Centennial assistant football coach dies from injuries in car crash

Update: Roger Grays, an assistant coach with the Centennial High School football team, has died.

The Centennial football booster club posted the news on its Facebook page Monday night and attributed news of the death to Centennial head coach Aaron Ocampo.

“Our Centennial Football program is devastated with the death of Coach Rogers, as he was known by the players, coaches and parents. He had a contagious vibrant spirit about him. His hearty laugh could be heard from across a room…and would bring a smile to the face of anyone that heard it. He was a wonderful teacher, coach, mentor and friend. He will be greatly missed,” Ocampo says in the statement posted to the booster club’s Facebook page.

Original Story: The head football coach of Centennial High School tells ABC-7 the team is pulling together after Assistant Coach Roger Grays was seriously injured in a car accident Thanksgivingmorning.

State police confirm Grays was the passenger in a truck that hydroplaned in the rain and rolled off Interstate 25.

It’s been an emotional couple of days for students and staff at Centennial High School. But despite the tragedy, Coach Aaron Ocampo says they will continue to work hard.

“We’ve got to push through right here at this time and Coach Rogers wants it that way,” Ocampo said.

Ocampo says despite the shock, the team is trying to stay focused, in honor of their coach who’s gotten a lot of support.Students at Desert Hills Elementary School where Grays also works created a sign to show their support for him and Centennial High School.

The Centennial team has also worn symbols of support on their uniforms in honor of Gray. A GoFundMe page created to help with medical costs already has over $2,000 in just two days. Ocampo says he’s proud to see different parts of the community united for a coach who’s done so much.

“He’s one of my best friends,” Ocampo said. “He’s a huge reason for the success we’ve had in our program and we’re just we’re just hoping that things go the way God wants it for us.”

Grays’ nephew, who was the driver in the crash, was not inured and has continued playing on the football team. They’re gearing up for their state championship game on Saturdayagainst Artesia.