University of North Texas Athletics
Staff Directory
Ray Gates
- Title:
- Special Assistant to the Head Coach/Edges
- Email:
- Alma Mater:
- Tarleton, 2004
Ray Gates was hired as the defensive line coach at North Texas in December of 2025.
Gates joins the UNT staff after a stellar four-year stint as the head coach at North Crowley High School. In his time there, Gates turned North Crowley into a national power as he led the Panthers to the 6A Division I state title in 2024 with an unbeaten 16-0 record. He was named the 2024 MaxPreps National Coach of the Year and was named to the DCTF 40 Under 40 Coaches to Watch in 2022.
He posted an overall record of 54-4 in four seasons, with a regional semifinal appearance in 2022, a state semifinal appearance in 2023 and a regional final appearance in 2025 to go along with his state title. North Crowley won 39 of 40 regular season games in Gates’ tenure.
Following his historic 2024 season, Gates first full class of seniors at North Crowley produced nine Division I football signees, including current UNT QB Chris Jimmerson Jr. The 2024 signing class for North Crowley also featured signees at Texas, Missouri, Colorado, Utah, Oklahoma State, Washington State, UNLV and Yale.
Prior to his time with North Crowley, Gates was the defensive coordinator at Cedar Hill High School in 2021 and worked with the program in multiple roles. In total, he worked at Cedar Hill for six seasons from 2017-22 where he helped the Longhorns advance to the state playoffs four times, including being the runner-up in the 6A State Championship game in 2020.
A true Texas High School football veteran, Gates has spent time at five high schools across 17 seasons from 2009-25. Along with North Crowley and Cedar Hill, Gates has also served as an assistant coach on staff at Amarillo Tascosa (2009-13), Dumas (2013-14), Round Rock Cedar Ridge (2014-17), primarily working on the defensive side of the ball.
Gates has worked at the collegiate level once before as a graduate assistant at West Texas A&M from 2006-09.
A Shiner, Texas native, Gates played high school football at Shiner High School before playing collegiately at both Cisco Junior College and Tarleton State. He was selected for the Cactus Bowl, an all-star event that brought together the best players in the nation in NCAA Division II, then spent a couple of years playing arena football in Amarillo.
Gates achieved his master’s degree from West Texas A&M in 2009.
Gates is married to his wife, Samantha, and has two sons, Quinton and Sam Crosslin.
COACHING HISTORY:
2022-25: North Crowley HS, Head Coach
2021-22: Cedar Hill HS, Defensive Coordinator
2017-21: Cedar Hill HS, Defensive Ends
2014-17: Cedar Ridge HS, Defensive Line
2013-14: Dumas HS, Defensive Line
2009-13: Tascosa HS, Defensive Line
2006-09: West Texas A&M, Graduate Assistant
Gates joins the UNT staff after a stellar four-year stint as the head coach at North Crowley High School. In his time there, Gates turned North Crowley into a national power as he led the Panthers to the 6A Division I state title in 2024 with an unbeaten 16-0 record. He was named the 2024 MaxPreps National Coach of the Year and was named to the DCTF 40 Under 40 Coaches to Watch in 2022.
He posted an overall record of 54-4 in four seasons, with a regional semifinal appearance in 2022, a state semifinal appearance in 2023 and a regional final appearance in 2025 to go along with his state title. North Crowley won 39 of 40 regular season games in Gates’ tenure.
Following his historic 2024 season, Gates first full class of seniors at North Crowley produced nine Division I football signees, including current UNT QB Chris Jimmerson Jr. The 2024 signing class for North Crowley also featured signees at Texas, Missouri, Colorado, Utah, Oklahoma State, Washington State, UNLV and Yale.
Prior to his time with North Crowley, Gates was the defensive coordinator at Cedar Hill High School in 2021 and worked with the program in multiple roles. In total, he worked at Cedar Hill for six seasons from 2017-22 where he helped the Longhorns advance to the state playoffs four times, including being the runner-up in the 6A State Championship game in 2020.
A true Texas High School football veteran, Gates has spent time at five high schools across 17 seasons from 2009-25. Along with North Crowley and Cedar Hill, Gates has also served as an assistant coach on staff at Amarillo Tascosa (2009-13), Dumas (2013-14), Round Rock Cedar Ridge (2014-17), primarily working on the defensive side of the ball.
Gates has worked at the collegiate level once before as a graduate assistant at West Texas A&M from 2006-09.
A Shiner, Texas native, Gates played high school football at Shiner High School before playing collegiately at both Cisco Junior College and Tarleton State. He was selected for the Cactus Bowl, an all-star event that brought together the best players in the nation in NCAA Division II, then spent a couple of years playing arena football in Amarillo.
Gates achieved his master’s degree from West Texas A&M in 2009.
Gates is married to his wife, Samantha, and has two sons, Quinton and Sam Crosslin.
COACHING HISTORY:
2022-25: North Crowley HS, Head Coach
2021-22: Cedar Hill HS, Defensive Coordinator
2017-21: Cedar Hill HS, Defensive Ends
2014-17: Cedar Ridge HS, Defensive Line
2013-14: Dumas HS, Defensive Line
2009-13: Tascosa HS, Defensive Line
2006-09: West Texas A&M, Graduate Assistant
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