Colorado signee Quentin Gibson's high school football coach Ray Gates wins Coach of the Year honor following a stellar season

Ray Gates, the high school football coach who trained Colorado signee Quentin Gibson, has been named the MaxPreps National Coach of the Year. Gates is the football head coach of North Crowley High School in Fort Worth, Texas.

Just completing his third year as head coach of the Panthers, Gates led the program to an undefeated season with a 16-0 record. The Panthers also finished the season higher in the rankings than they’ve ever been at the No. 3 spot in the final MaxPreps Top 25. However, the biggest highlight in the team’s impressive season was the comfortable 50-21 victory over Westlake in the Class 6A Division 1 state championship game.

It was an important record-breaking season for the program and Gates, who became the first Fort Worth school to win Texas’ largest classification in 76 years. He took over as head coach of the Panthers in 2022 and currently has a 42-2 record leading the team. Prior to his arrival, the program has never had a 12-win season. However, the school has had at least 12 wins in each of his three seasons in charge.

His first season saw the school finish with a 12-1 record after going 50-113 in the 16 years preceding his arrival. The school went 14-1 in his second year before its recent undefeated season, the first in its history.

How Quentin Gibson’s stock rose under Ray Gates

Ray Gates is not just a proud winner of the Coach of the Year award but also a verified maker of winners. His player, standout wide receiver and Colorado signee Quentin Gibson, also won the 2024 MaxPreps National Player of the Year award.

Gibson came to national attention when he caught seven times for 180 yards and four touchdowns to help the Panthers beat powerhouse DeSoto 57-51. He made 93 catches for 2,009 yards and touchdowns by the end of the season.

Going into his senior season, Quentin Gibson was rated three-star and only held offers from programs like Army, Illinois State and Prairie View A&M. However, a stellar senior season saw his stock increase, gaining the attention of top programs, including Kansas State, Oklahoma State, SMU, TCU, and Colorado.

He committed to the Buffs on Nov. 28, some weeks after a visit to Boulder. Deion Sanders’ program beat fierce competition from the TCU Horned Frogs to secure the standout receiver’s signature.