Ron Gray's connection with the Dowling Catholic program started as a prep.

In 1972, he was the school's first-ever place-winner at the state tournament and later he was a collegiate All-American.

Following college, he coached 29 years at Dowling, with 12 years as an assistant and 17 years as the head coach, starting in 1989.

As a head coach, his teams posted a dual meet record of 229-115-5. He was on the Maroons staff when they set Iowa's all-time dual meet record for consecutive wins at 136. His teams won two traditional state titles (1990 and 1991) and three State Dual Team crowns (1990, 1991 and 1992). As an assistant, he was part of two more traditional state championship clubs and three more state dual team titles.

He coached 86 state meet qualifiers as a head coach and the number runs to 234 when his years as an assistant are included. Forty two of his qualifiers were place-winners with nine individuals winning 10 championships. Four of his wrestlers went on to be prep All-Americans and three were collegiate All-Americans.