Lawal McCray, Sr. enters his 12th season as Bethune-Cookman’s tight ends coach. In addition, the 2016 campaign marks his second year as the assistant head coach under head football coach Terry Sims. Additionally, this is McCray’s second year as the recruiting coordinator for the Wildcats, helping try and reach the best talent nationally for the Wildcats.
The tight end position for the Wildcats has been a positive one throughout the years, providing extra blocking for a high-octane running and passing attack, in addition to much-needed receptions in key situations.
McCray has more than 20 years of coaching experience, and is no stranger to the Bethune-Cookman campus after spending two years as an offensive center and tackle for the Wildcats from 1987-88. He eventually transferred to B-CU after spending the 1986 season at Norfolk State University.
He is currently overseeing the progress and success of Kemari Averett, named First Team All Southwestern Athletic Conference and Second Team All FCS in 2021.Averett is currently the top-ranked tight end in all of FCS.
In 2015, the tight ends such as Ja-Quan Lumas helped to create the offense for the Cats into an even more powerful weapon. Lumas finished the campaign with nine catches for 143 yards and three touchdowns. His catch against South Carolina State at home in a game televised nationally on ESPNU helped spark the Maroon and Gold to victory in a Thursday night performance.
The 2015 recruiting class for Bethune-Cookman was once again heralded as a Top 20 performance by numerous publications covering the FCS and HBCU, including BoxToRow and The Sporting News.
Throughout another Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) championship season in 2014, McCray taught a duo of tight ends that were vital for the Wildcats success. Preseason College Football Performance Award (CFPA) member Justin Henderson was clutch for the Wildcats in games against FIU and Norfolk State – both true road contests for Bethune-Cookman. Henderson caught a 29-yard pass that led to a score for B-CU in heavy downpours at NSU, and a game televised nationally on ESPNU in Thursday night action.
The 2013 season saw B-CU tight ends make tremendous strides and efforts for the Wildcats on the gridiron. Senior Jordan Murphy grabbed the game-winning touchdown in the John Merritt Classic versus Tennessee State in Nashville, Tenn. He concluded the campaign with 13 receptions for 140 yards and the lone touchdown. Beside Murphy was newcomer Justin Henderson, transferring in during the spring from Memphis. Henderson grabbed one catch for 22 yards, while Isaac Virgin hauled in a pass for 14 yards.
In 2012, McCray was a part of the offensive unit that helped the Wildcats finish atop the league in several statistical categories, as well as serving as one of the nation’s most prolific and high-powered offenses overall.
Bethune-Cookman won its second Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) title in three years, as well as going 8-0 in league play for the first time in school history. It was also the first unblemished league mark for the Wildcats since going 4-0 in 1984.
McCray’s wide receivers and tight ends were a big reason for that success. Six wide receivers had more than 100 yards for the year, with tight end Jordan Murphy claiming five catches himself. The top four receivers all had 13 or more catches, while the receiving core accumulated 15 of the team’s 43 touchdowns on the campaign. Eddie Poole led the bunch with 32 catches for 439 yards and five touchdowns. He was followed by K.J. Stroud with 26 catches for 293 yards and a score.
In the Florida coaching circuit, McCray is known to all after serving as head coach at Blanche Ely High School in Pompano Beach for two years prior to his hiring to come to Daytona Beach by head coach Brian Jenkins. McCray was the offensive line coach, in-season strength and conditioning coordinator and team academic coordinator for Lincoln University under the legendary “Leaping” Lamar Parrish. McCray also served as the Head Coach at Boyd H. Anderson High in Lauderdale Lakes, Fla. At Boyd Anderson, he was able to turn a program around and lead them to the playoffs for the first time in five years. Both years, the offensive unit was ranked in the top three for offensive production.
A native of Pompano Beach, Fla., McCray is a Bethune-Cookman Man. He earned his B.S. Degree in Criminal Justice from Bethune-Cookman in 1991. McCray also earned his Master’s Degree in School Guidance and Counseling from Nova Southeastern University in 2000.
He was one of 60 coaches nationwide selected to participate in the 2011 NCAA–NFL Football Coaching Academy held in Orlando, Fla.
McCray is a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., International Free and Accepted Masons, Broward County Chapter of Bethune-Cookman University Alumni Association, It’s All about Youth non-profit organization, Greater Bethel A.M.E. Church, and Broward County Athletic Association.
He is married to the former Maralice Castellow and has two children, daughter Lamiah (23) and son Lawal, Jr. (16).
