Gary McGraw - Football Coach - Southern Illinois University Athletics

Gary McGraw

Title:
Safeties/Special Teams Coordinator
Email:
gary.mcgraw@siu.edu

Gary McGraw joined the Saluki Football coaching staff in 2023 as the program's special teams coordinator and safeties coach. Prior to SIU McGraw coached cornerbacks at Tulsa in 2022.

McGraw has 20 seasons of collegiate coaching experience, including six seasons at the FCS level (2016-21) where he helped Sam Houston State win a National Championship in 2020. He served as specials teams coordinator, defensive pass-game coordinator, cornerbacks coach and defensive recruiting coordinator at SHSU, which posted a 58-14 record, won three conference titles and advanced to the NCAA FCS playoffs four times during his tenure.

McGraw tutored two of the program's best players in Zyon McCollum, a four-time All-America selection and a 2022 fifth round draft pick by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, plus Jaylen Thomas, an all-conference honoree for three seasons.

Before his stint at Sam Houston, McGraw spent five seasons as the defensive secondary coach and special team’s assistant at Midwestern State. He coached six All-Americans, eight all-region and 17 all-conference performers, while Midwestern completed a 42-12 record and won three Lone Star Conference titles.

The 2015 Midwestern team went 10-2 with three of McGraw's defensive backs – cornerbacks Dominique Rouse, Dominique Williams and safety Marqui Christian – each earning All-America honors. Christian also garnered the 2015 Lone Star Conference Defensive Player of the Year, Defensive Back of the Year and the National Defensive Player of the Year honors, in addition to becoming McGraw's first NFL Draft pick as the Arizona Cardinals’ 5th round selection.

McGraw spent the 2011 season as the secondary coach at Ferris State, where he coached two all-conference defensive backs. Before that, McGraw coached six years at Quincy University, including his final two seasons as the defensive coordinator.

At Quincy, McGraw coached defensive backs and linebackers where he tutored three NAIA All-Americans and 24 all-league performers. He coached the secondary in 2004-2007, while handling the linebackers in his last two years.

McGraw’s recruiting areas have included San Antonio, Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston and East Texas in the state of Texas, as well as the St. Louis area, northern Illinois, California and Florida High Schools. He has also recruited California and Texas junior colleges.

He began his coaching career at Marist (Ore.) High School in 2002 as co-defensive coordinator and special teams coordinator. In two seasons, Marist posted a 23-1 record and won the 2003 Oregon Class 3A State Championship.

A 2003 graduate of Oregon, McGraw played safety for the Ducks in 2000 and 2001, helping the team win back-to-back PAC-10 championships, compiling a 21-3 record and winning both the Holiday and Fiesta Bowls. The 2001 team finished the season ranked second in the final Associated Press poll. He began his collegiate playing career at Chabot (Calif.) Junior College, where he finished his two-year career as the nation’s leader for interceptions with 12 in his sophomore campaign.

A native of Fremont, Calif., McGraw earned his bachelor’s degree from Oregon in psychology and his master's in educational leadership from Quincy in 2011.

McGraw has been inducted into the Hall of Fame at both Oregon and Chabot JC. His wife’s name is Christine.

Alma Mater: Oregon 2003
Hometown: Fremont, Calif.
Playing Experience: Played safety two years at Oregon where he was a part of back-to-back PAC-10 Championships

Bowl Games as a Player
Year       Bowl Game
1998      Elks Bowl (Chabot JC)
1999      Hawaiian Punch Bowl (Chabot JC)
2000      Holiday Bowl
2001      Fiesta Bowl

Bowl Games as a Coach
Year       Bowl Game
2011      NCAA Division II Second Round (Midwestern State)
2012      NCAA Division II First Round (Midwestern State)
2015      NCAA Division II Second Round (Midwestern State)
2016      NCAA FCS Quarterfinals (Sam Houston State)
2017      NCAA FCS Semifinals (Sam Houston State)
2020      NCAA FCS National Champions (Sam Houston State)
2021      NCAA FCS Quarterfinals (Sam Houston State)