August 30, 2012

 

Contacts:
Dan Carter, University Relations, 657-2269

 

MSU BILLINGS NEWS SERVICES — Dr. Gary Gray, who has served as athletic director at Montana State University Billings since 1994, has accepted an offer to be the athletic director at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. The announcement was made Friday afternoon in Alaska. He starts his new job in mid-September.

 

Dr. Gary Gray

MSU Billings, like UAF, is a member of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, which is made up of 10 NCAA Division II colleges and universities.

 

During his tenure at MSUB, Gray led a period of advancement that saw intercollegiate athletics grow from 13 men's and women's sports to 17 sports today and more than 300 student-athletes. He also served from June 2011 to this past year as chair of the NCAA Division II Men's Soccer National Committee. He served on two Division II West Region advisory committee (softball and men's soccer) and was most recently chair of the men's soccer regional advisory committee. 

 

Gray has 40 years of experience in elementary, secondary and postsecondary education as a teacher, coach, dean, professor and athletic administrator. His commitment to the educational mission of MSU Billings was paramount to the success of the student athletes who attained their degrees here.

 

Dr. Stacy Klippenstein, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs who oversees athletics, said “Dr. Gray was able to grow an athletic program with about 75 student-athletes to one of over 300. His commitment to the student-athletes of MSU Billings was very recognizable throughout his career.  The Yellowjacket family wishes Dr. and Cami Gray the best in their new endeavor at UAF.”

 

A search for a new Yellowjacket Athletic Director will get under way as soon as possible.