Washington State University Athletics

Ryan Grinnell joined the Washington State University track and field staff in October 2016 to assist in the coaching of the horizontal jumps, multi-events and hurdles.
 
“We are very excited to have Ryan join our staff,” WSU Director of Cross Country/Track & Field Wayne Phipps said. “He is a dynamic young coach who has experience in almost every event. We knew it would be difficult to replace Angela Whyte and we were looking for someone who could coach a variety of events at a very high level. Ryan has clearly demonstrated that ability and combined with his outstanding athletic career both in the NCAA and at the professional level, which makes him a perfect fit for WSU.”
 
In his first year with the Cougars, Grinnell had a trio of scorers at the Pac-12 Championships: in the women's triple jump Kiana Davis captured fifth and Greer Alsop was sixth while Robby Flores placed eighth in the men's triple jump. Both Davis and Alsop also took leaps in the WSU all-time triple jump records with Davis' 42-8 1/4 (13.01m) second-best and Alsop's 41-8 (12.70m) fourth-best.
 
Grinnell, 29, comes to WSU from Utah State University where he was an assistant coach for sprints, jumps, pole vault and multi-events while coordinating the staff’s recruiting services from 2014-16. During his time with the Aggies he coached seven athletes to NCAA second-team All-America honors. Additionally, he helped guide the 2016 men’s indoor team to a Mountain West Conference runner up finish where the sprinters and jumpers combined for 89 of the team’s winning 141 points. At USU he also coached Chari Hawkins who finished fourth in the heptathlon at the 2015 World University Games, and was a recipient of numerous accolades including the 2015 MWC Indoor Athlete of the Year, Mountain Region Women’s Indoor/Outdoor Field Athlete of the Year, MWC Outdoor Student-Athlete of the Year, MWC Highest Point Scorer and MWC Outdoor Championship Outstanding Performer.
 
Originally from Rexburg, Idaho, Grinnell competed at the University of Montana for two years where he won six Big Sky Conference titles and was the 2006 Big Sky Athlete of the Year as a freshman after winning the high jump and triple jump titles. At Boise State he was a six-time NCAA All-America honoree with four certificates in the triple jump and one each in the high jump and long jump. He won nine Western Athletic Conference titles and had three runner-up finishes. In 2008,  he broke a 28-year old men’s triple jump record at the WAC Outdoor Championships with his wining leap of 54-3 3/4 (16.55m). He advanced to the NCAA Championships in all three jumps, being the first student-athlete to accomplish this feat in over 10 years.
 
He was named the WAC’s Male Performer of the Year in addition to being BSU’s nominee for the WAC’s Joe Kearney Award. Additionally, Grinnell was a two-time Central Region All-Academic honoree, make the Dean’s List from 2005-2007 with eight WAC All-Academic honors. He ended his collegiate career as the most decorated student-athlete in Boise State history.
 
Grinnell began his coaching career as a volunteer at the University of Georgia from April 2010-September 2012, while training for the 2012 US Olympic Trials. He was a member of the staff that led the Bulldogs to the most combined points in SEC Outdoor Championships history.
 
From 2012-14 Grinnell coached jumps, throws and multi-athletes at Campbell University in Buies Creek, North Carolina, where he coached four individual Big South Conference champions.
 
As a professional athlete, Grinnell competed in the 2008 and 2012 US Olympic Trials in the triple jump. In 2013 he was the USATF Championship Bronze Medalist in the triple jump in with leap of 55-10 1/4 (17.02m). A week later he soared to a personal record leap of 56-6 (17.22m) which was a Top 10 World IAAF ranking in the triple jump.
 
Grinnell graduated from Boise State in December 2009 with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration with an emphasis in business management.