Larry Ray built the UF softball program from scratch and guided the team to its first SEC title in 1998. [Photo by Jeff Gage]
Larry Ray (1950-2026)
Tuesday, June 23, 2026 | Softball, Chris Harry
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By: Chris Harry, Senior Writer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Women's fastpitch softball enjoyed a rise in popularity during the 1980s. The atmosphere was more intimate, what with the field smaller and the game tighter, with its 60-foot basepaths. Larry Ray
It was during that era of growth that an assistant at the University of Arizona went to his head coach, future Hall-of-Famer and softball giant Mike Candera, with a thought to emphasize a strategy of using the shorter distance from home to first base for left-handers. Instead of a full swing, batters would combine making contact with a pitch while initiating their dash to first.
The slap was born.
That assistant, Larry Ray, became known as "The Father of Slap-hitting," a tactic which Candera and his Wildcats turned into a force in claiming NCAA championships in 1991, '92 and '94.
In 1995, Ray left Arizona to become the charter coach – and father – of the first softball program at the University of Florida.
Ray, who over four seasons guided the Gators to a 169-106 record and the program's first Southeastern Conference championship, died last week in Tucson, Arizona. He was 76.
The foundation Ray helped set three decades ago helped put in a motion a program that grew into one of the nation's best, what with nine conference championships, 13 trips to the Women's College World Series and back-to-back NCAA titles in 2014 and '15.
"Coach Ray started Florida softball from the ground up in 1997. I'm so thankful for our friendship and for everything he built here in Gainesville," said UF coach and Hall-of-Famer Tim Walton, who took over the Gators in 2006 and totaled more than 1,000 wins over his 21 seasons. "My condolences to his family and close friends and everyone who knew him. He was a good man and made a tremendous impact on the sport."
On June 13, 1995, the board of directors of the University Athletic Association approved the addition of women's softball. Ray, by way of UA, was hired two months later and had two years to build the program from scratch before the Gators debuted with a double-header sweep of Stetson on Feb. 8, 1997.
"This is the situation I was looking for," Ray said at the time of his hiring. "One of the things I did not want to do was follow a legend or go to a program that was in complete disarray and have to put out a bunch of fires. A brand new program is one of the things I was looking for and obviously a great university, such as Florida, where there's nice weather and fan support that all their programs experience."
UF finished 32-16 in their inaugural '97 season and in 1998 went 47-22, including 23-5 in conference play, to claim its first SEC crown, as well as its first NCAA Tournament berth. Along the way, pitcher Chelsey Sakizzie was named the program's first SEC Player of the Year (1997) and first All American (1998), with Ray garnering '98 SEC Coach of the Year honors, thus setting the stage for great things in years to come.
Larry Ray went 169-106 over his four UF seasons.
After the 2000 season, Ray was fired and returned to Arizona, where he remained until 2012 (including two seasons as interim head coach while Candera coached Team USA) before leaving for an assistant's post at Nichols (La.) State. He was there one season.
Ray's tutoring impacted some of the best slappers in collegiate softball history. His guidance of UA's Caitlin Lowe helped the four-time first-team All-American land the role of leadoff hitter for the US Women's National Team. Another one of Ray's acclaimed slappers, Autumn Champion, led the NCAA in batting average in 2004.
Larry Ray (back row center) led the 1998 Gators to their first Southeastern Conference title and NCAA Tournament berth.
Before joining the Arizona coaching staff in 1986, Ray compiled a 70-13 record in four years as softball coach at Boulder City (Nevada.) High School from 1982 to 1985. His success at the prep level caught Candera's eye.
Born June 11, 1950 in San Antonio, Texas, Ray attended and graduated from Idaho State, where he lettered as an infielder in baseball and wide receiver and kicker in football. Before that, he was the football scoring leader for California junior colleges in 1969.
A memorial service is scheduled for July 12 in Tucson. Ray's life also will be celebrated by the Wildcats' softball family during the University of Arizona homecoming weekend in the fall.
