Source material for this story is an article written by JCU alumnus Chuck Heaton '34 in the February 13, 1959 edition of the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

60 years ago this month, practices began for the historic 1959 football season which produced not only a Presidents' Athletic Conference title, but also the first undefeated season in program history.

There were three undefeated teams (1959, 1962, 1963) in the 97 seasons of JCU football, and the man who helmed all three was John Ray.

Ray was a former assistant coach at the University of Detroit, and was chosen to succeed Herb Eisele, who coached the Blue Streaks the previous 12 seasons.

The move to make Ray the head football coach and intramural director was made by suggestion of Eisele himself, who previously held those positions in addition to director of athletics and head of the physical education department.

"One man just can't do all those jobs in a school which has grown so rapidly and still is expanding," Eisele declared. "I suggested we get a man as coach and intramural director. I feel that we have obtained a good one in John Ray."

"I have known him for several years. He comes highly recommended and well respected."

Ray, regular center at Notre Dame University in 1944 and a three-time letter winner on the gridiron at Olivet College after returning from World War II duty.

He had been on the Detroit football staff until two weeks prior to the hiring where he served as the top aide to Wally Fromhart last fall and as freshman tutor the three previous seasons.

Once Fromhart was fired in early December of 1958, Ray served as acting head coach for about a month where he received strong backing from one alumni group for the job. Jim Miller, a Purdue assistant who played for Paul Brown at Massillon, finally was given the job the next month.

"I talked to Miller about staying at Detroit but decided it would be best for all concerned if I left the school," Ray said. "Officials there wanted me to remain in a public relations capacity but I didn't want to leave football."

"So I was particularly happy when Carroll people contacted me about this job."

Detroit was a school that aimed at big time football and had a vigorous recruiting policy, but the new Carroll coach didn't expect any difficulty in adjusting to the restrictions of the Presidents Athletic Conference.

"I checked into things carefully and wouldn't have made the move if I didn't feel we could have a successful program here," Ray declared. "I am convinced we can have good football players and good teams within the conference rules. In fact, I think that economic necessity will see many schools throughout the country adopting a program similar to the PAC."

Ray's coaching experience actually began in college. After returning from service he both played and coached football at Olivet.

Following graduation in 1949 he directed football at Sturgis High School and Three Rivers High School in the Detroit area. His 1954 Three Rivers team was unbeaten and united and won the Michigan scholastic crown. Then Ray moved on to Detroit, like Carroll a school conducted by the Jesuit fathers.

Eisele left Ray a squad which will included 12 letter winners. With Eisele's squad, the new coach implemented what he called the "multiple T" offense. It is similar to that used by at the time Big Ten Champions Iowa.

Ray would coach five seasons at John Carroll, turning in an amazing record of 29-6. He would win three league titles.

Notre Dame came calling following his undefeated run in 1963, and the offer was too good to pass up. From 1964 to 1968, Ray served as an assistant coach and defensive coordinator at Notre Dame under Ara Parseghian. He oversaw a defense that yielded less than four points per game in 1966, leading the Fighting Irish to an undefeated national championship that season.

Ray became the head coach at the University of Kentucky in late 1968, replacing Charlie Bradshaw. In his second game, Kentucky upset quarterback Archie Manning's highly regarded Ole Miss team, which was ranked #8 in the AP poll, by a score of 10–9. Ray also coached the Wildcats to a 16–3 win over #13 ranked Kansas State in 1970. Although his teams were well respected, he could only get ten wins in four seasons and his contract was not renewed after the 1972 campaign.

During Ray's tenure, Kentucky's recruitment of African-American players increased, notably with star running back Sonny Collins. Ray brought more African-American players to Kentucky than any previous coach, and did so at a time when African-American players were rare in the Southeastern Conference.

After leaving Kentucky, Ray was an assistant coach in the NFL including as defensive coordinator for the Buffalo Bills from 1973 to 1976.

Ray died at his home in Granger, Indiana at age 81 on November 14, 2007.