HOUSTON (May 16, 2000)---Houston NFL 2002 Executive Vice President/General Manager Charley Casserly announced today that Bobby Grier has been hired as the club's Associate Director of Pro Scouting. Grier most recently was the New England Patriots' highest ranking football administrator as the team's Vice President/Player Personnel. Casserly also announced that Miller McCalmon, who was hired on April 25 as Assistant Director of Pro Scouting, has had his title changed to Associate Director of Pro Scouting. Both Grier and McCalmon will work closely with Casserly and Director of Pro Scouting Chuck Banker.
"I have known Bobby Grier for more than 20 years," said Casserly. "Any time you have an opportunity to add someone to your organization with the experience and reputation that Bobby has, you do it. His vast background in the NFL as a scout, personnel executive and coach will be extremely valuable to us."
"I am very excited about the opportunity to work with Charley," said Grier. "He is one of the most respected guys in our business, and I am thrilled to be associated with him. The chance to be a part of building an organization from the ground up is also very special to me. That's something that I have not experienced, but I'm really looking forward to."
Grier spent the past 18 years as a player personnel executive and as a coach with the Patriots, serving as Vice President/Player Personnel from February 21, 1997 until this past May 1. In that capacity, he was responsible for overseeing all aspects of New England's pro and college scouting departments, player evaluations, free agency and the annual NFL draft. From 1995 until being promoted to his most recent post, Grier served as the team's Director of Player Personnel. He worked as the Patriots' Director of College Scouting from 1993-95.
From 1985-92, Grier was New England's Running Backs Coach, working under three different head coaches (Raymond Berry, Rod Rust, Dick MacPherson). The '85 squad captured the franchise's first AFC Championship before losing to the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XX. That season, Grier's backs had 2331 rushing yards, including 1227 by Houston native Craig James. Grier was a College Scout for New England from 1982-84 after spending '82 as the Offensive Coordinator at Northwestern for Head Coach Dennis Green. Grier's first NFL position came in New England in 1981 when he was the Running Backs Coach for Head Coach Ron Erhardt.
Grier spent 1978-80 as the Running Backs Coach at Boston College under Head Coach Ed Chlebek, helping the team improve from 0-11 to 7-4. Grier's initial college coaching post came at Eastern Michigan where he coached the running backs for George Mans and then Chlebek from 1974-77. From 1970-73, Grier was the Head Coach at Detroit's Martin Luther King High School where his team captured the city championship in '73 with a 9-1 mark. Grier's first coaching assignment came as an assistant at Kettering (MI) High School from 1966-69.
The 57-year-old Grier is a native of Detroit. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education from Iowa, where he was a three-year starter at running back as well as a two-time Honorable Mention All- Big Ten selection. As a senior, Grier led the Hawkeyes in rushing. He and his wife, Wendy, currently live in Holliston, MA, but will be relocating to the Houston area. They have two sons, Chris (30) who is a Regional Scout for the Miami Dolphins, and Michael (25) who plays for the NHL's Edmonton Oilers.
Grier will officially begin his duties today.
