A former NFL player and national championship winner, Jimmy Ray Stephens is completing his first year as the offensive line coach on Rick Stockstill's staff at Middle Tennessee. Stephens made his way to the Blue Raiders after four years with the University of Tennessee program.

Stephens did one of his better coaching jobs in 2006 even though he went into the season with only five players who had seen meaningful snaps the year before. The unit went on to produce two all-conference players, and the league's top scoring offense, allowing Middle Tennessee to be the only school in the SBC to have two players ranked in the top ten in rushing.

As offensive line coach of the Vols, Stephens helped develop one of the top lines in the SEC. During his tenure, Stephens tutored Michael Munoz to consensus All-America status in 2004 after placing Scott Wells into a starting position with the Green Bay Packers in 2003. Stephens went to three bowls with the Vols and was part of the 2004 SEC Eastern Division Championship squad.

Prior to arriving at UT, Stephens spent nine seasons coaching the Florida offensive line -- part of a high-powered offense that led to five SEC championships for the Gators. At Florida, Stephens coached four Jacob's Blocking Trophy winners (Best Offensive Lineman in SEC) and eight players who were drafted in the NFL.

Stephens himself sparkled both on the offensive line and at tight end during his playing career at Florida. He was a second-team All-SEC performer at center under Gators head coach Doug Dickey before making the move to tight end and earning second-team all-league honors there as well. Stephens went on to be drafted in the 12th round of the NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers.

His most recent responsibility at Florida was as offensive line coach and run-game coordinator during the 2001 season. Prior to that, Stephens also coordinated the unit's pass protection.

The Eustis, Fla., native coached on the Gators' 1996 national championship team and helped Florida to nine January bowl games. During that span, Florida's offense was ranked among the nation's top 15 six times and its passing offense among the top 10 seven times.

Stephens rejoined the Gators staff in 1993 after a stellar high school coaching career that saw him compile a 63-7 head coaching mark. That record came during a pair of three-year coaching and athletics director stints from 1987 to 1992 at Williston and Fort Walton Beach.

All told, Stephens spent 13 years in the Florida high school coaching ranks as either a head or assistant coach. His recruiting ties to the Sunshine State are strong and serve as a huge asset for the Blue Raiders.

Stephens is married to the former Regina Gouge and has two sons, Chris -- who recently completed a football career at North Carolina -- and Timmy.