The Legends Invitational was created in memory of the late Ray McCahill with the hope that he will be smiling from above as we keep his legend alive in the Grand Rapids community he called home. Born on the South Side of Chicago, Ray earned a reputation for being one of a kind early. His basketball talents brought him to Grand Rapids where his gritty, hard working style of play was a perfect fit at Aquinas College. After college, Ray went on to become a successful head coach at Grand Rapids Catholic Central that included over 100 victories is his tenure before leaving to join his wife's growing company in corporate health and wellness industry. Ray's accomplishments are many, including being inducted to the sports hall of fame at both Aquinas College and Catholic Central. His now legacy lives on through the Legends Invitational that was created through the efforts of his five children and the numerous players, colleagues and friends his impacted throughout his life.
Ray loved the sport of basketball and the spirit of competition. His motto of "Win or Tie" was the inspiration of creating a winner take all local tournament that highlights the best teams and players in the local community. We hope this event will continue to grow to be come an annual tradition for years to come.
All proceeds from this event will go to support the Coach Ray McCahill Family Fund within the Grand Rapids Community Foundation. The Fund will aid and promote organizations in furtherance of their charitable purposes to support the overall Grand Rapids community with a focus on youth development, athletic sports programs and educational programs where financial need is a barrier to participation.
"Win Or Tie"
Coach Ray McCahill taught his players many valuable lessons, including his mantra of "Win or Tie" which meant that if you gave your all and had no regrets in your effort or preparation, you could never lose regardless of the final scoreboard. In his 10 years as the Varsity Coach at GR Catholic Central his teams racked up 146 wins and multiple City Championships. A born competitor, Ray was never afraid of a challenge!
Learning The Game
Before he coached, he played... In doing so, he learned all that it took to be successful through hard work and consistent dedication. Ray graduated from Brother Rice High School in Chicago, IL in 1970, where he was a leader by example on the court and helped his team win the Chicago Catholic League and Chicago City league Championships before moving on to Grand Rapids to play basketball at Aquinas College.
Standing in the Hall of Fame
Sticking with the Catholic tradition, Ray earned a scholarship to Aquinas College and began his involvement in the Grand Rapids Catholic community. He lettered in all four years in basketball and captained the 1974 team. He brought his physical "southside Chicago" style of play to help make AQ a contender in the area. His efforts on the court helped land him in the Aquinas College athletic hall of fame in 2006.
Changing the Cougar Culture
Before plaid pants went out of style, Ray helped bring Catholic Central's basketball program back from several disappointing seasons to become one of the best teams in the area. In doing so, he helped push the school to build a new basketball facility which is now the host location of the Catholic Invitational. Ray's players were well known for their intensity and consistent effort on the court regardless of talent levels.
Striking Fear in the Opposition
As depicted above, Ray was known to strike fear and respect into the area officials with a voice that echoed across the gym floor. He instilled this same attitude in his players who during his time as a coach played with a "never quit" spirit that let opposing teams know that they nothing was going to be easy when you took the court against the Cougars. He would proudly say his teams rarely lost a game due to lack of effort or desire.
New Goals, Same Dreams
Accompanying the previous photo is the article from Grand Rapids Press announcing the end of one goal and the start of a next. Even in retirement, Ray never stopped his open support for the growth of Catholic Schools and the many lessons learned through athletic competition. Years later, his love of the game shined again as the head basketball coach for all 5 of his children during their 6th-8th grader middle school years.
Leaving with a Legacy
More than wins and losses, Ray was most proud of his involvement of teaching his players to grow as individuals through the process and in doing so turn from hard-working boys at CC to successful men in the world after graduation. Beyond the game of basketball, Ray coached his players on the game of life and taught lessons that they could carry on with them long after their career ended. Even to this day, many of his former players proudly talk of the impact Ray had on their lives and the fond memories they held of days past.
It's All About Family
As one of the oldest of 10 siblings and the father of 5 children, Ray learned in his life that there is nothing more important than family. In his eyes, that family extended beyond the borders of his kin to include former players and CC supporters that shared the same vision he had for the growth of the Catholic community. Raymond McCahill passed away on October 13, 2006 after a lengthy battle with cancer in which he continued to show his spirit as a fighter throughout.
10 years later, this unique event was created in his memory in an effort to continue to share his beliefs as a coach and as a man with all the participants involved. We hope that all those who are interested join the "family" and assist us in growing the Catholic Invitational as an annual tradition we enjoy for years to come...