Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (AZ)

Chris Bray begins his fourteenth season at the helm of the Men's and Women's Cross Country teams for Embry-Riddle after beginning the program in 2013. Consistently ranked among the nation’s best programs, his teams have made appearances at the NAIA XC National Championships since 2014 with highlights including fourth-place finishes for the men in 2019 and the women in 2022. In 2017 Coach Bray started the university’s distance track program and has had national success on the oval as well. Between both programs, Bray has produced 25 NAIA All-Americans, including a national champion in the marathon in Jordan Bramblett and a national runner-up at the 2024 XC national Championships with Demetris Love, Jr.  He has coached countless All-Conference performers and for his efforts in 2025, he received his 22nd Conference Coach of the Year award.

Earlier in his career, Chris coached the women’s Cross Country team for four years at Yavapai College in Prescott. As both assistant and head coach, his teams qualified for the Junior College National Championship all four seasons, placing 7th, 6th, 5th, and 4th, respectively. He coached five different athletes to All-American status, two of whom earned the honor for both years under his tutelage.

As an athlete, Chris ran Cross Country, Indoor and Outdoor Track at Northern Arizona University, where he was a six-time team captain and earned both his undergraduate and MBA degrees. He helped his teams earn numerous Big Sky Conference team championships and twice competed at the NCAA Cross Country National Championships. After college, Chris raced as a professional duathlete and has competed in two Ironman triathlons, as well as finished the Boston Marathon twice.  He continues to compete in races from the half-marathon to ultramarathon distances. Chris lives with his wife Jillian in Prescott.