Samford fires Gray after 3-8 season

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Samford fired football coach Bill Gray Thursday, less than a week after he completed his sixth season with a 55-7 loss to rival Jacksonville State.

Gray, who was elevated to interim coach midway through the 2001 season, posted a 27-33 record with the Division I-AA program. The Bulldogs finished the season 3-8 and won only one game in the Ohio Valley Conference.

The Jacksonville State loss was the widest margin in series history. Samford lost all five meetings with the Gamecocks under Gray.

Gray is weighing an offer to remain with Samford working in athletics administration.

"Bill Gray has contributed to Samford in so many ways," university President Andrew Westmoreland said. "He has modeled strength of character to our student-athletes for more than 12 years and it is our desire to retain him in a role that would build upon his considerable strengths."

-- The Associated Press