Salukis hire Zach Grant as tight ends coach
12/23/2022 | 9:50:00 | Football
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Southern Illinois head coach Nick Hill announced the hiring of tight ends coach Zach Grant on Friday.
Grant spent the last three seasons on the staff at Western Illinois, where he initially coached running backs, before switching to the wide receiver room.
The Springfield, Illinois native replaces long-time SIU tight ends coach Pat Poore, who announced his retirement last week.
Grant played wide receiver at the University of Illinois from 2013-16, and was a two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree. As a senior in 2016, he was second on the team in catches with 26.
After graduation, Grant transitioned to coaching, serving as an offensive graduate assistant at Illinois under coordinator Rod Smith. In 2019, the Illini improved to 12th in the nation in rushing yards per game (+110 spots in the rankings), second in 40+ yard runs (+93), 51st in yards per play (+73) and 62nd in total offense (+64).
Grant played at Rochester High School, the same school as SIU quarterback Nic Baker, where he helped lead the program to IHSA Class 4A state championships in 2010 and 2011.
"I have known Zach for a while through (Coach) Derek Leonard at Rochester," Hill said. "I've always been impressed by him as someone I would love to be a part of our staff, when the time was right."
Grant spent the last three seasons on the staff at Western Illinois, where he initially coached running backs, before switching to the wide receiver room.
The Springfield, Illinois native replaces long-time SIU tight ends coach Pat Poore, who announced his retirement last week.
Grant played wide receiver at the University of Illinois from 2013-16, and was a two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree. As a senior in 2016, he was second on the team in catches with 26.
After graduation, Grant transitioned to coaching, serving as an offensive graduate assistant at Illinois under coordinator Rod Smith. In 2019, the Illini improved to 12th in the nation in rushing yards per game (+110 spots in the rankings), second in 40+ yard runs (+93), 51st in yards per play (+73) and 62nd in total offense (+64).
Grant played at Rochester High School, the same school as SIU quarterback Nic Baker, where he helped lead the program to IHSA Class 4A state championships in 2010 and 2011.
"I have known Zach for a while through (Coach) Derek Leonard at Rochester," Hill said. "I've always been impressed by him as someone I would love to be a part of our staff, when the time was right."
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