Bluefield College (VA) is bringing back football for the first time in more than six decades.
The man they've chosen to run their resuscitated program comes from Concord.
CU Tight Ends coach Mike Gravier will be Bluefield College's head coach when the Rams take the field in 2012, it was announced Friday, July 23.
Gravier, a Princeton resident, joined Concord as Tight Ends coach for the 2009 season and was part of the turnaround that saw the Mountain Lions finish 6-5 after an 0-11 record the year before.
Official release from Bluefield College's website: http://www.bluefield.edu/templates/System/details.asp?id=30250&PID=346957
Bluefield Daily Telegraph story on Gravier's hiring: bdtonline.com/localsports/x1037666193/Gravier-hired-as-BC-coach
Following his graduation from Grand Valley State (MI), Gravier coached in the high school ranks in Michigan for four years, then started his collegiate career at Kalamazoo College. After a stint at Western Michigan – where he earned his Master's degree in 1987 – he went on to be wide receivers coach at Southeast Missouri State. After that, Gravier spent three seasons as quarterbacks/running backs/wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator at Michigan Tech.
Gravier became offensive coordinator at Malone College (OH) in 1992, and took over as the Pioneers' head coach in 1994. Gravier guided Malone to a 30-12-1 record, including three conference championships and two appearances in the NAIA playoffs.
Gravier returned to GVSU for a year as an assistant coach before spending two years as a high school coach in Georgia. After that, he moved on to a career to faith-based organizations. Gravier was Director of Sports Ministry at Christian Outreach International in Vero Beach, FL for three years, followed by more than five years as Director of Operation SHARE at Heaven Sent Ministries in Princeton, WV, the city where Gravier still resides.
Gravier is the second Concord coach this year to take a head coaching position elsewhere. Carol Bonnes departed CU to become the women's soccer coach at Carson Newman (TN) April 27.
Concord opens its 2010 season with a non-conference contest against Southern Virginia University on Thursday, August 26. Kickoff will be at 6:00 pm at Callaghan Stadium.
