Coaching Staff

2023 Menendez Football Coaching Staff

Head Coach – Anthony Rivers

Coach Rivers was a two-sport athlete at Bluefield University in Virginia. At Bluefield, Coach Rivers was a 4-year starter at cornerback. In 2015 -2016 he competed on the Soccer team as well as the Football team. At the time of his graduation, Coach Rivers was Bluefield’s all-time leader in career interceptions. After graduating from Bluefield with a degree in Exercise Science, Coach played a season professionally in the GFL with the Cologne Crocodiles.

  • Menendez HS – Head Coach (2023 – Present)
  • Ponte Vedra HS – Varsity Defensive Coordinator (2022).
  • Ponte Vedra HS – Varsity Defensive Backs, JV Head Coach (2021)
  • Ponte Vedra HS – Varsity Defensive Backs, JV Defensive Coordinator (2020)
  • Ponte Vedra HS – Varsity Defensive Backs (2019) *District Championship*

Coach Rivers moved to Florida after graduating from Bluefield University. While at Bluefield, he met his wife Marissa who was playing on the school’s Volleyball team at the time. Coach Rivers and his wife Marissa both teach in St. Johns County and have a daughter.

Offensive Coaching Staff

Matthew Wray –Offensive Coordinator

Coach Wray played at Olivet Nazarene University as a Quarterback for four seasons. In his time
in college, he started as a Junior and completed 70% of passes for 1800 yards and 13 TDs.
Coach Wray began his coaching year after graduating college in 2017. He joined the staff of his
hometown at Indian Creek High School as a WRs/DB Coach. In his second season was the
Pass Game coordinator for Tri-West High School. At the beginning of 2020 relocated to
St.Johns Florida to coach for Ponte Vedra as a Safeties Coach. After that season took a job at
Nease High School as the DBs Coach and Assistant Defensive Coordinator.

  • Coaching Achievements
    Tri – West
    Most Passing Yards in the Conference
    Most Passing TDs in the Conference
    Indian Creek
    Most Passing Yards in the County
    Most Points Scored in the Conference
  • Player Accomplishments
    Olivet Nazarene (College)
    Academic Team Selection – Senior Year
    Two – Time Player of the Week
    Indian Creek(High School)
    Two-time All Mid-Hoosier Conference honoree
    Two-time All-Johnson County selection
    AP All-State Honorable Mention
    Team Captain

TBA – QB’s/JV Offensive Coordinator

 

Justin Carter – Offensive Line

  

Coach Carter works tirelessly with our players and has great community involvement. He brings a lot of energy to the program. Justin started on the 2005 SAHS State Championship team. He was the starting Offensive Tackle and helped lead the Jackets to a 15-0 record. Justin has played for Valdosta State in Georgia and professionally for the Jacksonville Sharks Arena Football Team.

  • Menendez HS – OL Coach (2023 – )
  • Menendez HS – OL Coach (2019-2021)

Coach Carter is a US Army Veteran and we thank him for his service to our great nation.

Defensive Coaching Staff

Defensive Coordinator
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Michael Jefferson – Inside Linebackers

“Coach J” has been on the Menendez staff since 2004 coaching Linebackers.  He will also be our Senior Football Advisor. He is a major contributor to all of the Falcon football success both on & off the field. Coach Jefferson was the position coach of two Menendez alumni that went on to play in the NFL, Tony Steward (Buffalo Bills) & Willie Harvey (Cleveland Browns).

  • Menendez HS – Linebackers (2004-Present)

Coach Jefferson played high school football at St. Augustine HS were he was an All-County LB. Coach Jefferson is also a US Army Veteran & we thank him for his service to our great nation.

Jeremy Brubaker – Defensive Backs

Leonard Allen – Outside Linebackers

Coach Allen played his high school ball at Chiefland HS in Levy County, Florida.  He played Wide Receiver & Defensive End.   Coach Allen has been on the staff here at Menendez as a volunteer Linebacker coach since 2020.

  • Menendez HS – Linebackers (2020-Present)

He is currently serving our great nation in the US Army & is stationed here in St. Augustine.  He selflessly volunteers his time to help influence kids in our program.  We thank him for his service to our great nation & to our community.

Ronnell Ray – Head JV Coach

Coach Ray is originally from Jacksonville, Florida, where he attended Robert E. Lee High School (now known as Riverside) and played football as a defensive back and defensive end. He also competed as a sprinter on the track team and was a 100m district finalist in 2013. After graduating, Coach Ray received a track scholarship to Webber International University, where he competed in several sprint events (60m-400m), relays (4×100, 4×400, 4×800), and the 3k steeplechase.

  • Menendez HS – Head JV Football Coach (since 2023).
  • Menendez HS – Varsity Defensive Coordinator (2021-2022)
    • 2022 Defense gave up 14.8 ppg and finished Top 2 in the Region
    • 2021 Defense forced 31 Turnovers and gave up 290 yards per game (down from 414 in 2020)
  • Menendez HS – Varsity Defensive Backs Coach (2019-2021)
  • Menendez HS – Head Coach Track and Field (2019 – present)

Coach Ray currently serves as the Head Track & Field Coach  and has led the team to great success, with 36 student-athletes qualifying for regionals and 2 state finalists. Additionally, the track program has broken 34 school records in the last 3 seasons. In 2021, the girls’ track team even won the Class 2A-5 District Championship.

Coach Ray and his wife, Rebecca, currently reside in Jacksonville, Florida, with their two dogs.