OLLU welcomes new women’s basketball Head Coach Tanya Ray. Ray starts her tenure today after a three-year stint as the assistant coach at the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW), an NCAA D1 school located in North San Antonio. She takes over the reins for OLLU’s most successful team that boasts a 300-98 record in 13 seasons and has the highest finish of any other team in OLLU history. In 2019, the Saints finished in the Fab Four round of the NAIA National Championships after a 28-8 record and 16-2 in the Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC). The team has also earned NAIA Scholar Team recognition for three consecutive years.
Since the inaugural season in 2009-2010, the team has qualified for the RRAC postseason 12 of 13 seasons, missing out just one year after opting out of postseason play in 2019-2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In those 12 seasons, the Saints have won eight regular-season championships and four tournament titles, and they have qualified for nationals nine times. In those nine appearances, the Saints finished their season in the opening round five times and the round of 16 three times. In 2020, the Saints were on their way to the national tournament when they had to retreat back home after the rest of the postseason was canceled due to COVID-19.
Athletic Director Shane Hurley commented, “We are excited to welcome Tanya Ray to the coaching staff. She brings an abundance of experience with her from various collegiate leagues, including NCAA DI and DII universities. Tanya has an excellent track record of developing programs over the years, and we look forward to having her experience guide the development of our well-respected women’s basketball program.”
(Photo courtesy of UIW Sports Information.)
Since 2019, Ray has been the assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at UIW. She organized and oversaw all aspects of recruiting and assisted with on-court coaching, team defense and opponent scouting. She also coordinated the team’s Elite Camp. She helped the team to achieve its most wins since moving to D1 from D2 status and assisted the women to their first-ever postseason appearance as a D1 school. In addition, Ray helped lead the team to its first-ever Southland Conference tournament win, championship and NCAA tournament bid.
Prior to UIW, Ray was the head coach at the University of Arkansas – Monticello from 2011 to 2019. She had much success there as she coached the team’s first NCAA D2 All-American in 20 years, the conference’s freshman of the year and eight All-Conference players. Her team made five appearances at the Great American Conference tournament.
Ray said, “It’s an honor and privilege to be named the next head coach at Our Lady of the Lake University. I would like to thank Shane Hurley and the search committee for believing in my vision and giving me the opportunity to lead its Women’s Basketball program. This program has experienced a lot of success, and I want to continue to build on the great foundation that has been laid. We will play hard, play together and look to compete at a high level on the court and in the classroom. I look forward to getting started and cannot wait to become a part of the OLLU community.”
Ray’s other coaching positions include assistant coach/recruiting coordinator at Arkansas State University, assistant coach at Oklahoma State University – Stillwater and assistant coach at Blinn College in Blinn, Texas.
A native of Brenham, Texas, Ray played at Brenham High School, as well as the University of Texas at San Antonio, South Plains College of Levelland, Texas, and two years at St. Mary’s University, where she received her bachelor’s degree in Exercise Sport-Science.
The Saints will begin their 14th season in the winter of 2022 and will continue through mid- to late March 2023.