Named an assistant coach in 2018 when Johnny Clifford took over the reins, Gary Tucker begins his seventh season in 2024 hoping to help the Rattlers reach the NCAA Tournament again.

Tucker is no stranger to the pitch as he has been coaching soccer at various levels for over 25 years and he specifically works with the Rattlers on tactical situations and formational set ups.

Since joining the Rattlers staff, St. Mary's has posted a record of 64-25-19, including a pair of trips to the NCAA Round of 16, two Lone Star Conference titles in 2019 and 2022, and three Lone Star Tournament Semifinal appearances in the last four seasons.

A native of Wichita, Kansas, Tucker began his collegiate career at Southern Illinois before transferring to Newman, where he earned First-Team All-Conference honors three times. In his 82 games he scored 52 goals and recorded 30 assists, both of which are still records at the school. The 1996 team went 19-3-1, advancing to the NAIA National Tournament and was inducted into the Newman Athletic Hall of Fame.
 
After college, Tucker played for the Wichita Blue Pro Team in the USISL Conference for four years and one year for the Huntsville Fire of the EISL Indoor Pro League.
 
He graduated from Newman with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Sociology and earned a master’s degree in criminal justice from Ashworth University.