Title: Fun with Texas Mascots: Learning History, Geography, and Culture with the Nicknames of Football-Playing Universities in the Lone Star State

ISBN: 979-8-9950822-8-6

Author: Ryan Gray

About the Author: Dr. Ryan Gray is a native of Southern Illinois. He was a multi-sport athlete at Eldorado High School. He played college baseball at Southeastern Illinois College and Union University. He earned his BS and MEd degrees at UU and his doctorate at Middle Tennessee State University. His college coaching career began at MTSU as an assistant baseball coach, then he served as head baseball coach at Trevecca Nazarene University, Emmanuel College, and Southeastern Illinois College. Gray was an assistant professor at TNU and EC while serving as athletic director at SIC. He also officiated high school football, baseball, and basketball. He is a 3D Institute certified regional presenter and consultant while enthusiastically incorporates all aspects of the 3D framework in his undergraduate and graduate-level university courses. Two of his peer-reviewed journal articles were published in Applied Research in Coaching and Athletics Annual: “Selected Demographic Characteristics and Attitudes Toward Coaching Certification of Arkansas Varsity High School Head Coaches” (2023) and “Undergraduate Professional Preparation and Attitudes Toward Coaching-Related Curriculum of Arkansas Varsity High School Head Coaches” (2022). In 2024, his article “A Transformational Approach: How Coaches Can Help Athletes Choose the Right College” was published in Coach & A.D.  Gray holds the Institute of Consumer Financial Education’s designation of Certified Identity Theft Risk Management Specialist (CITRMS). Having earned director level with LegalShield, he helps protect individuals and businesses in the realm of legal and identity theft prevention and protection. He is a two-time past president of the Eldorado, IL Rotary International chapter and a former member of Business Network International (BNI). For eight years, Gray was an assistant and associate professor of health/physical education and exercise science in the University of Arkansas-Monticello’s School of Education. He currently works as an assistant professor of kinesiology at Texas A&M University-Texarkana. Gray has been married for over 35 years and has three adult daughters and one grandbaby.