Tulsa Names Gary McGraw as Golden Hurricane Cornerbacks Coach
2/15/2022 2:58:00 PM | Football
TULSA, Okla. –– Gary McGraw joins The University of Tulsa football coaching staff as cornerbacks coach, it was announced today by Head Coach Philip Montgomery.
McGraw has spent 18 seasons coaching on defense, mainly in the secondary but has also coached linebackers. He has also served as the recruiting coordinator at three schools, defensive passing game coordinator at two schools and spent three seasons as a defensive coordinator.
McGraw comes to Tulsa following six seasons coaching cornerbacks and serving as special teams coordinator at Sam Houston State. He also served as defensive passing game coordinator for the last two seasons.
"I'm excited about adding Gary to our football program. He has over 20 years of college experience and has done a tremendous job at every level," said Montgomery. "Gary pours in and invests in his players. He brings a wealth of knowledge to our defense and will be a good fit for our young men. With Gary, he also brings some really solid special teams experience from his previous positions. I'm thrilled about all the different tools Gary is able to bring to our program."
While at SHSU, the Bearkats posted a 58-14 record, won three conference titles and advanced to the NCAA FCS playoffs four times. The 2020 team captured the FCS National Championship while compiling a perfect 10-0 record.
Sam Houston State had one of the nation's top defensive units during McGraw's tenure, ranking among the top teams in numerous statistical categories. In 2017 and 2020, SHSU ranked in the top-10 for interceptions. McGraw tutored four-year starters Zyon McCollum and Jaylen Thomas. McCollum, a four-time All-America selection, was invited to this year's Reese's Senior Bowl Game, while Thomas earned all-conference honors for three seasons.
Before his stint at Sam Houston, McGraw spent five seasons as the defensive secondary coach and special teams assistant at Midwestern State. He coached six All-Americans, eight all-region and 17 all-conference performers, while Midwestern won three Lone Star Conference titles.
The 2015 Midwestern team went 10-2 with three of McGraw's defensive backs – cornerbacks Dominique Rouse, Dominique Williams and safety Marqui Christian – each earning All-America honors. Christian also garnered the 2015 Lone Star Conference Defensive Player of the Year, Defensive Back of the Year and the National Defensive Player of the Year honors, in addition to becoming McGraw's first NFL Draft pick as the Arizona Cardinals' 5th round selection.
Previously, he spent the 2011 season as the secondary coach at Ferris State, where he coached two all-conference defensive backs. Before that, McGraw coached six years at Quincy University, including his final two seasons as the defensive coordinator.
At Quincy, McGraw coached defensive backs and linebackers where he tutored three NAIA All-Americans and 24 all-league performers. He coached the secondary in 2004-2007, while handling the linebackers in his final two years.
McGraw's recruiting areas have included San Antonio, Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston and East Texas in the state of Texas, as well as the St. Louis area, northern Illinois, California and Florida High Schools. He has also recruited California and Texas junior colleges.
He began his coaching career at Marist (Ore.) High School in 2002 as co-defensive coordinator and special teams coordinator. In two seasons, Marist posted a 23-1 record and won the 2003 Oregon Class 3A State Championship.
A 2003 graduate of Oregon, McGraw played safety for the Ducks in 2000 and 2001, helping the team win back-to-back PAC-10 championships, compile a 21-3 record and win both the Holiday and Fiesta Bowls. The 2001 team finished the season ranked second in the final Associated Press poll. He began his collegiate playing career at Chabot (Calif.) Junior College, where he finished his two-year career as the nation's leader for interceptions with 12 in his sophomore campaign.
A native of Merced, Calif., McGraw earned his bachelor's degree from Oregon in psychology and his master's in educational leadership from Quincy in 2011.
McGraw has been inducted into the Hall of Fame at both Oregon and Chabot JC. His wife's name is Christine.
