Raymond Philyaw

Athletic Director

Raymond Philyaw is a former arena football quarterback who served most recently as the offensive coordinator of the Jacksonville Sharks in the Arena Football League (AFL). As an athlete, he played for the Cleveland Gladiators, Chicago Rush, Kansas City Brigade, Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings, and the Albany/Indiana Firebirds, leading the Chicago Rush to the American Conference championship games in 2004 and 2005.

Prior to his Arena Football career, he played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League and the Madison Mad Dogs of the Indoor Football League. After leaving to coach with the New Orleans VooDoo in 2011, he attempted a return as a player in 2012 with the San Jose SaberCats, but later became offensive coordinator for the San Antonio Talons. He holds the record for the highest career touchdown-to-interception ratio in AFL history.

Philyaw attended Northeast Louisiana University, where he continued his high school football career. Philyaw started his sophomore through senior seasons for the Indians. At the completion of his career in 1996, Philyaw's 52 career touchdown passes stood as a school record. In 2009, Philyaw was inducted into the University of Louisiana Monroe Athletics Hall of Fame.

Philyaw attended Southwood High School in Caddo Parish, Louisiana. While there, he participated in football, basketball and track & field, winning a district championship his senior year in both football and basketball.

Raymond has been married for 12 years to his wife, Christine. They have one son, Lincoln, who is 12 years old.