When he was a receiver at the University of Maryland, Guilian Gary?s media guide profile said he planned to be coaching 10 years after leaving College Park.
Now, just five years removed from playing in the Orange Bowl, Gary, 26, is the receivers coach at Towson University, and his unit has played a huge role in the Tigers? 3-0 start and No. 19 national ranking.
“He makes us comfortable,” said senior receiver Eric Yancey. “We can go to him when we have problems.”
While the young coach relates with the players well, he had concerns about his age when he originally came to Towson in 2005 after leaving Georgetown?s coaching staff. But his receivers quickly eased those fears.
“They were picking my brain apart, and that made me excited to see because I didn?t know how they were going to handle it ? because I am so close in age,” Gary said.
Towson?s receivers have bought into Gary?s overall plan and understand their importance within the team?s run through the Atlantic 10 Conference.
“Playing [with Maryland, I understood] you?re not going to out-run everybody,” Gary said. “And it?s the same thing here. This is the best conference in I-AA.”
Gary, who already understands the passing game well in his brief career, had a hand in fine-tuning the game-winning touchdown pass to Yancey in a 33-30 win over Hofstra Saturday.
He credits Towson offensive coordinator Phil Albert with allowing him to play a roll in the Towson offense.
“Of course, I would like to be a coordinator at some point in time,” Gary said. “At first, I?d like to be a pass-game coordinator. That?s where I excel now.”
While he admits he?d like to get back to Maryland down the road, he?s in no rush to leave Towson.
“I see a lot of similarities in this team and the team I had my senior year,” said Gary, recalling the 2001 Atlantic Coast Conference champs.
With Towson?s success comes promise of personal success for Gary.
“He just has one of those personalities that he?s going to be so successful,” Combs said, adding that Gary has a bright future. “He?s such a people person.”
His profile in Towson?s media guide reads “receivers coach.” As for 10 years down the road, the sky?s the limit.
THE GARY FILE
» College: Maryland ?03
» Residence: Federal Hill
» Did you know? Gary is third in Terps history with 13 career touchdowns ? He worked out with the Carolina Panthers before joining Holy Cross as a receivers coach in ?03 ? He coached receivers at Georgetown University in ?04.
