Davidson Day hires football coach

The football era at Davidson Day School has officially begun as Chad Grier has been named the first head football coach in school history. The former East Carolina University football standout comes to Davidson Day following a two-year stint as offensive coordinator at Southlake Christian Academy.

“We conducted a national search for this highly important position, only to find that the ideal candidate was right in our back yard,” Davidson Day Headmaster Bonnie Cotter said. “Chad is an exceptional mentor of children, a man of high integrity, and is extremely passionate about football. He’s a perfect fit.”

Grier brings a wealth of experience to Davidson Day, on both the high school and college landscape, as a player and a coach. Prior to arriving at Southlake, Grier was an Offensive Assistant Coach at Charlotte Latin (2004) where he also starred as an all-state quarterback under local coaching legend, Larry McNulty (1986).

"I am very excited and honored to be part of such a great school,” said Grier. “Davidson Day is a first class school; from the headmaster, to the faculty, and to the students. And my immediate goal is to bring the school a first class football program."

A local native of Charlotte, N.C., Grier’s collegiate career began at the University of Richmond where he started at quarterback as a freshman. Grier later transferred to East Carolina University where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism. While at East Carolina, he played under nationally known coaching figures, Kevin Gilbride and Mark Richt. Gilbride is currently the offensive coordinator of the New York Giants and Richt is currently the head football coach at the University of Georgia. Grier makes it clear that he plans to use the qualities that he learned from these coaching legends and implement them to the DDS football program.

“I have been blessed with the opportunity to learn the game from some of the most knowledgeable and inspirational men I have ever met, none more so than (Charlotte Latin coach) Larry McNulty, whom has been like family to me for 25 years. We will model our program in the image of what he has built at Charlotte Latin, and our immediate term goal is to work hard every day to earn that type of consistent success for our students and our entire community.”

Grier is married to his wife Nila, and has three sons: Will 15; Nash 12; and Hayes 9.

--Davidson Day press release.