Jeff Ray has been named the NOC Tonkawa Mavs Softball coach.NOC Athletic Director Alan Foster announced the hiring on Tuesday.Ray comes to NOC Tonkawa from Blackwell High School where he has been the head softball coach the past two years. He also has been with Pryme Fastpitch beginning in 2020 where he was Managing Partner and Director of Recruiting.Before Coach Ray’s time at Blackwell and Pryme Fastpitch, he spent four years with the TX Bombers (2016 - 2020) and multiple years coaching independent baseball/softball college prep teams. He has multiple top regional and national finishes and has helped over 60 athletes continue playing collegiately.He graduated from Oklahoma Wesleyan University where he earned a Bachelor’s degrees in Business Administration and Human Resources Management. Ray, wife Jennifer and three children, Brylee, a student at UCO in Edmond, Brooklyn, a senior at Blackwell and Bryson, a sophomore at Blackwell, reside on a farm outside of Braman.“I’ve been on the other side of the collegiate recruiting journey for over 15 years,” Ray said. “I understand the challenge and frustration and will use that knowledge and hard work to recruit the best student-athletes to NOC and also work hard to recruit them out to 4-year institutions.”“NOC Tonkawa is a sleeping giant in the softball world,” he added. “Great atmosphere, a number of degree/certificate paths, location, facilities, housing, and cafeteria. We can’t wait to get started.”NOC Athletic Director Alan Foster is excited for Ray leading the Mavs program.“I am excited to bring Jeff on board as our new softball coach,” Foster said. “I believe his network of contacts in the softball community will be beneficial to the NOC program in numerous ways. His passion for the game was evident in every conversation we had and I believe that will translate to the student athletes he will coach.”He replaces Tori Green who left the NOC program for a position at Tonkawa High School.
