In a bombshell announcement, multiple sources have confirmed to Dave Campbell’s Texas Football that North Crowley head coach Ray Gates is leaving to join the North Texas coaching staff as a special assistant to head coach Neal Brown.

Gates, who informed his team on Wednesday, will also coach the Mean Green’s edge rushers, which aligns with his experience as an outstanding defensive coach.

In four seasons in Fort Worth, Gates turned North Crowley into a national power as he led the Panthers to the 6A Division I state title in 2024 with an unbeaten 16-0 record. He was named the 2024 MaxPreps National Coach of the Year and was named to the DCTF 40 Under 40 Coaches to Watch in 2022.

He posted an overall record of 54-4 in four seasons, with a regional semifinal appearance in 2022, a state semifinal appearance in 2023 and a regional final appearance in 2025 to go along with his state title. North Crowley won 39 of 40 regular season games in Gates’ tenure.

Gates, a Shiner native, has worked in the college game  before as a graduate assistant at West Texas A&M. He spent time as an assistant at Amarillo Tascosa, Dumas, Round Rock Cedar Ridge and Cedar Hill. As a defensive line coach at Cedar Hill, he was part of the Longhorns state runner-up squad in 2020 and was the Cedar Hill defensive coordinator in 2021.

His departure from North Crowley opens up one of the state’s most intriguing jobs. North Crowley has an abundance of athletes,  elite facilities and the program has now experienced statewide success and has a winning culture.

Athletic Director Greg Williams will be the point of contact during the transition period. Current defensive coordinator DeMarcus Harris does have head coaching experience and will be considered for the head coaching position. But if Crowley ISD decides to open the job up, expect it to receive national level interest.