Coach Cresap was a 1953 graduate of Battle Ground High School and a 1957 graduate of the University of Washington, where he participated in basketball and baseball. Ray started his coaching career in 1957 at Cheney High School. He was the junior varsity basketball coach and varsity baseball coach for one year.
Ray went from Cheney to Meridian High School. For two years, 1958-59 and 1959- 60, he coached varsity basketball and varsity baseball. From 1960 to 1964, Ray coached varsity basketball and was an assistant football coach at Washougal High School. At Washougal his basketball record was 57-27. In four years, they won one Trico League Championship and made two trips to the district tournament.
In 1964 Ray taught at Stanwood High School and was junior varsity basketball coach. He took over the varsity basketball and varsity baseball teams in 1965. At Stanwood Ray was head basketball coach for 21 years from 1965 to 1986. His overall record at Stanwood was 280 wins and 198 losses with a lifetime record of 357 wins and 247 losses. During that time, they won six league championships, three district championships and placed 7th in the state tournament in 1974. In 1976 the team placed 6th in the state tournament and Ray was selected by the Washington State Coaches’ Association as “State Coach of the Year”. That year he coached the All- State Team.
Ray’s personal cheering section has included wife, Joan, and children Ty and Tanya. And now Allison and Chuck have been added, as well as, grandchildren, Courtney, Bryce, T.J. and Matthew.
