East Tennessee State University

Hakim Gray enters his first season as Assistant Head Coach and Defensive Line coach for ETSU in 2024. Gray was also on Head Coach Tre Lamb's coaching staff at Gardner-Webb in 2023. 

In his lone season with Gardner-Webb, Gray helped GWU's defense lead the FCS in tackles for loss per game (8.1) and 17th nationally in rushing defense. He also coached Ty French on his way to being named to his fourth All-Conference team of his career. French was also a Buck Buchanan Award Finalist, which goes to the top defensive player in the FCS, under Gray's guidance. French also broke Gardner-Webb's program record for career sacks (30.5) and set a new single season tackles for loss mark (17.5). 

Gray came to Gardner-Webb following a stint as a graduate assistant for the University of Buffalo. During his time with the Bulls, Gray assisted in coaching the defense, helping guide Buffalo to a 7-6 record and a Camellia Bowl victory over Georgia Southern. The defensive line was stout for Buffalo during the 2022 season, recording 24 total sacks as the Bulls held opponents to slim 35.26 percent success rate on third-downs. 

As a a player, Gray spent one season at Louisiana Tech, before closing his career at Division-II Arkansas-Monticello. In his three years with the Boll Weevils, Gray recorded 77 tackles, with 17 of those being tackles for loss. He also tallied five sacks, and recovered one blocked extra point for a two-point conversion. Gray was a two-time All-GAC selection and was named to the 2017 Don Hansen All-Super Region Three Team as a Third Team pick.