season. Including her debut campaign and the next four seasons, Gray’s group averaged 25 wins per year. Over her final two seasons at Odessa College, Gray’s Wrangler squad compiled a nearly 90-percent winning percentage in overall competitions (59-7, .893), including a spectacular 21-1 (.954) record in Western Junior College Athletic Conference (WJCAC) play.

In total, Gray tutored a remarkable 20 all-conference performers, three NJCAA All-Americans and 25 Academic All-America student-athletes. Three of Gray’s Wranglers were named WJCAA Most Valuable Player. Gray herself was rewarded often, with three conference coach of the year (2016, 2019, 2021) honors to her credit. Additionally, she was named district coach of the year in 2019 and 2021.

With an ever-present eye for talent, 11 student-athletes from Gray’s Odessa College squads moved on to play at the NCAA Division I level.

Prior to ascending to the role of head coach, Gray served as an assistant coach for Odessa College from 2012-16. While Gray was in that role, the Wranglers had three regional runners-up finishes and two conference championships. She assisted in the tutelage of 20 all-conference performers during that stretch.

A native of Wimberley, Texas, Gray earned a bachelor’s degree in exercise and sports science from Texas Tech University in 2012. She completed postgraduate studies with Midwestern State University in summer 2022, obtaining a masters of education in sports administration.

THE GRAY FILE
Hometown: Wimberley, Texas
High School: Wimberley HS
College: Texas Tech (B.S.), 2012; Midwestern State (M.Ed.), 2022

COACHING  LEDGER
2021-present: Louisiana (Head Coach)
2016-21: Odessa College (Head Coach)
2012-15: Odessa College (Assistant Coach)