Richie Grant
	Hometown: Dublin, Ireland Last College: Green Mountain College, '93 Position: Head Coach Experience: 17th Season Record at Memphis: 118-101-18 (13 Seasons)

Having just finished his 13th season at the helm of the Memphis Tiger soccer program, Richie Grant has established himself as one of the premier coaches in the conference and the nation. With a strong background of developing players who move on to the professional level, as well as recruiting ties across the nation and around the globe, Grant has built a program in the Bluff City to rival any in the country.

Since taking over as the third head coach in Memphis history in 1999, Grant has compiled a record of 118-101-18. In seven of his 13 seasons, the Tigers have gone to the C-USA Tournament, including six of the past eight campaigns.

The 2011 season was a memorable season for Grant as head coach of the Memphis Tigers. On September 11, 2011, Memphis won at Wisconsin, 2-1, giving Grant the all-time record for career wins at Memphis with 111.

The 2011 season brought many accomplishments for the Tigers. Memphis posted a six-win turnaround, en route to its sixth ten-win season under Grant, and were led by Conference USA Player of the Year Mark Sherrod. Sherrod was also named C-USA Offensive MVP, joining U of M Hall-of-Famer Dayton O'Brien as the only two Tigers to be given the honor.

Grant got his start at the college level in 1995, taking over the NAIA program at Lambuth University. In four seasons in Jackson, Tenn., Grant won over 50 games and three conference championships before getting his opportunity at the U of M.

After going 7-11-0 in his first season at Memphis, Grant's Tigers tied a then program record in 2000, winning 14 games and finishing fourth in Conference USA. That turnaround propelled Grant to his first C-USA Coach of the Year honor.

Grant got his second Coach of the Year honor (one of four conference coaches with two awards) following the 2004 season when Memphis won a school-record 16 games, made its first NCAA Tournament since 1993 and had the program's first and, to date, only All-American in Dayton O'Brien.

In 2005, O'Brien and teammate Andy Metcalf became the first Tigers to get drafted by MLS squads; Metcalf became a member of the D.C. United and O'Brien joined the Columbus Crew. In 2008, Daniel Dobson also became an MLS player, joining the Kansas City Wizards.

The success of Grant's teams is not limited to the pitch. For the third time in school history, and second-consecutive year, the Tigers were honored with an NSCAA Team Academic Award. Currently, the team boasts a 3.33 GPA.

While at Memphis, Grant has overseen the move from Echles Field to the Mike Rose Soccer Complex in Collierville, as well as the renovation of the Tigers outdoor practice facility on the grounds of the U of M's Park Avenue Campus.

Grant also has an eye for upcoming talent as well as developing top-level athletes. On the current Tiger roster are two of the past four Tennessee State High School Boys Soccer Players of the Year in Sherrod and Chandler Gagnon.

As a player, Grant was a three-time NAIA All-American 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 for the Minnesota Thunder, a semi-pro team that competes in the A-League.

After one season 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 1993-95.

Grant earned his NSCAA Advanced National Diploma in 1997 and his NSCAA Premier Diploma in 2002. He has spent the last 10 years as a head coach in the Tennessee ODP program and spent one season at the helm of the Region III ODP Program.

Grant is married to Memphis assistant women's soccer coach Jodi Grant (formerly Fisher). The couple welcomed the birth of their son, Hayden, in January of 2009. In March of 2011, the Grant's added Katelyn Presley to the family.

Grant's parents, Richie and Annette, live in Dublin, Ireland, and he has four siblings. His youngest brother, Adam, is a rising senior for the Martin Methodist soccer program.