University of Connecticut Athletics
Football
- Title:
- Analyst - Assistant Defensive Line Coach
- Email:
- football@uconn.edu
Coach Mickey Grace is a rising force in college football, blending elite coaching expertise with a deep commitment to player development and recruitment. As UConn’s Director of Player Development and Pass Rush Specialist, she plays a vital role in shaping both the technical skills and futures of Husky athletes. Grace made history as the first woman to coach FBS football in a coaching role, joining UConn in 2022 as an Offensive Analyst and Assistant Wide Receivers Coach. In 2023 and 2024, she transitioned to the defensive side of the ball, serving as the Assistant Defensive Line Coach under Head Coach Jim Mora.
Grace has been recognized as a FootballScoop Rising Star, where she was praised for her “knowledge of the game and determined approach to growing her knowledge.”
Her coaching pedigree spans multiple levels of the game. In 2021, she was part of the Ivy League Championship-winning staff at Dartmouth, where she recruited Ivy League Players of the Year and coached standouts like Shane Cokes and Ejike Adele. Prior to that, she was a Scouting Apprentice with the Los Angeles Rams, gaining invaluable experience in talent evaluation at the highest level.
Her resume also includes serving as a Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellow with the Miami Dolphins, Atlanta Falcons, Washington Commanders, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers—working alongside some of the brightest minds in the NFL. She began her coaching career in Philadelphia, where she played DE for the former Germantown High School. She was a high school Defensive Line Coach and Defensive Coordinator. In addition to her coaching responsibilities, she was a math teacher at a Title IX school, playing a pivotal role in improving student outcomes both academically and athletically.
Off the field, Grace is a visionary in player development, designing and implementing impactful programs such as Freshman Focus, Dawg Talk, and the B.U.I.L.D. framework—all tailored to ensure players excel beyond the game. She is also recognized as an elite recruiter, consistently identifying and developing top-tier talent.
A Philadelphia native, Grace holds psychology degrees from West Chester University. She is also a devoted wife to Kenneth and a proud mother to her daughter, Aria. Her presence in UConn Football is not just groundbreaking—it’s game-changing.
