Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

Fort Lewis College Athletics

Scoreboard

FB Rocky Long & Scotty Grinde Hiring Graphic

Grinde, Long join the Skyhawks football coaching staff

7/17/2024 12:00:00 PM

By: Hayden Mangan, Assistant AD-Communications & Fan Engagement
DURANGO, Colo. – The Fort Lewis College football program is excited to announce the additions of Scott Grinde, Assistant Coach–Defensive Line, and Rocky Long, Defensive Analyst, to bolster the Skyhawks staff ahead of its 2024 campaign. The duo brings over 90 years of combined coaching experience.
 
"I couldn't be more excited about these new additions to our coaching staff," head coach Johnny Cox said. "Rocky Long is a college football legend. We are adding one of the top football minds and a great person to our staff. On the other hand, I've known Scott Grinde for a long time. I've always been impressed with his high character and work ethic. He is a great addition to our staff. I love that he can coach college football with his son, that is such a unique situation. I'm excited to see the effect the Grinde family has on Fort Lewis College football."
 
Scott Grinde, father of Fort Lewis' current offensive coordinator John Grinde, returns to the collegiate ranks following 14 years of coaching high school ball and most recently, an eight-year stint as the head coach at Air Academy High School in Colorado Springs, Colo.
 
"I've been looking for a new challenge while wanting to return to the collegiate ranks, and I couldn't be more fortunate and grateful for this position." Scott Grinde added. "I know that Coach Cox and the other staff members are building this program the right way, and I want to be a part of one of the great turnarounds in college football. We have good people in this program, the support for the program is outstanding and I look forward to helping this program get better and better each day!"
 
A 1984 graduate of the University of Wyoming with a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education and Biological Sciences, Scott Grinde began his career as a student assistant for the Cowboys while doubling down as an assistant coach at Sheridan High School. After Wyoming, Grinde moved to El Paso, Texas, where he served as a graduate assistant at the University of Texas–El Paso for two seasons and studied under coaches like Dirk Koetter and Andy Reid.
 
Grinde is not new to the collegiate scene, however, as he began his career at both Scottsdale Community College and Coffeyville Community College where he helped the Red Ravens to the 1990 National Junior College Athletic Association National Championship before serving as the offensive line coach and recruiting coordinator at Sam Houston State University from 1992-97. Grinde then took his talents to the University of Central Missouri from 1997-2010 where he was an assistant head coach, offensive line coach, and travel, academic, and recruiting coordinator.
 
Long, who brought the 3-3-5 defense to prominence and has mentored over 30 NFL Draft picks including Pro Football Hall of Fame selection Brian Urlacher, joins the Skyhawks after spending last season as the defensive coordinator at Syracuse University, an NCAA Division I Power-Five program and member of the Atlantic Coast Conference. Prior to Syracuse, Long spent three seasons as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at the University of New Mexico.
 
"Football has been a part of my life since I could remember," Long shared. "Coach Cox has given me the chance to be an analyst, evaluate film, and help with game plans on defense. I'm looking forward to using my experience to create an impact defensively."   
 
A 1971 graduate of New Mexico, Long spent 11 seasons at San Diego State University including nine as head coach (2011-19) where he boasted four 10-win seasons, amassed the second-most wins of any coach at San Deigo State, and guided the Aztecs to nine straight bowl games. In addition, Long's teams have been bowl-eligible in 16 of the last 17 seasons.  
 
Long began his head coaching career at his alma mater when he was hired as the Lobos' 28th head football coach in 1998. During his 11-year tenure at UNM, Long became the winningest head coach in Mountain West Conference history, the winningest head coach in New Mexico history, and had the Lobos bowl-eligible from 2001 to 2007 featuring three straight bowl games from 2003-05: both program records.
 
Before his head coach career, Long also had stints guiding defenses at UCLA (1996-97), Oregon State (1991-95), and Wyoming (1981-85) at the collegiate level. He has also coached the secondary for TCU (1988-90) and New Mexico (1979-80). His one professional coaching stop was with the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League, where he coached linebackers in 1986-87.
 
As a player, Long was the starting quarterback for the Lobos from 1969 to 1971 and guided UNM to consecutive winning seasons while also earning Player of the Year honors from the Western Athletic Conference in 1971. Long went on to play in 68 games for the BC Lions in the CFL before a one-year stint with the Detroit Wheels of the WFL.
 
Print Friendly Version