Curtis Bray, the defensive line coach for the Iowa State Cyclones football program, died Wednesday morning while working out. Bray was only 43 and is survived by his wife, Heather, their daughter, Sydney, and son, Colden.
Bray was brought to the Iowa State program by head coach Paul Rhoads four years ago. He has overseen the defensive line crew each of those seasons and was well loved by his other coaches.
Curtis Bray had an 18 year coaching career that included a stint at his alma mater,
The University of Pittsburgh. He is responsible for recruiting future NFL stars
Joe Flacco and
Larry Fitzgerald.
Curtis Bray also played the game of football as a linebacker for the Pittsburgh Panthers. He was the 1987 Gatorade National High School Football Player of the Year, becoming the first defensive player to be honored as such. His greatest skill, as noted by head coach Paul Rhoads, was his ability to teach defensive players how to get the most out of their talent.