Rey Dempsey

Dempsey began his coaching career as an assistant football coach at Hopewell High School in Hopewell Township in Beaver County, Pennsylvania. There we he worked for three years under Bill McDonald, who later served as head coach at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. In 1960, Dempsey got his first head coaching job, at East Palestine High School in East Palestine, Ohio. His record there was 21–18–1 in four seasons. Dempsey moved on to Central Catholic High School, in Perry Township, Stark County, Ohio near Canton, in 1965. His record was 33–25–2 in six seasons at Central Catholic. His 1970 team shut out eight of their ten opponents. Dempsey then moved to the college ranks, working as an assistant football coach at Bowling Green State University in 1971 and 1972 He coached the offensive line under head coach Don Nehlen.[1]

Dempsey was appointed as head football coach at Youngstown State University in January 1973.[2] He succeeded Dike Beede, who helmed the Youngstown State Penguins football program from its inception in 1938 until his retirement following the 1972 season. Beede died in drowning accident in December 1972.[3] Dempsey was selected for the Youngtown State post over two other finalists: Bo Rein, who later served as head coach at North Carolina State University, from 1976 to 1979, and Bob Commings, who was the head coach at the University of Iowa from 1974 to 1978.[1]

Dempsey was the 14th head football coach at Southern Illinois University and he held that position for eight seasons, from 1976 until 1983. In his final season, the Salukis won the Division I-AA (now FCS) national championship.[4][5] His overall coaching record at Southern Illinois was 54–37 This ranks him third at Southern Illinois in total wins and second in winning percentage.[6]

At Memphis State in NCAA Division I-A for the 1984 and 1985 seasons, Dempsey's teams went a combined 7–12–3.