New Coach!

Micah Johnson is the newest member of the Grinnell College Football coaching staff.  He will be coaching up the wide receivers, tight ends, and quarterbacks and we are excited to have a coach of Coach Johnson's background as a part of the Pioneer Football program and are looking forward to him being a part of our success. Read more about Coach Johnson below!

Coach Johnson is originally from Hawaii but later moved to Prescott, Arizona. He went to South Dakota State University and played Wide Receiver for 4 years and graduated in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in biology.  For the past three years since attending SDSU, he played football in the CFL for the British Columbia Lions in 2008 for a season and in the NFL on the practice squads of the Atlanta Falcons in 2007 and most recently with the Cincinnati Bengals.      

New Running Backs' Coach!

James Rosenbury II was recently hired to be Grinnell College's new running backs'. We are excited to have a coach of Coach Rosenbury's caliber as a part of the Pioneer Football program and are looking forward to him being a part of our success. Read more about Coach Rosenbury below!

A native of Salt Lake City, Utah, James ventured east where he attended Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. During his four years at Case Western, James was a two time UAA All-Conference running back graduating in 2007 with a BA in sociology.

Following his undergraduate studies, James took a position at his alma mater coaching running backs while also working for a small book company in Cleveland as a project manager. In his three years with Case Western the team compiled a 31-3 record that included three consecutive UAA conference championships and three straight NCAA Division III playoff appearances highlighted by the first playoff victory in school history during the 2007 season. Also during his tenure at Case Western, James had three different running backs named to the UAA All-Conference team and was also recognized as part of the UAA Coaching Staff of the Year in 2007, 2008, and 2009.

“I am incredibly excited for the opportunity to coach at a school of Grinnell’s caliber. I am looking forward to the challenge of restoring Pioneer Football back to the forefront of the Midwest Conference and helping young student athletes excel on and off the field.”

Early Decision Commitments

The 2014 class of Pioneer football players got off to a great start this winter when we had 9 student-athletes commit to Grinnell by February as a part of our Early Decision program.  On May 1st, when our Regular Decision commitments are due, we hope to add more talent, depth, and skill to this already stellar recruiting class.  But in the meantime, here's a little bit about each of the newest Pioneers!

Andy Butler, RB/DB, Hastings, Nebraska (Hastings HS)  
Two-Time All-District, GNAC All-Conference, All-Tribland

Andrew Clark, RB/DB, Byron, Illinois (Byron HS)
Athlete Academic Award for having the Highest GPA on the team.  Team Captain.  All-Conference RB.

TJ Goetz, QB, Ankeny, Iowa (Ankeny HS)
Led team to 10-2 overall record.  Offense averaged 30 points per game.  Class 4A quarter-finalist.  Finished the season ranked #12 in Class 4A.

Seth Gustafson, RB, Rockford, IL (Winnebago HS)
Two seasons of 1,000+ yards rushing.  Two-Time Unanimous All-Conference RB, Two-Time Academic All-State,  Two-Time Team captain, Senior Season went 8-3, sweet 16, Lost to State Champions twice.

Ki Harris, LB, Evergreen Park, IL (Evergreen Park HS)

Max Keller, CB, Alden, Minnesota (Alden HS)
Section 2A Champs. Ranked #10 in State.  All-Conference and 2nd Team All-Area.  Captain.  Most Improved Player in Junior season.

Jason Peters QB, Coleville, California (Coleville HS)
Freshman year- Offensive Player of the Year (JV). Sophomore year- MVP (Varsity). Junior year- MVP (Varsity).

Quinn Rosenthal, OL, Wheaton, Illinois (Wheaton Warrenville South HS)
2009 Class 7A State Champions.  First Team All-State in Scholastic Bowl.

GREAT DAY TO BE A PIONEER!!

Recruiting is still going...I guess it never really ends in D3 football. We just got a commitment from a transfer who's a great football player and more importantly an awesome person!!

Check out The D3 Experience Blog for the story!