Menlo College hires former AFL star Grieb as new football coach

Grieb, a 1996 graduate of the University of California at Davis, makes his return to the Oaks football program following two brief stints as an assistant coach. In 2003 he served as the team's offensive coordinator and in 2011 he headed up the receiving corps as a position coach.

From 1999 to 2012, Grieb spent 12 successful seasons as the quarterback of the San Jose SaberCats of the Arena Football League where he led the squad to three Arena Bowl championships, earning Most Valuable Player honors in 2004 and 2007. He earned Maxwell Club Arena Football Player of the Year honors in 2004.

"We pride ourselves in being a program with champions of character," Spataro said. "Above all, we wanted to find a head coach that was in line with those character traits. And secondary to that, we wanted to find someone who had a true passion for teaching -- especially the sport of football. It's a daunting task to get out there with 105 men every day and try to get them in go in the same direction. There's got to be a calmness to you. But at the same time, there has to be a presence to you. And I think Mark reflects those things."

"It was a long process," Grieb said. "I think the athletic director and the athletic staff did a great job in being thorough with the process. I know they a bunch of applications so I didn't know how it was going to go, to be honest. So, when I got the call, I was extremely excited about this opportunity to be a head football coach at Menlo College. I really look forward to going to back. It should be a great experience."

Aside from playing professionally, Grieb has spent the last 10 years coaching in various capacities. He spent a pair of seasons as an assistant coach at his alma mater, U.C. Davis.

While receiving his master's of arts degree in science education from Stanford University in 2001, Grieb was a graduate assistant under Tyrone Willingham.

Aside from his two stints with Menlo, Grieb has also spent time as an assistant coach at Monterey Peninsula College and Foothill College.

"[Being a head coach] is something that I've thought about ... I guess, it's something that I thought would come further down the line. I didn't think it was something that would happen so quickly. But it has and I'm excited. I think it's a great fit for me, being from this area."

During his time in the AFL, Grieb launched an assault on the AFL's career record books, inking his name in the top-three in six career offensive categories including: Most passes completed in a career, completion percentage, passing yards, touchdown passes, most passes attempted and most seasons as the league leader in passing yards.

He was the first player in AFL history to throw for more than 4,000 yards in seven-straight seasons and the only player in league history to throw for 70-plus scores in nine straight seasons.

During his last two seasons with the team, Grieb rolled into a role as both a player and coordinator, running offensive meetings and practices and leading offseason workouts for teammates under head coach Darren Arbet and offensive coordinator Terry Malley.

Grieb takes over for Mark Speckman, who accepted a job with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League after a 4-6 season with the Oaks.

"It was a good process," Spartaro said. "Our staff worked really hard to get the process done fast. We were able to turn in over in fair amount of time."

Menlo has not had a winning season since 2003 when the Oaks went 7-3. Since then, the Oaks are 24-61.

"I didn't expect it," Grieb said. "But I'm ready for the challenge. Being a head coach is a huge responsibility.

"I think that Menlo College really has everything it need to be successful. I think if we can trust one another and work together and we treat each other well, that the football is going to come, the winning is going to come."

A San Jose native, Grieb was a three-sport standout at San Jose's Oak Grove High School. He went on to receive a bachelor of science degree in biochemistry from U.C. Davis. He has spent the last year teaching chemistry at Leland High School in San Jose and currently resides in San Carlos with his wife, Erin and twin daughters.