Career
From 1973 to 1974, he coached at Youngstown State, where he compiled a 12–8 record. In 1975, he was a special teams coach for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). From 1976 to 1983, he coached at, where he compiled a 54–37 record.
In 1983, his Southern Illinois University team went 13–1, the best record in school history, winning an National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I-Associate of Arts national championship.
From 1984 to 1985, he coached at Memphis, where he compiled a 7–12–3 record. From 1991 to 2002, he served as Senior Pastor of Christ the King Church.
Rey Dempsey was the 14th head football coach for the Salukis in Carbondale, Illinois and he held that position for eight seasons, from 1976 until 1983. His overall coaching record at Southern Illinois University was 54 wins, 37 losses, and 0 ties.
This ranks him second at Southern Illinois University in terms of total wins and first at Southern Illinois University in terms of winning percentage.
Rey Dempsey now works alongside Mike Gottfried with the program: a leadership camp for fatherless boys. He has been involved in the program since its founding in 2000 and continues to act as the camp Pastor and director of spiritual development, providing lectures and sermons on Biblical manhood and godly character.
