Falcon Lacrosse Adds John Grant Jr. to Coaching Staff
11/12/2018 3:06:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse
Coach Jr. will officially start practice as Air Force’s assistant lacrosse coach, Nov. 26
USAF Academy, Colo. Head lacrosse coach Bill Wilson and Air Force Athletics has announced the addition of John Grant, Jr. to the Falcon lacrosse coaching staff. Coach Jr. will officially take to the Air Force practice fields, Nov. 26.
"We are thrilled to welcome John Grant Jr.," exclaimed coach Wilson. "We're excited to welcome his wife Raygen, and their daughter, Gabrayel to the United States Air Force Academy and to our Air Force lacrosse family."
Coach Jr. has achieved unparalleled success in lacrosse, having been a dominant force in professional lacrosse for nearly 20 years. His passion for the game of lacrosse was handed down from his Hall of Fame father: John Grant, Sr. a professional with a World Championship of his own.
"John is one of the brightest coaching minds in the game of lacrosse," continued Wilson. "Not only does he bring a wealth of knowledge and coaching experience to our program, he also brings a passion for his players and the game."
Coach Jr., arguably one of the greatest box players of all time, left the playing field for the sidelines to follow in his father's footsteps as a lacrosse coach. Coach Jr. was instrumental in assisting Coach Randy Mearns and Team Canada to a gold medal in the 2014 World Games and also helped lead the Denver Outlaws to a 2018 MLL Championship.
His love of the game is only surpassed by the love for his family-- his high school sweetheart and wife, Raygen, and his eight-year-old daughter, Gabrayel.
"During the coaching search I could tell right away that his character, integrity, and work-ethic were in line with the mission of the Air Force Academy and our lacrosse family," continued Wilson. "Everyone I spoke to about John could not impress upon me enough about his love for his players, passion for the game, and tireless work-ethic."
Grant Jr. will join Dan Carson and Doug Murray to complete the Falcons' coaching staff as they continue to strive toward excellence as a program, and lead Air Force lacrosse to a Southern Conference championship and beyond.
"It's a dream come true to be able to coach this level of lacrosse," said coach Jr. "Being in Colorado, I've had the opportunity to watch Air Force-- I've coached a young man that went there and also got to see a couple guys I coached against. Air Force is one of the top programs in the country and they only bring in the best quality kids from across the United States. I'm extremely excited to be a part of the Air Force lacrosse family."
"It's going to be an honor to work with a military academy," Jr. continued. "The Academy brings in the kind of guys who are of great character and commitment and who are willing sacrifice-- this is what I spent a majority of my coaching career trying to build in every athlete I worked with. To be a part of a group of young men that are willing to sacrifice for each other and this great country is an amazing opportunity. I'm excited to learn from these guys and I'm excited to have the opportunity of doing my part to build future leaders of character for this great country."
Coach Jr. and the Falcons will begin preparing for the 2019 lacrosse season which Air Force will commence this January.
Grant, Jr. as a player
* 1999 Lt. Raymond Enners Award (NCAA's Most Outstanding player)
* 1999 Jack Turnbull Award (best attackman)
* Delaware's first USILA First-Team All-American (1999), averaging more than six points per game
* MLL (pro field league) MVP in 2007 and 2008
* NLL (pro box league) MVP in 2007 and 2012
* Only player to win MLL and NLL MVPs in same season
* One of three players to win MLL and NLL MVPs altogether (Gary Gait and Casey Powell)
* Fifth all-time in NLL goals, 12th in NLL points, and third in NLL assists per game
* 2007 NLL Champions Cup champion with Rochester Knighthawks and Champions Cup MVP
* Six-time MLL Champion
* Five-time Mann Cup champion and 2-time Mann Cup MVP
* Won the FIL World Lacrosse Championship with Canada in 2006 (field)
* Won the FIL World Indoor Lacrosse Championship with Canada in 2003, 2007, and 2011 (box)
* 2010 FIL World Lacrosse Championship All-World Team choice at attack
Grant, Jr. as a coach
2000: Graduate Assistant Coach, University of Delaware
2003-2009: Co-founder and Head Instructor, Pro Skills Lacrosse Company
2009: Offensive Coordinator, Rochester Knighthawks, NLL
2010Present: Co-Founder, Director of Coaching and Player Development, Evolve Elite Lacrosse Company
2014: Assistant Offensive Coordinator Team Canada, Gold Medal World Champion
2015: Head Varsity Coach, Valor Christian High School
2018: Assistant coach, U.S. Air Force Academy
"We are thrilled to welcome John Grant Jr.," exclaimed coach Wilson. "We're excited to welcome his wife Raygen, and their daughter, Gabrayel to the United States Air Force Academy and to our Air Force lacrosse family."
Coach Jr. has achieved unparalleled success in lacrosse, having been a dominant force in professional lacrosse for nearly 20 years. His passion for the game of lacrosse was handed down from his Hall of Fame father: John Grant, Sr. a professional with a World Championship of his own.
"John is one of the brightest coaching minds in the game of lacrosse," continued Wilson. "Not only does he bring a wealth of knowledge and coaching experience to our program, he also brings a passion for his players and the game."
Coach Jr., arguably one of the greatest box players of all time, left the playing field for the sidelines to follow in his father's footsteps as a lacrosse coach. Coach Jr. was instrumental in assisting Coach Randy Mearns and Team Canada to a gold medal in the 2014 World Games and also helped lead the Denver Outlaws to a 2018 MLL Championship.
His love of the game is only surpassed by the love for his family-- his high school sweetheart and wife, Raygen, and his eight-year-old daughter, Gabrayel.
"During the coaching search I could tell right away that his character, integrity, and work-ethic were in line with the mission of the Air Force Academy and our lacrosse family," continued Wilson. "Everyone I spoke to about John could not impress upon me enough about his love for his players, passion for the game, and tireless work-ethic."
Grant Jr. will join Dan Carson and Doug Murray to complete the Falcons' coaching staff as they continue to strive toward excellence as a program, and lead Air Force lacrosse to a Southern Conference championship and beyond.
"It's a dream come true to be able to coach this level of lacrosse," said coach Jr. "Being in Colorado, I've had the opportunity to watch Air Force-- I've coached a young man that went there and also got to see a couple guys I coached against. Air Force is one of the top programs in the country and they only bring in the best quality kids from across the United States. I'm extremely excited to be a part of the Air Force lacrosse family."
"It's going to be an honor to work with a military academy," Jr. continued. "The Academy brings in the kind of guys who are of great character and commitment and who are willing sacrifice-- this is what I spent a majority of my coaching career trying to build in every athlete I worked with. To be a part of a group of young men that are willing to sacrifice for each other and this great country is an amazing opportunity. I'm excited to learn from these guys and I'm excited to have the opportunity of doing my part to build future leaders of character for this great country."
Coach Jr. and the Falcons will begin preparing for the 2019 lacrosse season which Air Force will commence this January.
Grant, Jr. as a player
* 1999 Lt. Raymond Enners Award (NCAA's Most Outstanding player)
* 1999 Jack Turnbull Award (best attackman)
* Delaware's first USILA First-Team All-American (1999), averaging more than six points per game
* MLL (pro field league) MVP in 2007 and 2008
* NLL (pro box league) MVP in 2007 and 2012
* Only player to win MLL and NLL MVPs in same season
* One of three players to win MLL and NLL MVPs altogether (Gary Gait and Casey Powell)
* Fifth all-time in NLL goals, 12th in NLL points, and third in NLL assists per game
* 2007 NLL Champions Cup champion with Rochester Knighthawks and Champions Cup MVP
* Six-time MLL Champion
* Five-time Mann Cup champion and 2-time Mann Cup MVP
* Won the FIL World Lacrosse Championship with Canada in 2006 (field)
* Won the FIL World Indoor Lacrosse Championship with Canada in 2003, 2007, and 2011 (box)
* 2010 FIL World Lacrosse Championship All-World Team choice at attack
Grant, Jr. as a coach
2000: Graduate Assistant Coach, University of Delaware
2003-2009: Co-founder and Head Instructor, Pro Skills Lacrosse Company
2009: Offensive Coordinator, Rochester Knighthawks, NLL
2010Present: Co-Founder, Director of Coaching and Player Development, Evolve Elite Lacrosse Company
2014: Assistant Offensive Coordinator Team Canada, Gold Medal World Champion
2015: Head Varsity Coach, Valor Christian High School
2018: Assistant coach, U.S. Air Force Academy
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