Fort Lewis College Men's Football

I have been fortunate to have been involved in this great game of football for 52 years. I have coached for 41 of those years. I started as a student assistant coach for my alma mater, The University of Wyoming. I then got the opportunity to be a graduate assistant coach at the University of Texas-El Paso. My first full-time job was at Scottsdale Community College, and then I got to go to Coffeyville Community College (where we won a National Championship)! I then became the Offensive Line coach at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas. I was blessed after 5 years to reunite with Willie Fritz (currently the Head Coach at the University of Houston) at the University of Central Missouri. Coach Fritz and I worked together at Coffeyville, Sam Houston and UCM, and I consider him a mentor and great friend. I decided to make a slight career change as I became the Head Football Coach at Warrensburg HS in Warrensburg, Missouri. After 6 years, I was hired by Air Academy High School in Colorado Springs, Colorado to be the Head Football Coach in 2016. In January of 2024, I made another coaching move, returning to the college ranks as the Defensive Line Coach at Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado, and I am currently in that position. People ask me what it is about the game that I love so much. I must say that it is building and keeping the great relationships with players and coaches that this game provides. It is the lessons that apply not just on the field of play, but also in life: dealing with adversity, overcoming obstacles, focusing on the process and not the result, and being unselfish, just to name a few. I also believe that I am so fortunate to have had the opportunities to make a difference in people's lives in a positive way. Coach Grinde

Spencer Brown is heading into his third season as defensive coordinator for Fort Lewis in the fall of 2024. Brown joined the Skyhawks in 2022 after spending three years at Southern Illinois University as the Defensive Run Game Coordinator and Linebackers Coach.  While at Southern Illinois, Brown helped the Salukis defense hold opponents to just 154 rushing yards per game, a 67-yard improvement from previous seasons. Additionally, the Salukis held the No. 1 Kickoff return defense in the Missouri Valley Conference and No. 3 Kickoff return defense in all of the FCS in 2019. Prior to Southern Illinois, Brown had stops at North Carolina State University as Senior Defensive Analyst and at The University of South Dakota as a Linebackers Coach and Video Coordinator. While at NC State Brown helped coordinate the Top-25 rated defense that included former National Football League players Dravious Wright and Shawn Boone.  Brown completed his Master of Business Administration in Marketing from the University of North Texas while serving as a graduate assistant for the football team. While assisting the Green, Brown helped coach future NFL athletes Zach Orr and Derek Akunne.  Brown earned his bachelors degree in Business Administration from Southern Methodist University in 2010. 

I have been coaching college football for 12 years now. This is my 3rd year at Fort Lewis College and there is no better place! I have been blessed to be a part of many top ranked offenses, playoff teams, all conference/all American awards, and many other great achievements that our players have accomplished.