Nick Gray was announced as the next head coach of the Niagara Cross Country and Track & Field Program on May 22, 2024.
Nick Gray joins the Purple Eagles after spending the last three seasons as an assistant coach with Daemen University. While with the Wildcats, he was the primary sprints and hurdles coach. During his time at Daemen, 59 Wildcats earned All-ECC honors for outdoor track including 21 in 2024.
Before joining Daemen, N. Gray returned to his alma mater, Buffalo State, to be a volunteer assistant coach for cross country while also being the primary coach for hurdles in the track & field program.
N. Gray is a graduate of Buffalo State where he ran track for four years primarily in the 60 and 110-meter hurdles, while also serving as a captain as a senior. During his time with the Bengals, he was a seven-time SUNYAC Championship qualifier. He was inducted into the Buffalo State student-athlete Wall of Fame in 2019 after receiving the SUNY Chancellor’s Award.
“We are excited to welcome Nick Gray to Niagara University. His professionalism combined with his enthusiasm and dedication to the well-being of student-athletes makes him an ideal choice to lead our cross country and track & field programs,” S. Gray said. “These programs earned record-setting achievements this past year and we look forward to continued success with Nick at the helm.”
The Buffalo native is currently a doctoral student at the University of Rochester after earning his master’s degree from the University at Buffalo and his bachelor’s degree at SUNY Buffalo State.
The first-time head coach is excited and grateful to join the Niagara family. “I am incredibly excited about this opportunity. Simon Gray, Meghan Casey, and the rest of the athletics department have given me the opportunity to make Niagara University a home. I am incredibly thankful for them.”
“I want to thank the people who have helped me get here, including Coach Pete Gratien and the other staff at Daemen University. I also want to thank Niagara alumna Nicole Mehlman-Davidow who got me started in coaching when I joined her staff. She has been an amazing figure in my life ever since.
“With this opportunity, I want to make a positive and lasting difference in the lives of the student-athletes. I want to help them reach great performance peaks and I want to support them in all facets of their lives.”
