Football
- Title:
- Cornerbacks
- Email Address:
- gdm010@shsu.edu
- Alma Mater:
- Oregon
- Graduation Year:
- 2003
- Phone:
- 936 294-1735
Gary McGraw enters the second season of his second stint as Sam Houston’s cornerbacks coach in 2026 after returning to Huntsville ahead of the 2025 season.
McGraw previously coached the Bearkat cornerbacks from 2016-21, helping Sam Houston win its first FCS national championship during the Spring 2021 season. The Kats compiled a 58-14 record, won three conference championships and made four FCS playoff appearances during his first tour of duty.
In addition to coaching cornerbacks, McGraw served as special teams coordinator, defensive pass game coordinator and defensive recruiting coordinator. He was part of the staff during Sam Houston’s historic 2021 calendar year, when the Kats won 21 consecutive games.
In his first six years at SHSU, McGraw developed two of the program’s most decorated cornerbacks in Zyon McCollum and Jaylen Thomas. McCollum earned four All-America selections before being chosen by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Thomas earned all-conference recognition three times as well.
His work also extended to special teams, where punter Matt McRobert earned All-America honors in 2019. During the national championship season, punt returner Jequez Ezzard earned All-America recognition and joined kicker Seth Morgan on the All-Southland Conference first team.
McGraw returned to Sam Houston after coaching cornerbacks at Tulsa in 2022 and serving as safeties coach and special teams coordinator at Southern Illinois from 2023-24.
Before his first stint in Huntsville, McGraw spent five seasons coaching the defensive secondary and assisting with special teams at Midwestern State. He coached six All-Americans, eight all-region selections and 17 all-conference performers as the Mustangs compiled a 42-12 record and won three Lone Star Conference titles.
Among those players was Marqui Christian, who earned national defensive player of the year honors in 2015 before being selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the fifth round of the 2016 NFL Draft.
McGraw also coached the secondary at Ferris State and spent six seasons at Quincy, including his final two as defensive coordinator. He coached three NAIA All-Americans and 24 all-conference selections with the Hawks.
He began his coaching career as co-defensive coordinator and special teams coordinator at Marist High School in Oregon in 2002. The program went 23-1 over two seasons and won the 2003 state championship.
As a player, McGraw helped Oregon win consecutive Pac-10 championships in 2000 and 2001, along with victories in the Holiday and Fiesta bowls. He began his collegiate career at Chabot College in California, leading the nation with 12 interceptions as a sophomore.
A native of Fremont, Calif., McGraw earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Oregon in 2003 and his master’s degree in educational leadership from Quincy in 2011. He and his wife, Christine, are married.
