Ray Willsey
Encyclopedia
Ray Willsey was the head football coach at the University of California
from 1964 to 1971. During his tenure he compiled a 40-42-1 record. He was inducted into the Orange County Sports Hall of Fame in 1993.
Willsey was born in Regina, Saskatchewan
, and played defensive back and quarterback at Tustin High School
and Santa Ana College
. He played for the California Bears, helping the Bears win 26-0 against Stanford in 1952. He graduated from the University of California in 1953 with a degree in business. He played for three years for the Edmonton Eskimos
in Canada, but his playing career was ended by an elbow injury. His first assistant coaching job was at the age of 28 with the Washington Redskins
, then he was an assistant coach at the University of Texas in the late '50s. His first NFL position was at defensive coordinator with the Saint Louis Cardinals
in 1961, where he went 2-0. After heading the coaching for California from 1964 to 1971, when he resigned, he rejoined the Cardinals. He moved to the Oakland Raiders
in 1977 as backfield coach. In 1988, he served as head coach of the Los Angeles Cobras
during that team's only year of existence in the Arena Football League, in which his team compiled a 5-6-1 record. He was defensive coach of the London Monarchs
when they won the World League title in 1991, and he became their head coach in 1992. He was defensive coordinator for the Scottish Claymores
in the mid-90s, and became director of personnel for NFL Europe
in 1996. He was awarded the Glenn T. Seaborg Award in 2002.
University of California
The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...
from 1964 to 1971. During his tenure he compiled a 40-42-1 record. He was inducted into the Orange County Sports Hall of Fame in 1993.
Willsey was born in Regina, Saskatchewan
Regina, Saskatchewan
Regina is the capital city of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The city is the second-largest in the province and a cultural and commercial centre for southern Saskatchewan. It is governed by Regina City Council. Regina is the cathedral city of the Roman Catholic and Romanian Orthodox...
, and played defensive back and quarterback at Tustin High School
Tustin High School
Tustin High School is a public high school located in Tustin, California, United States. Tustin High was originally founded in 1921 as Tustin Union High School.Tustin High School is officially a Title I school and was a California Distinguished School...
and Santa Ana College
Santa Ana College
Santa Ana College is a community college located in Santa Ana, California, USA.-History:In 1915, Santa Ana Junior College opened its doors to 25 students as a department of Santa Ana High School. It was the second community college founded in Orange County, behind Fullerton College, and the fourth...
. He played for the California Bears, helping the Bears win 26-0 against Stanford in 1952. He graduated from the University of California in 1953 with a degree in business. He played for three years for the Edmonton Eskimos
Edmonton Eskimos
The Edmonton Eskimos are a Canadian football team based in Edmonton, Alberta. They currently play in the West Division of the Canadian Football League . Edmonton is currently the third-youngest franchise in the CFL, although there were clubs with the name Edmonton Eskimos as early as 1895...
in Canada, but his playing career was ended by an elbow injury. His first assistant coaching job was at the age of 28 with the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
, then he was an assistant coach at the University of Texas in the late '50s. His first NFL position was at defensive coordinator with the Saint Louis Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in 1961, where he went 2-0. After heading the coaching for California from 1964 to 1971, when he resigned, he rejoined the Cardinals. He moved to the Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in 1977 as backfield coach. In 1988, he served as head coach of the Los Angeles Cobras
Los Angeles Cobras
-History:The Los Angeles Cobras played in the 1988 Arena Football League season only. They played their home games at the Los Angeles Sports Arena, which they shared with the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association...
during that team's only year of existence in the Arena Football League, in which his team compiled a 5-6-1 record. He was defensive coach of the London Monarchs
London Monarchs
The London Monarchs were a professional American football team in NFL Europe and its predecessor league, the World League of American Football . The Monarchs played their final season in 1998 as the England Monarchs...
when they won the World League title in 1991, and he became their head coach in 1992. He was defensive coordinator for the Scottish Claymores
Scottish Claymores
The Scottish Claymores were an American football team from Scotland. The franchise played in the World League of American Football between 1995 and 2004, initially playing all home games at Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh and latterly sharing home games with Hampden Park, Glasgow...
in the mid-90s, and became director of personnel for NFL Europe
NFL Europe
NFL Europe was an American football league which operated in Europe from 1991 until 2007. Backed by the National Football League , the largest professional American football league in the United States, it was founded as the World League of American Football to serve as a type of spring league...
in 1996. He was awarded the Glenn T. Seaborg Award in 2002.