| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 20, 1936 East Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| 1954–1957 | Geneva |
| Position(s) | Quarterback |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1958–1960 | Hopewell HS (PA) (assistant) |
| 1961–1964 | East Palestine HS (OH) |
| 1965–1970 | Central Catholic HS (OH) |
| 1971–1972 | Bowling Green (OL) |
| 1973–1974 | Youngstown State |
| 1975 | Detroit Lions (ST) |
| 1976–1983 | Southern Illinois |
| 1984–1985 | Memphis State |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 73–57–3 (college) 54–43–3 (high school) |
| Tournaments | 0–1 (NCAA D-II playoffs) 3–0 (NCAA D-I-AA playoffs) |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| 1 NCAA Division I-AA (1983) | |
| Awards | |
| AFCA NCAA Division I-AA Coach of the Year (1983) | |
Rey Dempsey (born September 20, 1936) is a former American football coach. He served as the head football coach at Youngstown State University from 1973 to 1974, Southern Illinois University from 1976 to 1983, and Memphis State University—now known as the University of Memphis—from 1984 to 1985, compiling a career college football record of 73–57–3. In 1975, he was a special teams coach for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). In 1983, his Southern Illinois team went 13–1, the best record in school history, winning the 1983 NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship Game.