| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1936-09-20)September 20, 1936 (age 88) East Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| 1954–1957 | Geneva |
| Position(s) | Quarterback |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1958–1960 | Hopewell HS (PA) (assistant) |
| 1961–1964 | East Palestine HS (OH) |
| 1965–1970 | Central Catholic HS (OH) |
| 1971–1972 | Bowling Green (OL) |
| 1973–1974 | Youngstown State |
| 1975 | Detroit Lions (ST) |
| 1976–1983 | Southern Illinois |
| 1984–1985 | Memphis State |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 73–57–3 (college) 54–43–3 (high school) |
| Tournaments | 0–1 (NCAA D-II playoffs) 3–0 (NCAA D-I-AA playoffs) |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| 1NCAA Division I-AA (1983) | |
| Awards | |
| AFCA NCAA Division I-AA Coach of the Year (1983) | |
Rey Dempsey (born September 20, 1936) is a formerAmerican football coach. He served as the head football coach atYoungstown State University from 1973 to 1974,Southern Illinois University from 1976 to 1983, and Memphis State University—now known as theUniversity of Memphis—from 1984 to 1985, compiling a careercollege football record of 73–57–3. In 1975, he was a special teams coach for theDetroit Lions of theNational Football League (NFL). In 1983, his Southern Illinois team went 13–1, the best record in school history, winning the1983 NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship Game.
Dempsey was born inEast Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and raised in nearbyPitcairn. In high school, he captained his school's football,basketball, andbaseball team. His football coach wasChuck Klausing, who later served as head football coach atIndiana University of Pennsylvania andCarnegie Mellon University and was an assistant coach at theUniversity of West Virginia and theUniversity of Pittsburgh.
Dempsey attendedGeneva College inBeaver Falls, Pennsylvania. There he lettered in football, basketball, and baseball. He playedquarterback on theGeneva Golden Tornadoes football team under head coachByron E. Morgan.[1]
Dempsey began his coaching career as an assistant football coach atHopewell High School inHopewell Township inBeaver County, Pennsylvania. There he worked for three years under Bill McDonald, who later served as head coach atEdinboro University of Pennsylvania. In 1960, Dempsey got his first head coaching job, atEast Palestine High School inEast Palestine, Ohio. His record there was 21–18–1 in four seasons. Dempsey moved on toCentral Catholic High School, inPerry Township, Stark County, Ohio nearCanton, in 1965. His record was 33–25–2 in six seasons at Central Catholic. His 1970 team shut out eight of their ten opponents. Dempsey then moved to the college ranks, working as an assistant football coach atBowling Green State University in 1971 and 1972 He coached theoffensive line under head coachDon Nehlen.[1]
Dempsey was appointed as head football coach atYoungstown State University in January 1973.[2] He succeededDike Beede, who helmed theYoungstown State Penguins football program from its inception in 1938 until his retirement following the 1972 season. Beede died in drowning accident in December 1972.[3] Dempsey was selected for the Youngtown State post over two other finalists:Bo Rein, who later served as head coach atNorth Carolina State University, from 1976 to 1979, andBob Commings, who was the head coach at theUniversity of Iowa from 1974 to 1978.[1]
Dempsey was the 14th head football coach atSouthern Illinois University and he held that position for eight seasons, from 1976 until 1983. In his final season, the Salukis won the Division I-AA (nowFCS) national championship.[4][5] His overall coaching record at Southern Illinois was 54–37 This ranks him third at Southern Illinois in total wins and second in winning percentage.[6]
At Memphis State inNCAA Division I-A for the 1984 and 1985 seasons, Dempsey's teams went a combined 7–12–3.
From 1991 to 2002, Dempsey served as Senior Pastor of Christ the King Church.[citation needed] Dempsey now[when?] works alongsideMike Gottfried with the Team Focus program, a leadership camp for fatherless boys. He has been involved in the program since its founding in 2000 and continues to act as the camp pastor and director of spiritual development, providing lectures and sermons.[7]
| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | NCAA# | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Youngstown State Penguins(NCAA Division II independent)(1973–1974) | |||||||||
| 1973 | Youngstown State | 4–6 | |||||||
| 1974 | Youngstown State | 8–2 | LNCAA Division II Quarterfinal | ||||||
| Youngstown State: | 12–8 | ||||||||
| Southern Illinois Salukis(NCAA Division I independent)(1976) | |||||||||
| 1976 | Southern Illinois | 7–4 | |||||||
| Southern Illinois Salukis(Missouri Valley Conference)(1977–1983) | |||||||||
| 1977 | Southern Illinois | 3–8 | 0–5 | 7th | |||||
| 1978 | Southern Illinois | 7–4 | 3–2 | 3rd | |||||
| 1979 | Southern Illinois | 8–3 | 4–1 | 2nd | |||||
| 1980 | Southern Illinois | 3–8 | 1–5 | 7th | |||||
| 1981 | Southern Illinois | 7–4 | 5–2 | 3rd | |||||
| 1982 | Southern Illinois | 6–5 | 4–1 | T–2nd | |||||
| 1983 | Southern Illinois | 13–1 | 4–1 | 2nd | WNCAA Division I-AA Championship | 1 | |||
| Southern Illinois: | 54–37 | 21–17 | |||||||
| Memphis State Tigers(NCAA Division I-A Independent)(1984–1985) | |||||||||
| 1984 | Memphis State | 5–5–1 | |||||||
| 1985 | Memphis State | 2–7–2 | |||||||
| Memphis State: | 7–12–3 | ||||||||
| Total: | 73–57–3 | ||||||||
| National championship Conference title Conference division title or championship game berth | |||||||||
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