Former Beaver Trent Bray Returns To Coach LBs

Former Oregon St. linebacker Trent Bray, who was on Dennis Erickson's staff at Arizona St. until the overhaul of the Sun Devil coaching staff, is returning to the Beavers.

Oregon St. coach Mike Riley announced today that Bray will be a Graduate Assistant Coach, and work with the linebackers.

Bray graduated from Oregon St. in 2005, after playing for both Erickson and Riley, ultimately becoming an All-Pac-10 First Team linebacker. Bray spent some time wit the Miami Dolphins and Houston Texans before joining the Sun Devils in 2007 for two years as a graduate assistant. After spending 2009 with the California Redwoods of United Football League, Bray then returned to Arizona St. as linebacker coach for Erickson. Bray was originally from Flagstaff, AZ.

"There were a couple other options I had in the Pac-12," Bray said "but to come back and work with coach (Mike) Riley and Banker, I felt that was too good of an opportunity to pass up."

The NCAA allows a person to work a total of 3 years as a Graduate Assistant, so Bray only has one year left that he can be in that capacity.

The hire is by Bray's own admission something of a stop-gap move.

"I haven't thought about it," Bray said of his plans beyond the upcoming season. "The plan right now is work with the linebackers and worry about the future after the season."

Because Oregon St. and Arizona St. have played similar systems, Bray expects a relatively smooth transition.

"It's a good situation, since we ran a similar package at Arizona State," Bray said. "And it's what I played in, so it should be an easy transition."

Andy_Wooldridge@yahoo.com