Korey McCray Season 2023-24

Korey McCray joined the LSU men’s basketball program in the summer of 2013 as the newest member of the Tiger coaching staff.

McCray comes to Baton Rouge after two seasons as an assistant coach at UCLA.

McCray has the ability to help the LSU men’s program in recruiting the athletes necessary for the program to flourish and also will be an asset to the Tigers in practice, player development and game preparation.

Prior to working at UCLA, McCray served as assistant coach at his alma mater, Mercer University, during the 2007-08 season. He was also an assistant coach at Chipola Junior College in Marianna, Fla., during the 2004-05 campaign.

McCray also worked as a skill development trainer since 2004 for a training program called “Fundamentals.” That program has worked with some of the NBA’s biggest stars based in Atlanta and surrounding Georgia communities. McCray created tailor-made offseason training programs for players including Dwight Howard, John Wall, Jarvis Hayes, Anthony Morrow, Jarrett Jack, Acie Law, Von Wafer, Mario West and Damien Wilkens.

While at UCLA, McCray helped UCLA land the nation’s No. 1-ranked recruiting class in 2012 (as rated by ESPN.com), an incoming group which was also hailed as the No. 2 class by Scout.com and Rivals.com. He was part of a staff that won the PAC 12 conference in 2013 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament.

At Chipola, the school lost in the semifinals of the National Junior College Championships.

McCray served as a graduate assistant coach at Florida State for two seasons (2002-04). During the 2002-03 season, the Seminoles advanced to the National Invitational Tournament (NIT). He earned his master’s degree in adult education with a minor in higher education from Florida State in 2004.

A four-year basketball letter winner at Mercer University, McCray served as the Bears’ team captain in 1999-2000 and 2000-01. He earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from Mercer in 2001 with a major in theatre arts and a minor in Christianity. He remains ranked fourth all-time at the school in assists with 344 and his 113 made three-pointers is tied for 10th at the school for a career.

In addition, McCray has served various stints as the CEO and head coach of the Atlanta Celtics since 1999. The Atlanta Celtics is an AAU traveling team that his father, Karl McCray, co-founded in 1990 with Wallace Prather. The grassroots basketball program looks to encourage children to make good decisions utilizing the team sport of basketball as a means to teach life-changing skills.

McCray, 34, who hails from Decatur, Ga., led his 15-and-under team to a national title in 2009. During his tenure with the Atlanta Celtics, he consistently produced teams at all age levels ranked in the top 10, nationally.

“Coach McCray will be a tremendous asset for this program in recruiting and his coaching ability on the basketball floor,” said Coach Johnny Jones. “He will also make a huge impact in the continuing development of our players both on and off the court.”

The McCray File
Years at LSU: First
Birth Date: Jan. 22, 1979
Age: 34
Hometown: Decatur, Ga.
College: Mercer, 2001

College Coaching Experience
2002-04: Graduate Assistant, Florida State
2004-05: Assistant Coach, Chipola Junior College
2007-08: Assistant Coach, Mercer
2011-13: Assistant Coach, UCLA
2013-: Assistant Coach, LSU