Ray joined the Tigers in the under 18 ranks helping them to achieve state championship honours. As one of the most prominent young players he was invited to join the team which “competed” against the Harlem Globetrotters. The world tour experience gave Ray the opportunity to have a broad understanding of international basketball and cultures which he put to good use for the remainder of his playing career which included three Olympic Games, 1968, 72, 76 and the world championships in between.
Once his playing days were over, he quickly turned to coaching. After a stint in the NBL as coach of the Coburg Giants, Ray commenced his WNBL coaching career by coaching the original Telstars women’s basketball club which later became the Melbourne Tigers women’s club.
He coached the Melbourne Tigers WNBL side and just like his playing days he also attended the Olympic Games and World Championships as an Assistant Coach with the National Women’s Team.
Ray was the Head Coach of the first five Women’s National Junior World Championship teams. It was at the 1989 Junior World Championships that he coached the team to the Bronze Medal, the first medal ever won by an Australian basketball team at an official tournament.
Not satisfied with Bronze, he coached the team to the first ever Gold Medal won by an Australian basketball team at the 1993 Junior World Championships.
To this very day you can still find Ray imparting his wisdom on the junior girls of the Melbourne Tigers.
For all his efforts over the years, Ray has been inducted into the WNBL Hall of Fame & the Australian Basketball Hall of Fame, named WNBL Coach of the Year and awarded Life Membership of the WNBL.
Achievements
– Represented Australia as an athlete in 34 games from 1968 to 1976.
– Began his coaching career following his retirement as an athlete.
– Had great success in the WNBL and has the fourth best all-time coaching record with 273 games (145 wins, 128 losses).
– Has had a major influence on Australian senior stars such as Sandy Brondello, Lauren Jackson, Penny Taylor, and Kristi Harrower.
– Represented Australia in three Olympic Games – 1968, 1972, 1976.
– Represented Australia in two World Championships – 1970, 1974.
– Appointed coach of the first Australian junior women’s team – 1985.
– Coached the junior women’s team to Australia’s first ever medal at an official tournament when the team won a Junior World Championship bronze medal – 1989.
– Coached the junior women’s team to Australia’s first ever gold medal at an official tournament when the team won the Junior World Championship in Korea – 1993.
– Life Member of the WNBL – 1997.
– Inducted into the Basketball Australia Hall of Fame in 2006.
