March 15, 2001

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Samford football assistant coaches Carroll McCray and Joel Williams have resigned their positions on the Bulldog staff to pursue other career opportunities, Samford Head Coach Pete Hurt announced Thursday.

McCray, who has been Samford's offensive line coach since 1994, moves to Starkville, Miss., to become the new offensive line coach at Mississippi State University. Williams, the Bulldogs' offensive coordinator and quarterbacks/fullbacks coach for the 1999 and 2000 seasons, assumes the duties of head coach and athletic director at Gadsden High School in Gadsden, Ala. Both are scheduled to assume their new posts on Monday, March 19.

"We hate to lose both of them, but we understand that they have to take advantage of opportunities to further their careers," said Hurt. "Replacing these two will be difficult, and I will take my time to be sure that we select the right people for our program. "This is what happens when you have good coaches, other people are going to want them eventually. I've known Carroll for seven years and I've known Joel since college, and we certainly wish them well. When you care about someone, you want the best for them."

In McCray's seven years at Samford, his troops paved the way for 13 running backs to rush for more than 500 yards in a season and were instrumental in the record-setting 1999 season in which the Bulldogs finished fourth in Division I-AA and set six school offensive records, including net yards rushing (3,439) and touchdowns rushing (41). McCray also spent five years at South Carolina working with tight ends, halfbacks, offensive line and special teams, and began his collegiate coaching career working with tight ends and tackles and inside linebackers with Sparky Woods at Appalachian State University. Four of McCray's former players began last season on NFL rosters, including All-Southeastern Conference selection and Arizona Cardinals first-round pick Earnest Dye.

Under Williams' guidance as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks/fullbacks coach, the Bulldogs rushed for more than 5,600 yards in two seasons, scored 59 rushing touchdowns and set six school records. Williams' option offense led to five player rushing for more than 500 yards in two seasons, including Jerome Russell's 1,180 yards in 1999. Williams has coaching experience at every level, having served at Ole Miss in 1991, under Chan Gailey at Samford in 1993 and with the Birmingham Fire in the World League of American Football in 1992, and in the high school ranks for more than 15 years. He has reached the state playoff 12 times, won eight area championships, finished as state runner-up twice and won a state championship and his teams have been ranked nationally on three occasions as a prep coach.

The Bulldogs are seven days into spring football, but will take the remainder of the week off and hit the practice field again on Tuesday. Assistant head coach Bill Gray will assume Samford's offensive coordinator duties and Hurt will coach the offensive line through the remainder of spring practice.