Community outreach: EW's Gray wants to teach lessons off of football field

By Cam Ellis
Published in Sports on August 6, 2015 1:48 PM

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Wide awake just minutes into Eastern Wayne's first official team practice, new head varsity coach Phil Gray watched his quarterbacks and wide receivers practice their passing routes.

Gray yapped at senior KK Best.

"I want to be the one who picks you off," Gray yelled. "I want to pick off KK."

The coach's enthusiasm has been infectious.

It's spread among the players.

It's extended into the community.

Gray's coaching error begins Aug. 21 when Eastern Wayne plays host to North Lenoir. He awaits the new challenge after three years as an assistant with former head coach Bubba Williams.

"The biggest difference is that now I am -- not just football wise -- the face in the community," Gray said. "Everybody knew that there was Coach Williams and right beside coach Williams was Coach Phil.

"Now, Coach Phil is the big picture up top."

It wasn't a foregone conclusion that the school administration would name Gray as Williams' successor. When Williams departed for Corinth-Holders, many assumed Gray would follow.

"Before I even applied for the (Eastern Wayne) job, I was already set on going over (to Corinth)," he said. "(Williams) was going to run the offense and I was going to run the defense.

Some doubts lingered, however.

Gray decided the smarter decision -- on a coaching and personal level -- was to stay with the Warriors. Gray's choice relaxed the players who had spent two or more seasons with him on the sidelines.

"I was happy (when the decision was announced) because I actually know him," wide receiver Austin Hite said. "His first year was my first year. I wanted somebody that we knew. He's done a lot more than Coach Williams did.

"He's done more for the school and the team."

Williams displayed more of a business-like attitude when he directed the program. Gray intends to follow that philosophy -- to some degree. Like most new coaches, he wants to add his own "twist" to the program and rejuvenate interest within the community.

Just one week ago, the Warriors gathered to serve lunch on back-to-back days at the Community Soup Kitchen of Goldsboro. That's just one many community-based projects Gray has planned for the team, which will develop a positive reputation on and off of the campus.

"The biggest difference is how much he wants to get involved in the community," offensive lineman Eric Parks said. "He wants to get team awareness out and get positive feedback."

"It helps us build better chemistry on the field," Hite added. "We'll get along better. If we suffer a tough loss or something, we'll be able to get through it easier."

Eastern Wayne doesn't expect too many tough losses this season, however. Despite losing an athletic and skilled bunch to graduation, there remains plenty of talent in the locker room.

The Warriors anticipate making their third straight appearance in the eastern 3-A regional championship game.

"There are a lot of people saying that because we lost a big class -- and a very special class -- last year that Eastern Wayne football is going to drop down," he said. "To me, success is you going out and helping other people. You never know when you're walking somewhere and that person will come up and pat you on the back and say, 'thanks for the smile.'

"We could go 0-10 and as long as we help and we make the community better, then I'm better."