Joe Ray is in his fourth year as an assistant coach at Carson-Newman. He spent his first season as a graduate assistant before receiving a promotion to offensive quality control assistant in year two.  He received another promotion in his third year, moving to coach the offensive line.  

Ray helped mentor Christian Jones and Mike Peppin into All-Conference Offensive linemen in 2022. Ray's unit pushed Carson-Newman to the top of the pile for average rushing yards per game in the South Atlantic Conference.  Carson-Newman finished the year in the top 25 nationally with 203.6 yards per game on the ground per game.  

Ray helped the Lenoir-Rhyne Bears to a trio of South Atlantic Conference championships.  He owned a 4-2 record in his career against the Eagles.

He was a three-time All-American and three-time winner of the SAC's Jacobs Blocking trophy - the only three-time winner in league history.  

The Bears averaged 386 yards rushing per game with Ray on the offensive line.  The 416.2 yards rushing per game that L-R put up in Ray's junior season registers as an NCAA Division II record.