by staff–22 Jan ’16
University of Wyoming head football coach Craig Bohl officially announced on Friday the hiring of Mike Grant as Wide Receivers Coach for the Cowboy football team. Grant brings with him 22 years of college coaching experience. He spent the last five years at the University of North Texas where he coached the wide receivers, the running backs and served as recruiting coordinator during his time there.
Grant has been part of 17 bowl teams as a coach or player. In his three seasons (1994-96) as a graduate assistant at his alma mater, the University of Nebraska, he was part of Husker teams that won National Championships in 1994 and ‘95. Nebraska posted back-to-back undefeated seasons in 1994 (13-0) and ‘95 (12-0), and posted an 11-2 record in 1996, finishing that season ranked No. 6 in the national polls. Grant helped coach the tight ends and offensive tackles at NU. He was on the same staff at Nebraska as current Wyoming head coach Bohl in 1995 and ‘96.
Grant earned his first full-time coaching position in 1997, coaching the wide receivers and tight ends at James Madison University. Grant has coached at the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) level for the past 18 seasons, including: nine seasons at Iowa State (1998-06), one season at Southern Miss (2007), three at Western Michigan (2008-10) and five seasons at North Texas (2011-15).
“Mike (Grant) has established himself as a very seasoned, experienced football coach with a great background,” said Bohl. “He is going to bring a wealth of experience to our program, and will be a great fit for Wyoming.”
“I am pleased to have the opportunity to join Craig Bohl and his coaching staff at the University of Wyoming,” said Grant. “I am impressed with the support from the University and the State and look forward to contributing as a valued component of the Cowboys’ offense. I believe in developing players with the necessary skills and confidence, so when they step on the field they are prepared to win.”
While at North Texas, Grant started out as the running backs coach for two seasons in 2011 and ‘12. He took over as the wide receivers coach from 2013-15 and added recruiting coordinator responsibilities in 2014 and ‘15. Among the top players he coached at North Texas were: Brelan Chancellor, who in 2013 became the first player in Conference USA history to earn First Team All-Conference honors as both a punt returner and kickoff returner. Chancellor also earned Second Team All-Conference honors at wide receiver. Wide receiver Darnell Smith was an Honorable Mention All-Conference honoree in 2013, and in 2015 wide receiver Carlos Harris finished his career No. 2 in North Texas school history in career receptions, No. 5 in career receiving yards and No. 9 in career all-purpose yards. As the running backs coach at North Texas from 2011-12, Grant coached Lance Dunbar, who became the career rushing leader in North Texas history and earned All-Sun Belt Conference honors.
While coaching the wide receivers at Western Michigan from 2008-10, Grant coached four All-Mid-American Conference receivers. In 2010, he had two receivers, Jordan White and Juan Nunez, record 1,000-yard receiving seasons and each caught over 90 passes. White set a school single-season record with 1,378 yards receiving in 2010 on way to earning Honorable Mention All-America honors from CNN/SI and First Team All-MAC honors. He also concluded his career as Western Michigan’s career record holder for receiving yards. Nunez had 1,032 yards receiving in 2010 and also earned First Team All-MAC honors. In 2008, Grant coached wide receiver Jamarko Simmons, who led the MAC in receptions (98) and receiving yards (1,100). Simmons ranked No. 3 in the NCAA in receptions in 2008 and earned Second Team All-America honors.
Grant’s time at Iowa State included him coaching two receivers who would break the Iowa State career receiving record. In 2002, Lane Danielson became the Cyclones’ all-time leading receiver and earned All-Big 12 recognition. Then three years later in 2005, Todd Blythe broke Danielson’s record on way to earning First Team All-Big 12 honors. Grant also coached First Team All-Big 12 running back Ennis Haywood in 2000.
Of the 17 bowl teams Grant has been a part of nine came during his time at Nebraska, five came at Iowa State and one each came during his time at Southern Miss, Western Michigan and North Texas.
Grant has continued to develop his coaching skills through the 2009 NCAA Football Coach’s Academy, the 2013 NCAA/NFL Coach’s Academy and the Bill Walsh NFL Minority Internship Program, serving an internship in 2013 with the Buffalo Bills.
A quarterback at Nebraska from 1988-92, he was a three-year letterwinner and was named to the Phillips 66 Academic All-Big Eight Honor Roll. He earned his bachelor’s degree in communication studies from Nebraska in 1993, added a second bachelor’s degree in journalism with a concentration in advertising in 1995 and has completed his course work for his master’s degree in mass communication.
Previous Coaching Experience
2016- Wyoming Wide Receivers
2011-15 North Texas Wide Receivers Coach (2013-15), Recruiting Coordinator (2014-15)
Running Backs Coach (2011-12)
2008-10 Western Michigan Assistant Head Coach/Wide Receivers
2007 Southern Miss Wide Receivers
1998-06 Iowa State Wide Receivers/Tight Ends (2001-06), Running Backs (2000),
Outside Linebackers (1999) and Secondary (1998)
1997 James Madison Wide Receivers and Tight Ends
1994-96 Nebraska Graduate Assistant working with Tight Ends and Offensive Tackles
