01/09/2012 Ole Miss Adds Three More To Football StaffMcGriff Oversaw DBs, Recruiting For Vanderbilt In 2011 A familiar name was added to Hugh Freeze's first Ole Miss staff on January 9, 2012, when Grant Heard was announced as wide receivers coach. A former Rebel player and graduate assistant, Heard is at his third stop with Freeze, having served as his quarterback coach and passing-game coordinator at Arkansas State, offensive coordinator at Lambuth and GA at Ole Miss. Heard helped A-State to a record-breaking year in 2011 led by his star pupil, Sun Belt Conference Offensive Player of the Year Ryan Aplin. The junior quarterback established school single-season records for total offense and passing yards per game while ranking No. 10 in the nation in total offense. Heard's passing attack ranked 16th in the nation, and the Red Wolves were 24th in total offense en route to a Sun Belt championship and an appearance in the GoDaddy.com Bowl. An 11-year coaching veteran, Heard spent the 2008 and 2009 seasons as the offensive coordinator at Lambuth. During the 2008 campaign, the Eagles offense accumulated 5,861 yards while becoming the No. 1 offense in NAIA. Lambuth finished third in the nation in scoring offense and fourth in passing efficiency. A wide receiver during his collegiate career (1996-2000), Heard helped lead Ole Miss to four bowl games and graduated as the Rebels' all-time leader in career receptions and touchdowns.He earned his bachelor's degree in 2001. Following his college days, Heard was signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2002 and sent to play in NFL Europe. In 2001, Heard appeared in several preseason games for the San Francisco 49ers. Heard began his coaching career as the quarterbacks, wide receivers and special teams coach at Jackson (Miss.) Preparatory High School in 2002 before moving onto the Hargrave Military Academy where he coached wide receivers and helped them to an 8-1 record in 2003. He joined the college ranks in 2004 as offensive graduate assistant at N.C State. Heard returned to Ole Miss as offensive graduate assistant in 2005 and 2006, when he assisted in coaching the wide receivers and tight ends. He tutored future NFL players Mike Wallace, Shay Hodge, Marshay Green, Mike Espy and Taye Biddle. Heard spent the 2007 season with Western Michigan coaching the Broncos' wide receivers. He mentored First Team All-MAC honoree Jamarko Simmons, the 15th-ranked receiver in the nation, and the receiving corps gained over 3,000 yards and scored 23 touchdowns. Heard is married to the former Renata Nowacki, who was a four-year letterwinner on the Ole Miss volleyball team (1997-2000), and the couple has one son, Jayden. Heard's brother Ronnie was also a standout for the Rebel football team and currently serves as Assistant Director of Development for the UMAA Foundation. |
05/01/2012 - Football Freeze, Tuohy Help Chick-fil-A Bowl Raise Big Dollars For Charity
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