Coach Grinder is in his third season as head coach of the OU baseball program.
In a season (2020) shortened by CoVID-19, Ottawa finished with its first winning record since the 2010 season, finishing with an overall record of 17-9 and a KCAC record of 6-2. Elliot Antonetty and Jared Gray earned KCAC Player and Pitcher of the Week honors. The Braves finished the year ranked 15th in the NAIA in total triples (8), 17th in RBI (180), 17th in total assists (234), 18th in total batters struck out (212), 20th in total hits (248), 20th in total runs scored (195), 23rd in slugging percentage (.489), 26th in caught stealing per game (0.6), 26th in homeruns per game (1), 29th in RBI per game (6.9), 29th in batting average (.315), 29th in hits per game (9.5), 30th in total chances (858), 31st in total at bats (787), 35th in runs scored per game (7.5), 36th in triples per game (0.3), 38th in total put outs (583), 39th in total innings pitched (194.1), and 49th in total doubles (43).
In Grinder’s first season at the helm, the Braves broke six school records. Stephen Norrell set the OU single season record of pitching appearances (26) and saves (11). The team broke the OU school record in single season record for steals (116), ERA (4.45), opponent strike outs (321), and saves (13). Ottawa finished the season with an overall record of 20-26 and a 10th place finish in the KCAC with a record of 10-23. Under Grinder’s leadership, Braves had three players earn All-KCAC honors. Jeremiah Arellano was named Second Team All-KCAC and KCAC Freshman of the Year. Elliot Antonetty and Stephen Norrell were named Honorable Mention All-KCAC.
Before coming to Ottawa University, Grinder was the pitching coach and recruiting coordinator the past three seasons at NAIA baseball power, Oklahoma Wesleyan University. While at OKWU, he helped lead the Eagles to the 2017 Avista NAIA World Series and to a ranking as high as fifth nationally in 2018. Grinder coached one NAIA All-American, back-to-back KCAC Pitchers of the Year, ten All-KCAC performers and helped lead the pitching staff to a total of 145 wins in just three years. In 2018 and 2017, the Eagles’ pitching staffs were one of the best in the NAIA. OKWU was ranked first in 2018 (2.33) and 18th (3.75) in the NAIA in ERA. OKWU pitching staffs also set the school record for strikeouts in back to back seasons with (434) in 2017 and (504) in 2018. While coaching at OKWU, Grinder led the pitchers in daily practice, and was in charge of all advanced scouting and report preparation. He also organized and led the first youth baseball camp for the community and assisted with fundraising efforts for the baseball program.
Since 2013, seven players that Grinder has coached have been drafted by Major League Baseball (MLB). He has had four players sign free agent contracts with MLB and Independent League Baseball.
Prior to working at OKWU, Grinder was the pitching coach and recruiting coordinator at West Virginia Wesleyan College. While at WVWC, he facilitated daily practices and was head of recruiting. Before WVWC, Grinder was the pitching coach and recruiting coordinator at Morningside College. The Mustang pitching staff set the school record for single season strike outs in back-to-back seasons and reached over 300 strikeouts in both of those seasons for the first time in program history. Grinder coached seven All-GPAC selections and had two of those selections break school records for single season wins and saves.
Before working at Morningside College, Grinder coached at Southeastern University where he was the pitching coach and assistant SID. He coached two NAIA All-Americans and two All-Conference performers. Grinder had one pitcher set the NAIA All-Time saves record and another lead the NAIA in strike outs. The pitching staff finished second in the NAIA in total strike outs with 507.
During the summers, while coaching at Southeastern University and Morningside College, Grinder coached the Haysville Aviators in the Jayhawk League. He helped start the franchise in the fall of 2012. Grinder coached two Jayhawk League Pitchers of the Year, five NBC World Series All-Americans, 10 first team All-League selections, and led the Aviators to a ranking of 19th in the Collegiate Summer Baseball Poll. He led the Aviators to 89 wins over a three year span, including a franchise record 35 wins in 2015. The Aviators finished the 2015 season runner up at the NBC World Series, were the Jayhawk League Champions, won the Jayhawk South Division Championship, led the league in runs scored with 249, and the pitching staff led the league in strike outs and fewest bases on balls. In 2014, under Grinder’s leadership, the Aviators placed fifth in Champions Week, appeared in the NBC World Series, and led the league in batting average, on base percentage, slugging percentage, and RBI.
Before coaching at Southeastern University, Grinder was the pitching coach at Johnson University of Florida. He helped start the program and with a pitching staff of all freshman, helped lead them to 27 victories. Grinder helped lead the Suns to a runner up finish at the 2012 NCCAA World Series.
Grinder played from 2007-2008 at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and then transferred to Southeastern University where he was a member of the baseball team from 2008 to 2011. He finished third in the NAIA in saves during the 2009 season with 14. Grinder earned Southeastern University’s Coaches Award in 2011. He was named to the 2008 NYCBL All-Star Team. Grinder played in the summer of 2009 and 2010 for the Harrisonburg Turks in the Valley League.
Grinder graduated from Southeastern University in 2011 with a Bachelor of Science in Sports Management. He earned his Masters of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies from Liberty University in 2017.
