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Quinn Gray FAMU football contract approved; becomes 20th head coach
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- Quinn Gray FAMU football contract approved; becomes 20th head coach
Quinn Gray Sr. is returning to the place where he rose to college football stardom.
But this time, instead of making plays, he will be calling them.
In a special meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 23, Florida A&M 's Board of Trustees unanimously approved a five-year contract worth $1.4 million to hire the former Rattlers Hall of Fame quarterback as its next head football coach.
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Gray's FAMU contract runs through December 2030.
"Beyond the statistics, Quinn Gray's ties to this institution run deep," said Angela Suggs, FAMU's special assistant to the President and advisor to intercollegiate athletics.
Albany State football head coach Quinn Gray poses for a photo at introductory press conference in Albany, Georgia on Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023. Gray played quarterback at Florida A&M from 1997-2001
"His wife, Mrs. Shemeka Gray, is a FAMU DRS and FAMU graduate — their daughter recently graduated from this illustrious university.
"He knows Florida recruiting, and Florida recruits know him. And he has the respect of the fanbase."
Gray, 46, will earn a starting salary of $240,000, with annual raises of $20,000, and receive a $25,000 signing bonus from FAMU. His incentives hinge on the football player's classroom success, beating Bethune-Cookman in the annual Florida Classic rivalry game, and postseason wins, such as the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship, Celebration Bowl, and Football Championship Subdivision playoffs.
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Another thing not to snark at in Gray's FAMU deal is a $1.2 million pool to compensate assistant coaches.
"I hope he is very successful," Board of Trustees chair Deveron Gibbons said in the eight-minute meeting. "We're looking forward to football season. Quinn comes highly recommended. And I think that he'll do an excellent job as the next coach at FAMU."
Gray comes from NCAA Division II Historically Black College and University Albany State's head coach after three seasons, from which he resigned on Dec. 15.
He replaces James Colzie III, who was fired on Dec. 8, his 51st birthday , after going 12-12 in two seasons and leading the Rattlers to a 5-7 record in 2025, the program's first losing season since 2017 .
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FAMU offensive coordinator Henry Burris served as the acting head coach during the search process.
"I'm home!! I am humbled and excited about the opportunity to lead this great program that is known to be the standard in HBCU football and the one that groomed me into the man that I am today," Gray said in a press release on Tuesday.
"While I understand the excitement that surrounds this situation, I also understand the timeline and the urgency to get to work and 'Restore the Strike,' to our proud institution! I don't take this opportunity lightly because I know what it means to so many people. So, please understand that I'm #ALL-IN and I need Rattler Nation to be #ALL-IN as well!"
Gray's former job at Albany State is in Albany, Georgia, just 87 miles north of Tallahassee. The Golden Rams went 24-11 overall and 20-4 in Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference games during the new FAMU football coach's tenure .
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The 2025 season was Gray's best season with the Golden Rams as they went 12-2, the program's most wins in a season, won the SIAC title, and reached the Division II quarterfinals before losing to Newberry 31-24 on Dec. 6.
Albany State's other loss came in FAMU's September home opener, where it narrowly triumphed over Gray's Golden Rams 33-25 on Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium.
The Golden Rams were named the 2025 Division II Black College Football National Champions.
Many of those SIAC and HBCU title Golden Rams players could follow Gray to FAMU.
Albany State quarterback Isaiah Knowles, the SIAC Offensive Player of the Year, and All-SIAC second-team defensive backs Jonovan Carr and Tyrell Gainey have received offers from the Rattlers since entering the transfer portal.
Florida A&M Rattlers defensive back Corey Collier Jr. (10) tackles an opponent. The Florida A&M Rattlers defeated the Albany State Golden Rams during the first home game of the season on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025.
Gray had other suitors, such as Hampton University, a Virginia-based Division I private HBCU that made an effort to secure his head coaching services. Hampton hired Kansas State assistant head coach Van Malone to lead the Pirates' football program.
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Quinn Gray as FAMU football a homecoming for the new head coach
Gray spent 1997 to 2001 on the Highest of Seven Hills, quarterbacking head coach Billy Joe's Gulf Coast Offense .
The Fort Lauderdale native's college career with him as the record holder for passing yards (7,378), pass attempts (1,113), pass completions (562), and TD passes (57). Additionally, Gray led the Rattlers to the 2000 and 2001 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Championships.
Alongside the FAMU Sports Hall of Fame, Gray is a member of the MEAC Hall of Fame.
He went on to play in the National Football League for six years after college, primarily serving as a backup quarterback for the Jacksonville Jaguars .
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Gray's coaching career includes stops as head coach of Lincoln, a Tallahassee high school , assistant jobs at Memphis and Alcorn State, and a stint as FAMU's associate head coach and offensive coordinator from 2011 to 2014, among other opportunities.
"It is my distinct honor to welcome home one of our own, Quinn Gray, as the head football coach of Florida A&M University and the leader of a new era of Rattler excellence," said FAMU President Marva Johnson, J.D.
"Coach Gray's journey—as a record-setting student-athlete, an NFL veteran, and a successful head coach—uniquely positions him to lead in today's highly competitive collegiate athletics environment. He understands how to develop student-athletes who are prepared to compete at the highest levels while navigating Name, Image, and Likeness opportunities, personal brand building, and long-term career success.
"FAMU's athletics program is already strong and nationally respected, guided by exceptional leadership across multiple sports. From legendary figures like Charlie Ward to the championship-caliber coaches leading our women's volleyball and men's golf programs, our coaches exemplify excellence, discipline, and student-centered leadership. Coach Gray enhances this foundation by bringing a modern, holistic approach that strengthens competitive performance, reinforces accountability, and expands opportunities for student-athletes to thrive on and off the field."
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FAMU football will be under a rebuild under new coach Quinn Gray
As a storied HBCU football program, the Rattlers are looking to recapture past glory.
Two years removed from Willie Simmons leading FAMU to Southwestern Athletic Conference and Celebration Bowl titles en route to the program's 16th Black College Football National Championship, FAMU took a nosedive under Colzie, who was promoted to head coach after Simmons left to become running backs coach at Duke in January 2024.
Colzie's Rattlers went 7-5 in the 2024 season, then regressed further, going 5-7 this past season.
During Colzie's 24-game tenure, FAMU lost its 23-game home winning streak in 2024, lost to its rivals Bethune-Cookman in the Florida Classic in 2025 for the first time since 2019 , and was on the receiving end of three home blowouts amidst the recent season.
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Gray will be responsible for guiding FAMU to reach similar heights during his tenure as the Rattlers' quarterback, as he takes over at Galimore-Powell Fieldhouse.
"At Florida A&M University, athletics are a vital expression of our brand promise and our mission to develop champions in every arena — academics, competition, and life," said President Johnson. "Today is a proud moment for FAMUans everywhere, and we look forward to standing alongside Coach Gray as we elevate Rattler football and continue building a premier athletics program worthy of our legacy and our future."
FAMU will hold Gray's introductory press conference in January 2026, following the New Year's holiday.
Gerald Thomas, III is a multi-time award-winning journalist for his coverage of the Florida A&M Rattlers at the Tallahassee Democrat.
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Follow his award-winning coverage on RattlerNews.com and contact him via email at GDThomas@Tallahassee.com or on the app formerly known as Twitter @3peatgee .
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Quinn Gray FAMU football contract approved, will replace James Colzie
