DJ Hazelray - Football Coach - Mercer University Athletics

DJ Hazelray

Title:
Wide Receivers
Alma Mater:
Bethel, 2013
Office Phone:
(478) 301-2713
Email:
hazelray_j@mercer.edu

A 12-year coaching veteran with a lion’s share of experience on both the prep and collegiate levels, DJ Hazelray begins his first season at Mercer in 2026-27, as well as his second year alongside head coach Joel Taylor, as the wide receivers coach for the Bears. Hazelray spent the 2025 season in the same role at West Georgia.

Hazelray was essential on the sidelines for the Wolves in 2025, crafting a unit that accounted for nearly 192 receiving yards per game and 18 touchdowns. West Georgia registered 200 or more receiving yards six times, including a 308-yard day in a big win over United Athletic Conference foe North Alabama. Four different players amassed 22 or more catches on the season.

Prior to trekking to Carrollton, Ga., Hazelray served two seasons (2023-24) as the offensive coordinator at nearby Warner Robins High School and helped pace the Demons to 16 victories and a pair of postseason berths, including a deep run in the state playoffs in 2024. Fourteen players, including six on the offensive side of the ball, from those 2023 and 2024 squads made the transition to the college stage under Hazelray’s mentorship.

Hazelray has three other previous stops on the Georgia prep level. He made his Peach State coaching debut as the running backs and tight ends coach at Valdosta High School in 2018 and 2019 and helped guide the Wildcats to a combined 18-8 clip, as well as two appearances in the state quarterfinals. He left another footprint of success at Thomasville High School amid an 8-win campaign in 2020, and then helped lead Rome to a combined 20-5 record across the 2021 and 2022 seasons, including a run to the state semifinals in the latter campaign.

He lifted the curtain on his prep coaching career in 2014 and 2015 as the defensive backs coach at Howard Tech in his hometown of Chattanooga, Tenn., before diving into the same role at Chattanooga Christian High School the following two seasons. He also carries an internship as part of the strength & conditioning staff at Western Kentucky in 2015.

Hazelray played in 31 games across four seasons (2009-13) in the wide receiver rotation at Bethel (Tenn.), logging 73 catches for 823 yards. He raked in all-conference laurels as a sophomore after recording team-bests in both receptions (35) and receiving yards (507).

He earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education from Bethel in 2013, and completed his master’s degree in education at Bethel in 2018. Hazelray also holds an educational specialist degree from Valdosta State. DJ and his wife, Andrea, have a daughter, Aliyah, who stars in the Hulu series, Paradise.

THE HAZELRAY FILE
Coaching Experience
2014-15	Howard (Tenn.) Tech (Assistant Coach/Defensive Backs)
2016-17	Chattanooga (Tenn.) Christian HS (Assistant Coach/Defensive Backs
2018-19	Valdosta (Ga.) HS (Assistant Coach/Running Backs, Tight Ends)
2020	Thomasville (Ga.) HS (Assistant Coach/Wide Receivers)
2021-22	Rome (Ga.) HS (Assistant Coach/Wide Receivers)
2023-24	Warner Robins (Ga.) HS (Assistant Coach/Offensive Coordinator)
2025	West Georgia (Assistant Coach/Wide Receivers)
2026-Present	Mercer (Assistant Coach/Wide Receivers)

Playing Experience
Played four seasons (2009-13) in the wide receiver rotation at Bethel (Tenn.); earned all-conference honors as a sophomore.

Education
Bachelor's degree in physical education (Bethel, 2013); master’s degree in education (Bethel, 2018). Also holds an educational specialist degree from Valdosta State.

*Family*
Wife, Angela, and one daughter, Aliyah