College Football:

By Brian Reed-Baiotto, Sports Editor

If there was ever a person resilient and tough enough to take on this herculean challenge, it would be Jasmine Ray.

In just over a month, Community Christian College in Redlands opens its 2023 season in Idaho.

And Ray will become (what is believed to be) America’s first female head football coach at the collegiate level.

To back up the claim about her toughness and drive, consider the following: Ray is also the athletic director at CCC, and she’ll remain an assistant coach for Shawn Collins’ football program at San Bernardino High School.

Jasmine graduated from SBHS in 2010, and it’s her mission to give back to a school she loves.

After the CCC football season concludes, she’ll serve as the head coach of the San Bernardino boys freshman basketball program, and Jasmine will lend her help to Rahmell Greene’s boys varsity team.

If you’re wondering how she’ll be able to manage having more on her plate than a Las Vegas buffet, it’s her work ethic, passion and life’s calling through her faith to make a difference in the lives of young people.

Jasmine’s typical day begins at 4 am, and it usually doesn’t end until approximately 10 pm.

Ray is nothing short of a legend at San Bernadino High.

She played football for four years and ran track, but it was her exploits on the basketball court that separated Jasmine from the pack.

Ray was also part of the SBHS band, where she played the tuba.

In her junior year (2009), she scored 61 points in six different games.

And in 2010, Jasmine became the nation’s career points leader with 1,807.

How did this all begin?

Back in 2001, at the age of nine, Jasmine sat down and watched the Super Bowl between New England and St. Louis.

She instantly fell in love with  Tom Brady’s unmatched excellence at the quarterback position and she admired the game plans and schemes drawn up by Bill Belichick.

As mentioned, Ray was a multi-sport star at San Bernardino, and that paved her path to San Bernardino Valley College for one year, where she led the conference in scoring.

Jasmine transferred to the University of Hawaii at Manoa, and led the Western Athletic Conference in scoring.

After her first year in Hawaii, Jasmine’s uncle passed away and her mom got sick, so she headed home to take care of her family.

Three months later, Ray signed a scholarship for band and women’s basketball at Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri.

It was at Lincoln University where she graduated and earned a BA in Broadcast Journalism and minored in English.

Jasmine held a 3.75 GPA in college and earned a spot on the Dean’s list four times.

After her playing days were over, Ray decided to dedicate her life to God and the community that helped mold her into the woman she is today.

As an only child and a female, Jasmine knew she’d be sifting through uncharted waters, but with the support, guidance and love of her mother and grandma, Alice Brown and Alice Williams, respectively, Ray dove head first into the pool of life and did so without any fear of failure.

What fears does she harbor in being a trailblazer for future female head football coaches?

NONE.

Jasmine’s faith, character, work ethic and surrounding herself with the best possible people have put her in a position to succeed.

But Ray has no illusions that this will be anything less than a monstrous mountain to climb.

CCC is expected to field a roster of nearly 50 players for the Redlands-based school, where classes are conducted online.

Jasmine and her staff will prep these young men to be part of the Scenic West Conference, and the first practice is just four days away.

CCC will practice and play its home games at Arroyo Valley High School in San Bernardino, which has been upgraded to a state-of-the-art facility.

In 30 days, the Saints open their season at Lewis-Clark Valley College in Lewiston, Idaho.

Here’s where the mettle of the Saints coaches and players gets tested.

They will pack into five or six vans for the 1,072-mile or 17-plus hour drive, take a nap at their hotel, and then head over to battle the Loggers.

On Sunday, the program will hop back in their vans and make that hellacious trek back to Southern California.

Ray doesn’t feel like she has to be overbearing to earn the respect of her players or male counterparts on the coaching staff.

There will be times when she’ll have to tell them things they need to hear, as opposed to what they want to hear, but it will be done with a purpose.

So far, the reaction Jasmine has gotten from her players has been all positive, as they too want to be part of history.

Ray will run the offense and defense, while getting help from her assistant coaches.

If all goes to plan, CCC is expected to have a high-octane offense that scores quickly and often.

Ray’s staff includes Salean Gary, Hakeem Moore, Mark Coleman, Ryan Chavez, Gene Gamson, Dennis Aceves, Steven Williams and Antoine Osbourne.

While Ray doesn’t feel any added pressure from the CCC administration, her fellow coaches or its players, Jasmine wants to help open doors that were once closed to roughly 172 million females in the United States.

What makes Jasmine Ray Special?

It’s quite simply her motives for doing all of this (at CCC and San Bernardino High School).

Ray knows that San Bernardino is not a glamourous place to live, but it’s home for her, and its student-athletes get every ounce of support, guidance and love that she can muster.

“A lot of people don’t care about or they look down on the city of San Bernardino,” she said. “I want to provide avenues of opportunities through athletics and education that gives kids from lower income households the chance to succeed in life. I was lucky enough to have a foundation at home and at school that many don’t have out here. But it helped me become who I am, and it’s so important to me that I give back, because I love this community and want them to know there is a better life that awaits them if they’re willing to work hard enough.”

Ray spends each day making the athletics programs at both SBHS and CCC better, and winning is a huge priority to Jasmine.

She also helps tutor kids that are struggling with their studies.

But it’s helping mold young people into respectful, responsible, intelligent and accountable adults that drives this 30-year old trailblazer to get up every morning at 4 am.

It goes without saying that this site will be rooting for Coach Ray, her school and their programs to succeed on and off the field.

For prospective players that would like to contact Coach Ray about joining the program, you can reach her via email (jray@cccollege.edu) or call/text (909) 486-0719.

Lastly, I asked Jasmine what message she has for other females wanting to continue to shatter glass ceilings.

“It’s not going to be easy, but if we work hard enough, and believe in ourselves, women deserve the same opportunities as men to show what we can do.  I will do everything within my power to set a good example for other women and will support them in any way I can.”

Quotable:

Assistant Superintendent at San Bernardino Unified School District, Dr. Sandra Rodriguez: “Jasmine is one of those unique people that you might meet once in your career. She was so dedicated. I was her principal at San Bernardino High School and she always carried a basketball with her 24/7.  She has dedicated her life to serving others and we couldn’t be more proud of her. She’s always wanted to give back and I think it’s very fitting that this young woman is breaking barriers as AD and head football coach. In high school, she was very smart, and displayed a great work ethic and drive. Her resilience and ability to persevere through the toughest of times makes me believe that she’ll be a great fit to lead the football program.”

CCC baseball coach, Tony Garcia: “Coach Jasmine Ray is an amazing human being. She is stern and authoritative, but fair and compassionate with her players. Over my time at CCC, I have gotten to work closely with her and have witnessed the work ethic, passion, and commitment she has for CCC both as a football coach and as an athletic director. The players and coaches respect her. She makes all of us better coaches. We all work as a team to make the athletics program a success. Her energy and vibrant attitude are contagious. We all see her character and conviction. She shows that she cares for her players and coaches, and we all work eagerly to achieve success. I have no doubt she will succeed as the head football coach at CCC.”