Mike Grant

Mike Grant is in his first season as a senior football analyst/assistant tight ends coach for the University of Iowa football program. Grant brings more than three decades of collegiate coaching experience to Iowa City.

Grant came to Iowa after serving as the running backs coach for FCS national runner-up Illinois State in 2025. Prior to his tenure with the Redbirds, he spent nine seasons on Wyoming’s coaching staff, including three as associate head coach (2022-24).

Grant has been part of 23 total bowl games as a player and coach, including five as a player at his alma mater, the University of Nebraska, where he was a quarterback for the Huskers.

Grant earned his first full-time coaching position in 1997, coaching wide receivers and tight ends at James Madison. He went on to coach nine seasons at Iowa State (1998-2006), one season at Southern Miss (2007), three seasons at Western Michigan (2008-10), five seasons at North Texas (2011-15), and nine seasons at Wyoming (2016-24).

During his time at Wyoming, Grant coached standout Cowboy receivers Ayir Asante, Tanner Gentry, Isaiah Neyor, Austin Conway, Jake Maulhardt, and Raghib Ismail Jr.

At North Texas, Grant initially served as running backs coach for two seasons (2011-12). In that role, he coached Lance Dunbar, who became the Mean Green’s career rushing leader and earned All-Sun Belt Conference honors. Grant then transitioned to wide receivers coach from 2013-15, adding recruiting coordinator responsibilities in 2014 and 2015. Among his top wideouts at North Texas was Brelan Chancellor, who in 2013 became the first player in Conference USA history to earn First-Team All-Conference honors as both a punt returner and kickoff returner. 

While coaching wide receivers at Western Michigan, Grant mentored four All-Mid-American Conference (MAC) receivers. In 2010, wideouts Jordan White and Juan Nunez each recorded 1,000-yard receiving seasons with over 90 receptions apiece. White set a school single-season record with 1,378 receiving yards in 2010 en route to earning honorable mention All-America and First-Team All-MAC honors. 

Grant’s tenure at Iowa State included coaching two receivers who broke the Cyclones’ career receiving record. In 2002, Lane Danielson became Iowa State’s all-time leading receiver and earned All-Big 12 recognition. Three years later, Todd Blythe broke Danielson’s mark en route to First-Team All-Big 12 honors. Grant also coached First-Team All-Big 12 running back Ennis Haywood in 2000.

During his four seasons (1993-96) as a recruiting assistant and graduate assistant at Nebraska, Grant was part of Husker teams that won back-to-back national championships in 1994 and 1995, helping coach the tight ends and offensive tackles.

Throughout his career, Grant has continued to expand his professional development. He participated in the 2009 NCAA Football Coaches Academy, the 2013 NCAA/NFL Coaches Academy, and the Bill Walsh NFL Minority Internship Program, completing an internship with the Buffalo Bills in 2013.

A quarterback at Nebraska from 1988-92, Grant was a three-year letterwinner and named to the Academic All-Big Eight Honor Roll. He earned his bachelor’s degree in communication studies from Nebraska in 1993 and added a second bachelor’s degree in journalism with an advertising concentration in 1995. He has also completed coursework toward a master’s degree in mass communication.

Grant and his wife, Nina, have a daughter, Mireia.