West Harrison’s Ray takes sabbatical from coaching

The West Harrison High School boys basketball team will have a different — yet familiar — look in the 2016-17 season.

Milton Ray, who just completed his second year as the Hurricanes’ coach, has decided to take a sabbatical in order to pursue a degree from Ole Miss’ 13-month Principal Corps program. In Ray’s place, top assistant Tommy Searight Jr. has been named interim coach. Ray is expected to return to his post upon completion of the program.

With the degree in educational leadership, Ray can pursue administrative positions such as principal, superintendent or athletic director.

“I always wanted to be able to help kids on another level,” Ray said Monday while on break from class, which started June 1 and runs 12 months. “Coaching gives me the opportunity to help 15-20 kids. Being an administrator allows me to help a whole community.”

Ray said he had been thinking about the program for the last four years, but when his son, Damarius Ray, graduated this spring, he decided this was the right time to pursue his goal.

Ray already misses his spot courtside, but he believes the Canes are in good hands with Searight, who also served as the school’s ninth-grade coach the last four years.

“The kids he has right now, he coached in ninth grade and did a great job. Just seeing the work he has put in with me, allowed me to have faith that he can lead the program,” Ray said. “I’ve been coaching for 14 years, and he’s probably the best assistant I’ve ever had with his knowledge of the game and his hard work.”

Searight is excited about the chance to transition from the guy who makes suggestions to the guy who makes the decisions.

“This is a great opportunity to lead these young men that I have already been developing relationships with,” Searight said. “To get a chance to lead as a head guy, to make the final decisions, to put my twist on the program, I think it’s a great opportunity to show the Gulf Coast that I’m capable of being a head coach.”

Under Ray, the Hurricanes have posted a 41-20 record.

This story was originally published June 27, 2016 at 2:30 PM with the headline "West Harrison’s Ray takes sabbatical from coaching."