When he was in 8th-grade back in 1982 in his hometown of Bedford, Virginia, Michael Wray Jr. wrote an essay that became the origin of a board game for football fans that he went on to invent.
After working on the project for years, Wray (who now lives in Raymondville with his fiancée Chrissy White) launched “You’re the Coach” in 2018 and has since made seeing it gain mainstream popularity his primary mission. An improved second edition was recently rolled out, and it’s available at a retail store in Houston: Stratagem Hobbies.
The concept of You’re the Coach is simple: Two teams facing off in a football game, with players getting the chance to “coach” their own teams by choosing offensive and defensive plays and employing strategy unknown to their opponent. While football scheming is certainly a major component of the game, so is luck, because the outcome of each play is ultimately determined by the roll of a dice.
“It combines a person’s knowledge and strategy with a bit of luck,” Wray said. “That makes it possible for people with different levels of knowledge of football to play together. And there’s always positive and negative possibilities based on the dice, which keeps people engaged.”
The game can be played with two or more participants, and teams of two can split duties as offensive coordinator and defensive coordinator.
It’s even possible to play alone, and Wray likes to tell a story about being beaten 35-0 when playing by himself.
Advanced players can add variations that affect the game, such as weather conditions, injuries, fatigue and several other factors. There are also components (such as crowd involvement and explanations of why a play turned out as it did – some of which are humorous by design) that add an element missing from electronic games.
“I like things that bring the game to life and help people visualize it their minds,” he said. “Nothing can compete with a person’s imagination.”
Wray is a Virginia native and U.S. Navy veteran and has been a truck driver by trade for about 20 years. His rig is decked out with several graphics based on You’re the Coach, and he has promoted the game whenever he can while out on the road for millions of miles.
Wray credits several people for providing inspiration and support for his efforts with the game, including Chrissy White and her son Cody White, his parents Michael and Sybil Wray of Bedford, Virginia, and the late Barb Heflin. He said he recently played You’re the Coach with Anthony Stone, a renowned football coach, consultant, training camp director and author of “Back to the Basics,” and that Stone is providing some assistance.
“He thought is was great,” Wray said.
Stratagem Hobbies owner Lyndon Williams said people are welcome to come to the store and play You’re the Coach, and the possibility exists of starting a “You’re the Coach Night” if enough interest becomes apparent. The store’s phone number is 417-260-0875, and information is available on Facebook.
Wray said playing the game typically takes about two hours, and that improvements offered by the second edition are designed to “make it easier on the eyes.”
You’re the Coach is also available at The Book Nook in West Plains and online through Amazon, Walmart and the game’s website: yourethecoach.football (a YouTube video about the game can be viewed on the website).
Wray can be reached by email at yourethecoach86@gmail.com.
“When people sit down and play this game, they’re amazed by all the detail put into it,” Wray said. “They always enjoy it, and they usually get into it a lot.”
