You can feel the energy when Gray Massey talks about wanting to be a part of “something special” and creating a “standard” for the new women’s soccer program at the Mississippi University for Women.
That’s because Massey has experienced those feelings and helped set those precedents as a player and as a coach, so he knows how to build relationships and how to be competitive and to have fun at the same time.
On Wednesday, Massey officially started his work as The W’s first women’s soccer coach. Fittingly, the former East Central Community College women’s soccer coach opened his first day by talking to recruits. That work continued Thursday following a telephone interview, and it will continue for the next eight months as Massey continues to set the foundation for his vision at the four-year school in Columbus.
“I want The W to be known as the premier school in the state to play Division III soccer,” Massey said. “The cost of the school is very good and very affordable, and it is a great education.”
Massey said he will use The W’s strong academic record and its low tuition costs compared to other four-year schools as primary selling points when he talks to potential players about joining the program. Massey was hired last month after working for five seasons as the head coach of the ECCC women’s soccer team. At ECCC, Massey’s team made an appearance in the Mississippi Association of Junior and Community Colleges / National Junior College Athletic Association Region 23 semifinals for the first time in program history, had the program’s most successful seasons, was named National Academic Team of the Year in 2014, and tied for ninth overall in the NJCAA in team grade-point average with a 3.39 grade-point average in 2016.
Earlier this year, The W welcomed intercollegiate athletics back to its campus with men’s soccer, women’s cross country, and volleyball teams. In the spring, The W will begin is first baseball season and welcome back softball.
In 2018-19, the school has plans to add men’s cross country, men’s and women’s tennis, and men’s golf.
Massey said it was his goal 22 years ago to coach at a four-year school. The 1995 graduate of Northwest Rankin High School in Brandon played soccer at Hinds C.C. in Raymond for two years before moving on to play at Mississippi College in Clinton. He went on to work as girls and boys soccer coach at Florence High School, where his teams won three-consecutive state titles in his eight-year tenure.
Massey led the Lady Eagles soccer team to two-straight state championships, the most recent coming in 2013. The team also won district titles from 2007-2011 and was a South State finalist in 2007. Massey received District Coach of the Year honors in 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, and 2012.
As boys soccer coach, Massey led the program to a 2011 state championship and South State championships in 2007, 2008, and 2011. The team also was also named South State finalist in 2006 and 2010 and North State finalist in 2013. He is the second of four high school soccer coaches to lead girls and boys teams to state titles.
Massey said the opening at The W was the first he pursued at a four-year school. He said he felt the timing was right to take the next step after having success in high school and in junior college. Massey said he had numerous mentors growing up, including Bruce Sumrall, a former youth soccer coach and a teacher at Jackson Academy. He said he played with Sumrall’s son, Wade, growing up and that he discovered the importance of impacting players’ lives and being a role model by playing for a man he still refers to as “Mr. Sumrall.”
“He told me to call him Bruce one time. I can’t call him Bruce,” Massey said. “He didn’t know anything about soccer, but he knew about people and how to motivate and encourage and have a positive impact on people.”
Massey said Sumrall continues to influence his life. He said he remembers the lessons Sumrall taught him first on the Northwest Rankin Storm and throughout the years. Massey said Sumrall always listened, always gave sound advice, and always provided support to help him realize his potential.
“That is why I wanted to get into coaching, to have an impact on kids like that,” Massey said.
Sumrall said he texted Massey on Wednesday to ask him about his first day. He said he was “humbled” to hear Massey praise him so highly for his efforts as a youth coach.
“He is very, very special to us,” Sumrall said. “He is a good friend to my son. He is an amazing young man.”
Sumrall said Massey always has been a “highly motivated young man.” He said Massey is a “highly moral man with good character” and is someone who is “very interested in influencing his kids.” Sumrall said some of his former students at Jackson Academy have had Massey as a coach and that the players and their parents have never said anything about Massey that wasn’t “so super positive.”
“If I had a daughter that age, I would want her to play for him,” Sumrall said. “He loves the game and he loves people.”
Follow Dispatch sports editor Adam Minichino on Twitter @ctsportseditor
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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