James Craig Bray

Craig 'Coach' Bray passed away unexpectedly on February 10 at his house in Glen. Craig was born on December 18, 1951 in Vera, California to George and Oweta Bray, joining his sisters, Sharon and Darilyn.

Craig played football, basketball, and ran track at school, where he graduated in 1970. He played football for two seasons at College of the Siskiyoys before transferring to UNLV. He started at receiver for two seasons and graduated in 1975 with a degree in education.

Craig started his coaching career at UNLV, then spent four seasons at the University of Nevada-two coaching receivers, and two coaching secondary. He met his wife, Kaprice, at UNR while they were both coaching there, and married in 1978.

Craig spent four years coaching the secondary at Northern Arizona from 1980-83. They're two sons, Josh and Trent, were born in Flagstaff, Arizona during his tenure there.

After NAU, Craig joined the football staff at the University of Idaho in 1984. He went to the university of Wyoming in 1986, then to Washington State University for two years. Craig returned to the University of Idaho through 1993 as defensive coordinator. Craig later coached linebackers at the University of Arizona in 2003, then overall the secondary at Colorado University in 2004-05, the University of Minnesota in 2006, and as defensive coordinator at Arizona State University from 2007-11 until he retired.

A lover of the outdoors, Craig often took fly-fishing and camping trips to Montana that eventually led to him buying a home there for retirement. He consulted for Montana Western football, and helped train high school players in Dillon. Craig and Kaprice grew a network of friends in the community.

Craig truly loved the friends he made in Montana in the life he lived here- enjoying fishing, camping, rodeo, Engine 18, and helping friends on the ranch.

Craig is survived by his wife Kaprice, sons Josh (Stephanie) and Trent; his grandchildren, Jackson, and Harper Bray. He's also survived by his sisters Darilyn (Bill) Ehlen, and Sharon (John) Bray, sister-in-law Babette Rupp and father-in-law H. Gene Rupp; his nephews Jason (Monica) Ehlen, and Ryan (Richelle) Ehlen, Seth Whalen, and nieces Elinor Bray Collins, Claire Bray Collins, and Sara Cherry, plus numerous great-nephews/nieces, cousin and friends.

Greg was preceded in death by parents, George and Oweta, and his mother-in-law, Barbara Rupp.

Craig loved his family so very much and was so proud of them. 'Coach' Bray's lasting legacy are the friends and family he leaves behind. He will be deeply missed... It was a life well lived.

A celebration of life is planned for July 4 at The Den in Dillon.