BAKERSFIELD, Calif.--CSUB Director of Athletics Jeff Konya has named two-time Conference USA Coach of the Year Richie Grant as the new head coach of Bakersfield men's soccer program.
Grant becomes the fourth head coach of Bakersfield men's soccer and just the second since the program joined the NCAA Division I ranks.
“We are thrilled to have attracted such a quality coach to lead our men's soccer program here in Bakersfield,” Konya said. “Richie brings an impressive resume from an established, winning program in a major conference so we know he is the right person to help continue the success of our men's soccer program make a mark on the national level.”
Grant, the all-time winningest coach in Memphis history, compiled a 135-116-22 record in 15 seasons at the helm of the Tigers while also winning two Conference USA Coach of the Year Awards in 2000 and 2004. In both of those seasons, he led Memphis to program-records for victories while also leading Memphis to the 2004 C-USA Championship and an NCAA Tournament berth.
“I am happy to begin a new chapter of Roadrunners men's soccer by accepting the position as head men's soccer coach in a wonderful soccer community like Bakersfield,” Grant said. “I am looking forward to the new challenges ahead of me as I take over a program with a tradition of success and several pieces in place to continue that success into the future.”
Grant is one of just four coaches in C-USA to earn two 'Coach of the Year' awards. An offensive-minded coach whose teams are never short of goal production, his 2004 squad finished in the NCAA Top-10 in goals scored while earning their tournament berth. Post season appearances were the norm for Memphis under Grant, as he led the Tigers to a berth in the C-USA Tournament eight times and led the team into their first American Athletic Conference Tournament this past fall, finishing 9-8-1 in his final season in Memphis.
Along with wins and individual honors, Grant coached the only Memphis Tiger named C-USA Player of the Year in Mark Sherrod (2011), while also coaching Sherrod and Dayton O'Brien who combined to win three C-USA Offensive Player of the Year Awards as well. With an eye for recruiting and developing talent, Grant has also seen former players advance to the professional ranks as well. In 2005, O'Brien and teammate Andy Metcalf became the first Tigers drafted by Major League Soccer (MLS). Metcalf became a member of the D.C. United, and O'Brien joined the Columbus Crew. In 2008, another former player
under Grant, Daniel Dobson became a member of the then Kansas City Wizards. Mark Sherrod will also take part in this season's MLS Combine prior to the MLS Draft.
Off the field, his teams have won National Soccer Coaches Association of America team academic awards in six of the last seven seasons and have had players named to the NSCAA Scholar All-American teams in each of the last two seasons.
As a player, Grant was a three-time NAIA All-America defender and was twice named the NAIA District V Player of the Year at Green Mountain College in Poultney, Vt., where he received his bachelor's degree in leisure resources and facilities management in 1993. Grant went on to play one season for the Minnesota Thunder, a semi-pro team that competes in the A-League.
After one year with the Thunder, Grant took a coaching position at Bloomsburg University in Pennsylvania and earned his master's degree in communication studies while working as an assistant coach from 1993-94. In 1995, he was named head coach at Lambuth University where he was named Tennessee Collegiate Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 1995 while also leading his squad to a TCAC championship. He also led the program to a pair of Mid-South Conference Championships in 1997 and 1998 before departing for Memphis.
Grant says a situation like Bakersfield was intriguing because of the importance men's soccer has within the athletics department and the community.
“When you make a move like this it has to feel right, and this does,” Grant said. “While the campus and the community support this program, it is also helpful to have an Athletics Director like Jeff Konya be a member of the NCAA men's soccer committee; it shows how much the success of this sport means to the Roadrunners.”
Grant is married to Jodi Grant (formerly Fisher). The couple has two children: a son, Hayden (born January of 2009), and a daughter, Katelyn Presley (born March of 2011).
Watch Richie Grant's press conference below:
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