AMBER MCCRAY

Amber McCray comes to Houston Prime after spending the last 14 years on the college sidelines, most recently as head coach of Louisiana Tech Volleyball from 2019-2024. In 2023, McCray led Bulldog Volleyball to qualify for the CUSA Tournament for the first time since joining the league in 2013. During her time in Ruston, McCray coached 2 CUSA All-Freshman team honorees, 1 CUSA 2nd Team All Conference honoree; 2 2nd team All-Louisiana recipients, and 1 CUSA All-Academic Team honoree. During her time as head coach at Panola College, McCray’s teams finished as the Region XIV Champions in 2016 and Region XIV Runner-Up in 2017. Those two teams also went on to play in the NJCAA National Tournament where they finished 7th and 9th in the country, respectively. McCray was named the Conference Coach of the Year in 2014 and 2016, while earning the Region XIV District 1 Coach of the Year honor in 2017. In 6 years at the helm, McCray’s Panola Volleyball student-athletes earned 28 1st and 2nd Team Region XIV All-Conference accolades, 19 Region XIV Academic All-Conference awards, and 2 NJCAA All-American 1st and 2nd team honors.

McCray was a decorated student-athlete at the University of Florida from 2003-2007, earning 2nd Team All-American (2006), 1st Team All-SEC (2006 and 2007), AVCA South Region 1st Team in (2006), National Strength and Conditioning Association All-American (2008), ESPN the Magazine Academic All-American 2nd Team (2007),  SEC Community Service Team (2007), the UF Tracy Caulkins Award as the top graduating female student-athlete (Spring 2007), UF Florida Gator Achievement Award (2008), and the All-SEC Honor Roll (2003-2007).

Raised in Longview, TX and a 2003 graduate of Pine Tree High School, McCray’s most notable prep achievements including being named back-to-back Texas Gatorade Player of the Year (2001 and 2002), Student Sports 1st Team All American (2002), TGCA Volleyball Athlete of the Year, and being selected to the USA Youth National Team in 2000 and 2001, and the USA Junior National Team in 2002.

A major advocate of multi-sport athletes, McCray also played basketball and ran track in high school where she earned multiple all-state honors in basketball and was a 3-time Regional Qualifier in track and field.

McCray is ecstatic for her relocation to Houston and joining the Houston Prime family, where two of her most important passions, faith and volleyball, can merge.