Ray Graves

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Ray Graves (December 31, 1918 – April 10, 2015) was an American football player and coach. Born in Knoxville, Tennessee, he played center and linebacker for the Tennessee Volunteers and served as team captain in 1941. He briefly played in the NFL for the Philadelphia Eagles (1942–1943), including the Steagles during World War II. After his playing days, Graves started coaching, serving as an assistant at Tennessee (1944–1945) and then at Georgia Tech (1951–1959) under Bobby Dodd. He helped develop what became known as the “monster defense” and learned from Dodd about building strong relationships with players.

In 1960, Graves became the head football coach at the University of Florida, a post he held through 1969, and he served as Florida’s athletic director from 1960 to 1979. His Florida teams were the program’s most successful era up to that time, featuring stars like Heisman winner Steve Spurrier, Larry Smith, and Jack Youngblood. Highlights include the 1963 upset of Bear Bryant’s Alabama and the 1969 9–1–1 season, capped by a Gator Bowl win over Tennessee. Graves also helped spark the creation of Gatorade after collaborating with Dr. Robert Cade.

As athletic director, he supported the growth of women’s sports following Title IX and helped Florida become a national program in both athletics and academics. Graves retired as AD in 1979 and later worked in fundraising and business. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1990 and is remembered for leaving Florida with a strong academic and athletic legacy. Graves died in Clearwater, Florida, at age 96.