STARKVILLE — Not much is certain when evaluating the hire of Rick Ray as the next men’s basketball coach at Mississippi State University.
Therefore, it’s the courage needed by MSU Director of Athletics Scott Stricklin to make this move that national analysts are most impressed with.
“I know Rick Ray doesn’t excite State fans, but guess who else knows that, Scott Stricklin,” CBS Sports national college basketball analysts Gary Parrish said. “And yet he made the hire. He really put himself out there to make this hire, and I can appreciate that because too often athletic directors take the predictable and easy way out. Scott didn’t do that, though. This is his hire.”
Ray is not a well-known name in terms of casual fans, no previous head coaching experience and not much connection to the southeastern part of the country. None of those things mattered to Stricklin, who didn’t stray from his core values when he began the nearly three-week search that led to Ray’s hiring this past Sunday.
“When we sat down a couple of weeks ago, I was not looking at a label,” Stricklin said. “I wanted a person who fits our qualities the best.”
Like it or not, this is Stricklin’s hire and his success or failure will be tied to Ray’s tenure as he roams the sidelines at Humphrey Coliseum.
“While I can’t guarantee it’ll go well because nobody can guarantee such things in situations like this, what I like about the hire is that it takes Scott having a core belief in Ray to get this done,” Parrish said.”That’s the type of confidence I think all good athletic directors should possess.”
Ray touted his experience at hard-nosed programs — especially Purdue and Indiana State — as an indicator of how the Bulldogs’ program would be run. Working with head coach Matt Painter at Purdue could be a key indicator to Ray’s readiness to finally become a head coach at the Division I level at 40 years old.
“Rick Ray is a great hire for Mississippi State,” ESPN college basketball analyst Jimmy Dykes said. “He is extremely well thought of in the coaching profession on every level. He comes from a background under Brad Brownell (at Clemson) and Matt Painter which is all you need to know. His teams will be tough, disciplined, and will be demanded to play hard.”
One of Ray’s former bosses at Northern Illinois University is convinced he’ll have nothing but success at MSU. Rob Judson told The Dispatch he intentionally sought out Ray, who was at that time an assistant at Indiana State University, to become a member of his staff.
“When I was coaching at Illinois, I’d always see Rick on the road because we’d be in the same gyms recruiting,” Judson said. “When I got the job at Northern Illinois and then went through my first season, I called Coach Waltman to make sure I had permission to talk with Rick.”
Judson also knew the partnership wouldn’t last long because Ray was destined for bigger and better things.
“I told him he had to go to do that at Purdue because he’d regret not taking that opportunity to work at a place like Purdue University,” Judson said. “I did nothing but give Matt (Painter) my highest reputation for Rick and he’ll do great at Mississippi State trust me.”
Judson was not surprised that even though he’s been around that grind-it-out offensive styles of the Missouri Valley Conference and Big Ten Conference offenses, Ray said Monday he wants to play an up-tempo style of fast break.
“Rick has a terrific offensive mind and he’s always been aggressive offensively in his coaching career,” Judson said. “I’m sure you always picture the way that you want to play and then you massage that to the area you’re recruiting toward. He’ll be able to evolve to another league very quickly.”
Ray also stressed the fans have to be patient with his system and not focus on the perceived negatives to his resume just days into him taking the job in Starkville.
“Throw away your doubts, throw away your fears, and just go two feet into Mississippi State basketball, and see what happens,” Ray said.
The national pundits agree that with the support of the fan base, Ray will be the fit Stricklin is looking for at MSU.
“Scott Stricklin did Mississippi State fans right in this hire,” Dykes said. “He will quickly establish a new trail and philosophy for MSU basketball so great success is ahead for Rick Ray and that program.”
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 41 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 41 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
