Thursday, December 21, 2017

FAIRBANKS, Alaska – Dr.Gary Gray has announced his resignation as the Alaska Nanooks Director of Athletics to accept a leadership position at the East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania. Gray has served as the head of the University of Alaska Fairbanks' athletics department since September of 2012 and his last official day will be on Jan. 21.

"I have thoroughly enjoyed my five-plus years here at UAF," Gray said on Wednesday. "The challenges and opportunities I have encountered have been both professionally and personally rewarding. I will miss many things about Nanook Athletics, UAF, Fairbanks, and Alaska, including the many wonderful friends and colleagues I have made."

"I have had the pleasure of working with four outstanding Chancellors here at UAF, all of whom have been supportive of Alaska Nanooks Athletics," Gray continued.

Since joining the Alaska Nanooks, Gray oversaw two individual national champions in both swimming (Bente Heller '16) and rifle (Tim Sherry '16), helped the NCAA Division I ice hockey team transition into the Western Collegiate Hockey Association and the coed rifle team earn the honor of hosting the 2015 NCAA Rifle Championships. Since Gray's arrival, the Nanooks have garnered 57 All-Americans, 31 Academic All-Americans, and four Elite 90 selections.  

Since January of 2014, Gray has been one of 29 members of the NCAA Division II Management Council and is wrapping up his one-year term as chair. Gray also served as Interim Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs at UAF since November of 2016 and was one of 19 members of the NCAA Board of Governors, which oversees governance of all three divisions since January of 2017.

Gray will begin his new job as Director of Athletics at East Stroudsburg on Jan. 22, a fellow NCAA Division II school located in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania that features 20 varsity sports teams, 50 staff members, and over 500 student-athletes.

"I'm looking forward to the new adventure, including many new challenges and opportunities at ESU," Gray concluded. "On a personal note, I have never had the opportunity to work within a day's drive of my father and this new position will allow me to do that."