By Don Owen
NKyTribune reporter
While interviewing to possibly become the next men’s basketball head coach at Thomas More College, Justin Ray came away impressed with everything about the campus in Crestview Hills.
“I was walking around on my interview, and it was evident to me this is a special place,” Ray said Thursday at his introductory press conference after being named the 10th head coach in Thomas More men’s basketball history. “The culture here, the people, everything you need to win is here at Thomas More.”
Justin Ray comes to Thomas More from cross-river rival Mount St. Joseph, where he has been the assistant coach for the past seven seasons. (Photo by Don Owen)
The Cincinnati native was also instrumental in helping the Lions’ student-athletes succeed in the classroom, as the team has carried a 3.2 cumulative grade point average and 100 percent graduation rate for four-year players.
“Justin has a tireless work ethic, and with his deep ties to the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky basketball community he has helped establish a successful program at Mount St. Joseph,” said Terry Connor, Thomas More’s athletic director. “We’re confident that Justin will build upon the success that previous coaches have established at Thomas More and take the program to the next level.”
Prior to Mount St. Joseph, Ray served as a graduate assistant coach at NCAA Division I Wright State.
Ray inherits a strong nucleus from former head coach Drew Cooper, who resigned following the season to take the job at Kentucky Wesleyan. Thomas More posted a 23-6 record this past season and repeated as Presidents’ Athletic Conference champions. The Saints, who also advanced to the NCAA Division III Tournament for the second straight year, will return three starters in 2018-19.
All-Great Lakes Region standout Damion King (15.2 points per game) is among the returnees for Thomas More, along with double-figure scorers Brandon Horne (10.5 ppg) and Ryne Callahan (10.2 ppg).
“This is a dream job for me,” Ray said. “Having been just across the river all these years, I’m aware of the great academic reputation and the winning tradition of Thomas More.
“Winning is hard, but to inherit a program that has back-to-back 20-win seasons, and won two straight conference championships, I’m really blessed to have the opportunity to lead these young men at Thomas More.”
Ray was a three-year starter and three-time team captain for Christian Brothers. He helped Christian Brothers win a regular-season championship and tournament title as well as earn a berth in the NCAA Division II Tournament.
Ray is sixth in Christian Brothers history in 3-pointers made with 200. He was on Christian Brothers’ Dean List and was awarded the Certificate of Presidential Recognition while an undergrad.
A graduate of Oak Hills High School in Cincinnati, Ray earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in business marketing from Christian Brothers and received his Master of Science degree in leadership development from Wright State.
Contact Don Owen at don@nkytrib.com and follow him on Twitter at @dontribunesport
