An alum of the University of Evansville and the Aces' men's soccer program, head coach Marshall Ray enters his sevent season at the helm.
The 2017 campaign was another positive step forward for the Purple Aces as Ray led his squad to its second-straight double-digit win season and the 29th winning season in program history. The back-to-back double-digit win seasons were the first since the 1995 and 1996 seasons.
Under Ray and his coaching staff, the Aces have become accustomed to competing in tight matches and have posted an undefeated record in overtime matches going 6-0-11 combined over the last four seasons.
In just his third year at the helm, Ray took the Aces to the semifinals of the MVC Tournament before falling in penalty kicks. Much like the back-to-back double-digit win campaigns, the Purple Aces' two-straight MVC Tournament semifinals appearances are the first since the 1995-96 seasons. At the conclusion of 2017 campaign, Evansville ended the season as the highest rated MVC program in the RPI.
In six season as head coach of the Purple Aces, Ray has had 22 student-athletes earn all-MVC honors. Most recently, Pablo Guillen stepped onto the scene, earning MVC Freshmen of the Year honors, the second in three years for Ray and the Aces.
The 2019 campaign saw the Aces place three on all-MVC lists as Jesse Stafford-Lacey was named second-team all-MVC, Raphaello Colasito was named honorable mention all-MVC, and Ethan Garvey received MVC all-freshman team honors.
Following the 2018 campaign, Mathias Nors captured MVC freshman of the year honors becoming the first freshman of the year winner for the Aces since Robbie Lynch in 2007. Simon Waever was selected to the all-MVC first-team and Jesse Stafford-Lacey received all-MVC second-team honors. Also receiving recognition was Ben Weber, who was named honorable mention all-MVC.
In 2017, Ray helped a pair of seniors in Ian McGrath and Chris Shuck capture all-MVC recognition with McGrath named first-team all-MVC and Shuck receiving honorable mention honors.
Under his direction, the Aces have also succeeded in the classroom, with 13 Aces being named to the MVC's scholar-athlete team during his six seasons as head coach.
After nearly a decade on the sidelines as an assistant coach at the University of Evansville, Marshall Ray was announced as the sixth men’s soccer coach in school history on Dec. 8, 2014. The Calvert City, Ky., native first stepped foot on campus as a player in 1995 before returning as the top assistant to former UE coach Mike Jacobs prior to the start of the 2006 season.
As a player, Ray starred for the legendary former UE head coach Fred Schmalz, stepping into a starting centerback role for the team as it reached the 1995 MVC championship match against Creighton. Unfortunately, he would deal with injury issues in the middle part of his college career, which included a conference title in 1996, but he bounced back to score six goals and earn a Scholar-Athlete all-region honor as a senior in 1999.
Since Ray stepped back on campus in 2006, UE players have been presented with more than 50 all-conference honors and 15 all-region designations. Two former Aces, Cory Elenio and Alec Dufty, have gone on to play in Major League Soccer, and most recently, Mark Anthony Gonzalez put together a stellar rookie season with Sporting KC-affiliated Swope Park Rangers in the the USL.
As an assistant, Ray helped with the nation’s largest turnaround in 2006 as UE posted a 9-8-0 overall record. In all, UE would go on to post six winning seasons, including four consecutive at one point, which was the best such run for the UE program since 1989-92.
Following the 2013 season, Ray was named the NSCAA Midwest Region Assistant Coach of the Year.
Prior to his Evansville return, Ray worked under one of the nation’s all-time winningest coaches in John Rennie at Duke, helping the Blue Devils take home the 2005 ACC Tournament Championship.
Ray began his coaching career with Drury in 2001 after playing a season professionally with the Nashville Metros in the now-deduct A-League. Following two seasons as an assistant, he was promoted to lead the program at the age of 24, becoming the youngest head coach in the country.
Ray resides in Evansville with his wife, Julia. The couple have four children, Patrick, Hilary, Eliza and Marshall.
