Ethan Gray is no stranger to busy schedules. Between crunching numbers, performing
student research and tracking stats courtside, he finds the perfect balance between
academic excellence and athletic support.
“As soon as I set foot on the TCU campus, I knew this was where I wanted to spend
my next four years,” he said. “I love the school spirit, fantastic location and combination
of a small student body with access to amazing resources and facilities.”
Gray is a double major – economics in the AddRan College of Liberal Arts and mathematics
in the College of Science & Engineering – and is a student in the John V. Roach Honors
College. Since his first year, Gray also has been a manager for the TCU women’s basketball
team, a role that reached a new level of excitement this season as the team advanced
to the Elite Eight for the first time in program history.
“This whole year was an amazing experience,” Gray said. “It was so cool to see the
team play so well and go all the way to the Elite Eight. It was a great opportunity
to see what it takes to win at the highest level.”
Among the season’s many highlights, one moment stands above the rest.
“That would have to be seeing the team win the Big 12 Tournament Championship in Kansas
City,” Gray said. “It has been so cool to see Coach (Mark) Campbell and his staff
totally revamp this program over the past couple of years, and this moment really
captured how far the team has come.”
In addition to managing game-day logistics and team operations, Gray said he brings
his classroom skills to the court, working with data and statistical analysis.
“I do some data work and stat tracking for the team, so I’ve had the opportunity to
use some of my analytical tools that I’ve picked up in my classes and apply them to
real-world situations,” Gray said. “This is something I’d like to do more of in the
future, so I’ve been very thankful for this experience.”
Gray’s passion for data extends beyond athletics.
“Aside from basketball, I got involved with research in the economics department just
by having a conversation and expressing interest to one of my professors,” Gray said.
He is currently completing an honors thesis on the impact of central bank communications
on financial markets.
“Ethan is an excellent student and has developed a very interesting idea for an honors
thesis,” Zack Hawley, professor of economics, said. “What stands out about Ethan is
his self-driven curiosity and proficiency in many big data skills. I am hopeful that
his research will be timely and interesting to many outside of finance and economics,
as central bank policy changes will impact all of us in the near future.”
Whether on the court or in the classroom, Gray encourages fellow Horned Frogs to take
initiative.
“I have found here at TCU there are endless opportunities and that if you want to
get involved with any organization, the best thing to do is always just ask,” he said.
