Bryan Gray will roam the sidelines as the head man for the Vikings, after spending two seasons as defensive coordinator with the team, also in charge of defensive backs and receivers.
Gray, 33, coached for seven years in junior college in California, but moved back to Georgia and Hall County, where his wife was born and raised. That's when he switched to the high school level.
"I like teaching too much in the classroom, and college coaching doesn't allow you to do that," says Gray, who is preparing for his first head coaching experience. "I think I've found a happy medium between coaching and teaching."
Gray spent two years at North Gwinnett High School before spending the next two under Marchman at East Hall. He graduated in 1996 from the University of Alabama-Birmingham, where he played defensive end for coach Watson Brown.
He inherits a team that finished 5-5, barely missing the playoffs last season. But that team was led by several good athletes that are graduating and moving on to play at the next level, including Walter Hill and Korentheus Bailey.
Even with the losses, though , he believes the team could make the next step.
"I think if we get the right mentality, we can compete with anybody. But you can't just lose six or seven Division-I type of athletes and think you're going to come right out without any hiccups or anything."
Gray says his defense will have multiple looks and will be aggressive. He also prefers to throw the ball on offense, but says it all depends on his players and their strengths.
No matter what his philosphies, though, he has high hopes for his team.
"We can be competitve around here, and eventually come to be looked upon as successful as our basketball team is."
http://accesswdun.com/article/2007/3/92752