VMI Athletics

After joining the staff early in 2013, Michael Grimm will enter his second season as an assistant coach at VMI. Last season, Grimm served as volunteer assistant, with his coaching responsibilities including working with the goalkeepers, in-game quality control and serving as the ROTC liaison. Grimm’s primary function at VMI is as a State Faculty Instructor in the Marshall-New Market Battalion of the Army ROTC Department.

Grimm’s duties for the 2013-14 academic year will including working closely with the program’s storied faceoff unit, as well as the offense. During games, Grimm’s primary responsibilities will be running the substitution box.

Prior to his arrival at VMI, served as the head lacrosse coach at The Citadel for two seasons from 2011-12. During that time, Grimm rebuilt the program, from recruiting to fundraising. In his final year at The Citadel, his squad earned a berth in the SELC Tournament. He recruited cadet-athletes representing 11 different states while also developing the Special Operations Warrior Foundation game between The Citadel and VMI that raised $10,000 for Special Operations families.

A former Staff Sergeant in the US Army from 2002-11, Grimm served in the 1st Ranger Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment and Special Operations. He was deployed eight  times in support of the Global War On Terrorism in both Iraq and Afghanistan. His military awards include Army Commendation Medal with Valor Device and two Oak Leaves, Iraq Campaign Medal with two Campaign Stars, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Bronze Arrowhead and four Campaign Stars, Joint Service Commendation Medal and the Defense Meritorious Service Medal.

Grimm attended Georgia Military College in 1997 and played WR for the fifth-ranked Junior College team, earning Player of the Game honors in the 1997 Macon Touchdown Classic versus Middle Georgia College. After that season, Grimm transferred to The Citadel, Military College of the South with the class of 2002, and was a walk on wide receiver and played two years of lacrosse as a midfielder. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in American history. Grimm was a member of the Veteran Cadet program at The Citadel and American Military University.

Prior to his time at Georgia Military College and The Citadel, Grimm was a three sport athlete at Kecoughtan High School in Hampton, Va.

Military schools and the Army run in the Grimm family. His father, Skip, is a retired Major and graduated from the United States Military Academy (Army) in 1976. His uncles Jeff Grimm graduated from West Point in 1974 while Edward Brennan did likewise in 1976. A strong VMI connection runs through the family as his uncle, LTC (ret) David Grimm is a 1986 graduate of the Institute.